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How to pick the best credit card for groceries (2019 analysis)
Consider a card's annual fee and how much you spend on groceries.
There’s no single “best” grocery card for everyone — the top grocery card is the one that works most effectively for you.
The main thing to consider is whether you want to get the absolute best rewards rate by using credit card points optimally, or if you’d rather keep things simple with a cashback card. But to make things easier for you, we’ve select what we believe are the best cards for grocery shopping.
What's in this guide?
What does the best credit card for groceries look like?
The best credit card should meet your financial needs and have the following perks:
- Low or no annual fee
- High rewards rate on groceries
- High rewards rate on other categories
- Additional perks
What is the best credit card for groceries?
There are several cards that can arguably be considered the best credit cards for groceries, depending on your financial needs.
Best for potentially the highest grocery rewards: Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
If you spend up to $6,000 annually on groceries and if you’re willing to do some work with your points, you can potentially get the highest rewards rate on groceries equvalent to a 9% return on your purchases.
Best for cashback rewards on groceries: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
If you’re looking to get the highest rewards rate on groceries without too much hassle, then this is the way to go. With this card, you also get to earn the highest rewards rate on US streaming services, and you get high cash back on purchases at US gas stations and transit purchases.
Best for grocery rewards with travel credits: American Express® Gold Card
If you spend more than $10,000 annually on groceries, this may be a card worth considering. Though it costs a hefty $250 a year (see rates & fees), this card has two especially valuable benefits: a $120 annual dining credit and a $100 airline fee credit. This is almost enough to offset the annual fee.
On top of that, you’ll enjoy the card’s excellent rewards on dining and eligible travel.
Best for cash back versatility: U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card/a>
This card can be an excellent addition to your wallet if you want a slightly higher cashback rate on groceries and one of the highest cashback rates on two categories that you choose each quarter. These categories include home utilities, electronic stores, furniture stores, ground transportation and more (see rates & fees).
Best for cash back on groceries with moderate spending: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Please note: All information about Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Finder and this card is no longer available through this site.
If you want cash back and spend less than $3,167 each year on groceries — or about $263 or less each month — strongly consider this card.
You won’t earn as high of a cashback rate as you would with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, but you won’t have to deal with an annual fee.
You won’t earn as high of a cashback rate as you would with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, but you won’t have to deal with an annual fee.
The best store-specific grocery credit cards
These two cards are limited in an important respect: You can use them only at select stores. If that’s not a problem, however, you’ll enjoy great rewards on groceries.
Best for shopping at Target: Target REDcard™ Credit Card
Target may be your all-in-one-stop for groceries, household supplies and apparel. If that’s the case, the Target REDcard™ Credit Card is a smart choice with its 5% discount on Target purchases.
Best for shopping at Whole Foods: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card offers 5% back — an excellent rate — at Whole Foods Market. You must have an eligible Prime membership to apply.
Jump to …
- Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card: Best for highest possible grocery rewards.
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for cashback rewards on groceries
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for cash back on groceries with moderate spending.
- American Express® Gold Card: Best for travel rewards overall.
- Target REDcard™ Credit Card: Best for shopping at Target.
- Amex EveryDay® Credit Card: Best for travel rewards with moderate spending.
- Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card: Best for shopping at Whole Foods
How we selected our top cards
When comparing the best credit cards for groceries, we looked at a number of features across eligible cards, including which grocery stores were eligible, points or cash back earned per dollar spent, limitations on cashback percentages, annual fees, introductory APRs and other reward perks a consumer might consider. The cards that stood out above the rest in one or several of these categories, or fulfilled a certain niche, earned a spot on our list.
What’s changed in 2019
The American Express® Gold Card has grown into a stellar choice for US supermarket purchases, with Membership Rewards points that can be highly valuable when transferred to travel partners. More generally, Amex continues its dominance in the grocery space, offering cards with excellent rewards on everyday purchases.
How to compare credit cards for grocery stores
Comparing these cards can get confusing — especially with so many products from one provider. Here are a few factors to consider that might help you pick the winner.
- Annual fee.
Consider whether you want to pay an annual fee for your card. For some, an annual fee is a dealbreaker. If this is the most important factor for you, you could narrow your options very quickly. - How much you spend on groceries.
If you spend little on groceries, lean toward the no-annual-fee cards. If you spend a lot, you might get more rewards out of the annual-fee options. - Where you shop.
The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is a formidable contender, but only if you use it at its designated store. Take a serious look at the card if you’re willing to do all of your grocery shopping at Target. If you like to shop for groceries outside of Target, one of the American Express cards will likely be a better fit. - Whether you want an intro APR.
Most of Amex’s grocery cards offer decent intro APRs on purchases and balance transfers. The American Express® Gold Card doesn’t have an intro APR. - Welcome offer.
Annual-fee cards tend to have more valuable welcome offers than no-annual-fee cards — though you’ll likely have to spend more to qualify. The Target REDcard™ Credit Card doesn’t have a welcome offer.
Compare credit cards for grocery shopping
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Bottom line
The two most important factors to consider may be each card’s annual fee and how much you spend on groceries. If you’re thinking about an American Express card, consider which type of rewards you want: cash back or membership rewards points. Points can be more valuable, but cash back is simpler.
For excellent options for rewards cards, check out our cashback credit card finder.
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