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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 2021 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:
The Ascent's best grocery credit cards:
High cash back
Great for: Highest U.S. supermarkets cash back
Rating image, 5.00 out of 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
The U.S. supermarkets and gas stations rewards are clear standouts, in addition to a leading welcome offer and a nice 0% intro APR offer. Terms apply. 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 the first 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
Welcome Bonus
Earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Highlights
- Earn 20% back on Amazon.com purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back.
- Plus, earn $150 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive cash back in the form of statement credits.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- 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.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 12 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.
- 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
Rating image, 4.50 out of 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
One of the highest rewards-earning gas and U.S. supermarkets cards we've seen with no annual fee. The lucrative Amazon.com cash back, big welcome bonus, and 0% intro APR offer round out a diverse feature set. Terms apply. 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
Welcome Bonus
$100 after spending $2,000 within 6 months
Highlights
- Earn 20% back on Amazon.com purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card membership, up to $150 back.
- Plus, earn $100 back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of card membership. You will receive cash back in the form of statement credits.
- 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.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits.
- No annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
0% intro APR
Great for: Bonus cash back
Rating image, 5.00 out of 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 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Somehow this card also packs in a great intro APR offer for no annual fee. Read Full Review
Rewards
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. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 14 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 14 months
Ongoing APR
11.99% - 22.99% Variable APR
Welcome Bonus
Dollar-for-dollar match of all cash back earned the first year
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. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- 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.
- #1 Most Trusted Credit Card according to Investor’s Business Daily.
- No annual fee.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
Great for: One-card wallet
Rating image, 5.00 out of 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
Welcome 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
Rating image, 4.50 out of 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
The welcome offer, lucrative rewards at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and on travel more than justify the annual fee for most who spend in these categories. Terms apply. Read Full Review
Rewards
4x points at restaurants 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
Welcome Bonus
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $4,000 within 6 months
Highlights
- Rose Gold is back. You can now choose between Gold or Rose Gold.
- 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 at Restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and 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 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $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.
- Get up to 12 complimentary months of an Uber Eats Pass subscription when you enroll with your Gold Card by 12/31/21.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
Great for: Restaurants, groceries, and gas
Rating image, 4.50 out of 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
A solid pick with a big bonus and nice list of airlines transfer partners, plus robust rewards program beyond just travel Read Full Review
Rewards
3x points at restaurants and supermarkets as well as at gas stations, air travel, and hotels, 1x points on all else
Annual Fee
$95
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
15.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
Welcome Bonus
80,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months
Highlights
- Earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 80,000 Points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Great for: Cash back in your category of choice
Rating image, 4.50 out of 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 intro APR offer makes this card a standout among its peers. Read Full Review
Rewards
3% cash back in your choice category, 2% at grocery stores & wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), 1% on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 billing cycles
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Ongoing APR
13.99% - 23.99% Variable
Welcome Bonus
$200 after making at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
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, automatic 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
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to all balance transfers
- No expiration on rewards
- If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% - 75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn up to 5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Great for: Whole Foods and Amazon Grocery Shoppers
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 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
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
Welcome Bonus
$70 Amazon gift card
Highlights
- Exclusively for customers with an eligible Prime membership
- $70 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.
Great for: Bonus and 0% intro APR
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Rating image, 5.00 out of 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
A rare, great pick that offers lucrative rewards (up to 4x points), a big bonus, and a competitive 0% intro APR offer, all somehow with no annual fee. Read Full Review
Rewards
4x points on dining, 2x points on groceries, gas, and streaming services, 1x points on all else
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 billing cycles
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 billing cycles
Ongoing APR
14.99% - 23.99%, variable
Welcome Bonus
20,000 points after spending $1,000 within 90 days
Highlights
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. That's a $250 value redeemable towards merchandise, gift cards, cash back, travel and more
- Earn 4X points on takeout, food delivery and dining
- Earn 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, gas stations and on streaming services
- No annual fee
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
- Low Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Points never expire
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. Comparing credit card offers and running the numbers for yourself can help you to determine if a credit card with grocery rewards is right for you.
| Card | Rating | Great For |
|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Highest U.S. supermarkets cash back |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: U.S. supermarkets with no annual fee |
|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Bonus cash back |
|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: One-card wallet |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Restaurants and travel |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Restaurants, groceries, and gas |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Cash back in your category of choice |
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Whole Foods and Amazon Grocery Shoppers |
|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Bonus and 0% intro APR |
FAQs
-
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.
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