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Best Grocery Credit Cards for October 2020
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Grocery credit cards are one of the easiest ways to save money on your normal grocery spending. In America, the average family's grocery spending is $4,500 per year. If you're able to earn 6% back (a real possibility with some cards), you'd be earning an extra $270 per year in cash back automatically -- no coupon clipping required.
The best grocery credit cards of 2020 have a few things in common: low fees, lots of cash back and rewards, and the ability to swipe at the grocery stores you shop at most often. Luckily, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are our picks for the best credit cards for grocery shopping in 2020:
The Ascent's best grocery credit cards for October 2020
- Highest U.S. supermarkets cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- U.S. supermarkets with no annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Bonus cash back: Discover it® Cash Back
- One-card wallet: Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
- Restaurants and travel: American Express® Gold Card
- Cash back in your category of choice: Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card
- Bonus cash back and 0% intro APR: Chase Freedom® credit card
- Whole Foods and Amazon Grocery Shoppers: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
High cash back
Great for: Highest U.S. supermarkets cash back Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
This card is a triple hitter with stellar cash back rates -- particularly at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations, a big welcome offer, and a competitive 0% intro APR offer. Read Full Review
Rewards
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets ($6,000 spending cap per year), 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, 1% back on all else
Annual Fee
$0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
13.99%-23.99% Variable
Bonus
Earn $300 after spending $1,000 within 3 months. Offer Expires 12/10/2020
Highlights
- Limited Time Offer: Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Offer Expires 12/10/2020
- Limited Time Offer: $0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95. Offer Expires 12/10/2020
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee and no interest.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Terms Apply.
No annual fee
Great for: U.S. supermarkets with no annual fee Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
One of the highest rewards-earning gas and U.S. supermarkets cards we've seen with no annual fee. The big welcome bonus and 0% intro APR offer round out a diverse feature set. Read Full Review
Rewards
3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets ($6,000 spending cap per year), 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1% back on all else
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
13.99%-23.99% Variable
Bonus
$200 after spending $1,000 within 3 months
Highlights
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%).
- 2% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores.
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%.
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee and no interest.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.
- No annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
0% intro APR
Great for: Bonus cash back Discover it® Cash Back
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
Reigns supreme with one of the highest cash back rates on the market. No annual fee and a long 0% intro APR offer round out this card’s stacked feature set. Read Full Review
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories you activate ($1,500 quarterly spending cap), 1% back on all else
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 14 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 14 months
Ongoing APR
11.99% - 22.99% Variable
Bonus
Double cash back after the first year for new cardholders
Highlights
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
- Redeem cash back in any amount, any time. Rewards never expire.
- Use your rewards at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
- No annual fee.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
Great for: One-card wallet Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
Earn up to 2% on all purchases - 1% when you buy, and 1% when you pay the minimum each month. Add that to no annual fee and an 18 month 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers and this card is a winner. Read Full Review
Rewards
2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months
Ongoing APR
13.99% – 23.99%, variable
Bonus
N/A
Highlights
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
Great for: Restaurants and travel American Express® Gold Card
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
The welcome offer, lucrative dining and airline credits, and premium rewards more than justifies the annual fee for most who are seeking dining and travel rewards. Read Full Review
Rewards
4x points for dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets purchases ($25,000 annual spending cap), 3x points for travel booked with airlines or amextravel.com, 1x on all else
Annual Fee
$250
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Bonus
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $4,000 within 6 months
Highlights
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Airline Fee Credit: up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees at one selected qualifying airline.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
Great for: Cash back in your category of choice Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
Includes a market-leading bonus in the no-annual fee category and a flexible cash rewards program that enables you to earn premium cash back in a category of your choice. Plus, the long 0% intro APR offer makes this card a standout among its peers. Read Full Review
Rewards
3% cash back on gas or in your choice category, 2% at grocery stores & wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined bonus category quarterly purchases), 1% on all else.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 billing cycles
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 billing cycles on transfers made within first 60 days
Ongoing APR
13.99% - 23.99%, variable
Bonus
$200 after spending $1,000 within 90 days
Highlights
- No annual fee
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
- No expiration on rewards
- If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% - 75% more cash back on every purchase
Great for: Bonus cash back and 0% intro APR Chase Freedom® credit card
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
What We Like About The Card
Packed with a deep bench of perks that is rare in the cash-back category, including an easy-to-pocket bonus, long 0% intro APR offer, and bonus cash back. It's a leading pick no doubt. Read Full Review
Rewards
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, 1% on all else
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Ongoing APR
16.49% - 25.24%, variable
Bonus
$200 after spending $500 within 3 months
Highlights
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - it's automatic
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99 - 23.74%.
- 3% intro balance transfer fee when you transfer a balance during the first 60 days your account is open, with a minimum of $5.
- No annual fee
- Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
- Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journeyâ„
The information related to Chase Freedom® credit card has been collected by The Ascent and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Great for: Whole Foods and Amazon Grocery Shoppers Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
What We Like About The Card
The fact that this card includes no annual fee makes it a no-brainer for Amazon Prime members. Simply put, the cash-back rate is among the highest you'll find for Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. Read Full Review
Rewards
5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% back at restaurants, gas, and drugstores, 1% back on all else
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
14.24% - 22.24% variable
Bonus
$100 Amazon gift card
Highlights
- Exclusively for customers with an eligible Prime membership
- $100 Amazon.com Gift Card instantly upon credit card approval
- 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods
- 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and drugstores
- 1% back on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
The information related to Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card has been collected by The Ascent and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
What is a grocery credit card?
Grocery credit cards are special types of credit cards that offer more rewards for buying groceries. Grocery cash back credit cards generally fall into two main categories: general rewards credit cards that earn points on grocery purchases, or store-specific credit cards that can only be used with one grocery store.
With some credit cards with grocery rewards, you'll earn points or cash back on all of your spending with that card (whether it's at a grocery store or not). The difference is that you'll earn more points when you use the credit card for grocery purchases. For example, you might earn 1% cash back on all purchases, but 3% cash back on grocery credit card purchases.
For store-specific credit cards for groceries, you'll earn points or cash back for grocery purchases made at that store. Some cards let you make purchases in other stores too, but you'll probably earn less rewards. These credit cards for grocery stores sometimes come with other perks, such as discounts on gas fill-ups at the grocery store, special gifts, or extra sales.
What should I look for in a grocery credit card?
Here’s what you should look for:
- Few fees. Fees aren't necessarily bad: if you'll earn enough cash back on groceries, you can sometimes offset fees. But in general, the best credit cards for supermarkets charge few credit card fees.
- Cash back and rewards opportunities. The best grocery cash back credit cards offer a high cash back rates. These may come with other valuable rewards such as discounts on gas fill-ups. Right now, the best grocery credit cards of 2020 are offering up to 6% cash back on grocery purchases.
- Can be used at the stores you shop at. General credit cards for groceries can be used at any grocery store. But if you choose a store-specific card, make sure it's a credit card for a grocery story you'll visit frequently. For example, you might appreciate the Meijer Mastercard® if you live in the Midwest. But if you move to the Pacific Northwest -- where Fred Meyer and Safeway reign supreme -- the best credit card for grocery shopping will give you rewards for those supermarkets instead of Meijer's.
When is a credit card for groceries a good idea?
Grocery credit cards are a good idea when you spend a lot on groceries. Credit cards for groceries are especially helpful to those with families, people who like to cook, and those trying to save money on food costs by not dining out as much. (If you dine out frequently, there are restaurant credit cards that offer better rewards for your lifestyle.)
Another thing to consider is whether you want to use credit cards for groceries. Credit cards aren't right for everyone. Many grocery store chains already offer free store loyalty programs that offer savings. Even the best grocery cash back card may not be the best choice for someone who prefers debit cards or cash.
If you already have a credit card, getting another credit card to use for groceries adds a bit more complexity to your finances. You have to remember to use that credit card to pay for groceries, check your statements, and remember to make monthly payments. It's a small hassle for the reward of getting cash back on groceries. But for some people, it might not be worth it.
How do you know if a grocery cash back credit card is worth the trouble? Figure out how much you'll earn each year. For example, let's imagine you spend about $1,000 per month at the supermarket. You find a grocery credit card that offers 5% cash back on groceries, and doesn't charge an annual fee. In this scenario you'll earn about $600 cash back on groceries per year. For most people, that's worth the extra hassle of managing another credit card for groceries. Your case might be different. Only you can run the numbers for yourself and see if a credit card with grocery rewards is right for you.
FAQs
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A grocery credit card is a type of card that offers a higher amount of cash back or points on grocery purchases. This can be on all grocery purchases, or, in the case of store-specific cards, the bonus might only be offered for grocery purchases made at that store.
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The best credit cards for groceries have a high percentage of cash back, can be used at the grocery stores you shop at most frequently, and come with few fees.
About the Author
Lindsay VanSomeren has been working as a personal finance writer and expert since 2015. Her work has appeared on Business Insider, Credit Karma, LendingTree, Northwestern Mutual, and The Balance, among other publications. She is passionate about making personal finance accessible to everyone by delivering straight talk about financial products. She has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
