Groceries are one of the most consistent and recurring household expenses, which makes the supermarket category one of the most valuable to optimize on a credit card. Not everyone shops the same way, though. Some people primarily eat out and barely set foot in a grocery store, while others cook almost every meal at home and spend hundreds of dollars a month at the supermarket. If you fall in the latter camp, choosing the right card for this category can add up to a meaningful amount of rewards over the course of a year.
In this post I want to look at the best credit cards for grocery store and supermarket spending, whether you want to earn cash back, transferable points, airline miles, or hotel points. I will only be covering cards that earn at least 2% back, or the equivalent of that based on my valuations.
Compare credit cards for groceries
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 75,000 bonus points
- 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel purchases
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining
- 3x on vacation homes
- 3x on gas & EV charging
- 3x on top streaming services
- 3x on online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs)
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after qualifying purchases
- Earn 3x Points on Airfare
- Earn 3x Points on Hotels
- Earn 3x Points at Restaurants
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Citi Double Cash® Card
Earn $200 after qualifying purchases
- Earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase, earn 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
1% cash back when you make a purchase
1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- 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. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- 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 an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Grocery credit cards overview
Here is a quick overview of the cards I consider to be the best for grocery and supermarket spending, followed by a detailed look at each one.
1. American Express® Gold Card
The Amex Gold Card is my top pick for the best overall card for grocery spending. It earns 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1x), which I value at a 6.8% return. No other card at a comparable annual fee comes close to that return at the supermarket checkout. Combined with its other category bonuses and ongoing credits, the Amex Gold is one of the most well-rounded mid-range travel cards available.
Welcome bonus
The card is currently offering as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 within the first six months. I value those points at around $1,700.
Rewards structure
- 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x
- 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x
- 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee on non-U.S. purchases (Rates & Fees)
- annual fee (Rates & Fees)
Annual credits
The Amex Gold comes with up to $120 per year in dining credits ($10 per month at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and select other partners), up to $120 per year in Uber Cash, up to $100 in Resy credits, and up to $84 in Dunkin’ credits. If you can use a meaningful portion of those credits, the effective annual cost becomes more palatable. (Enrollment is required for select benefits)
The $25,000 annual cap
The 4x grocery earn applies to the first $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year. For most households, that is more than enough. At $25,000 per year, you would be spending over $2,000 per month at the supermarket. If you do exceed that threshold, the earn rate drops to 1x, which is where another card in your wallet should take over.
If you spend meaningfully at U.S. supermarkets and want the best travel rewards card for that category, the Amex Gold is the answer. The increased earning rate at restaurants and supermarkets together makes it one of the most rewarding cards available for daily life spending.
Link: Learn more about the American Express® Gold Card
2. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is the best cash back card for grocery spending, full stop. It earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. At 6%, there is simply no other card that comes close for U.S. supermarket cash back.
Welcome bonus
The card offers as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 within the first six months. The annual fee is 0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95, making it essentially risk-free to try. (Rates & Fees)
Rewards structure
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, with no cap
- 3% cash back on transit, including rideshare, parking, tolls, and public transit
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
The $6,000 annual cap on the 6% grocery rate is the main thing to plan around. That translates to $500 per month at the supermarket. If you regularly exceed that, the Amex Gold’s 4x on U.S. supermarkets (with a $25,000 cap, then 1x) is a better fit for the overflow.
Link: Learn more about the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
3. Citi Strata Premier® Card
The Citi Strata Premier earns 3x ThankYou points at supermarkets globally, with no caps and no foreign transaction fees. I value ThankYou points at 1.7 cents each, making that 3x equivalent to a 5.1% return. Crucially, unlike the Amex Gold and both Blue Cash cards, the Strata Premier’s grocery bonus applies everywhere in the world, not just the U.S. That makes it the best card for grocery spending abroad, and the best all-around mid-range card for people who divide their time internationally.
Welcome bonus
The card offers 60,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 within the first three months. I value that at approximately $1,020.
Rewards structure
- 3x ThankYou points at supermarkets globally, no caps
- 3x ThankYou points at restaurants, gas stations and EV charging, airfare, and hotels, all globally with no caps
- 10x ThankYou points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
The $100 annual hotel credit for a single stay of $500 or more through Citi Travel can bring the net annual fee very close to zero for those who book hotels with any regularity. Pairing the Strata Premier with the no annual fee Citi Double Cash gives you 3x on groceries, dining, gas, airfare, and hotels, and 2x on everything else, for under $100 per year in total fees.
ThankYou transfer partners
With the Strata Premier, you unlock full access to all ThankYou transfer partners, including the exclusive American AAdvantage partnership that no other bank can match. If you travel on American Airlines or want the option to reach AAdvantage for premium cabin redemptions, the Strata Premier is particularly unique.
The Citi Strata Premier is the best mid-range card for grocery spending abroad and the best all-around option for someone who wants 3x on multiple major categories for $95 per year.
Link: Learn more about the Citi Strata Premier® Card
4. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6x Hilton Honors points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations. I value Hilton points at 0.5 cents each, making that 6x equivalent to a 3% return on grocery spending. While that return is not the highest on this list, the real case for this card is the ongoing perks that come alongside it, particularly the complimentary Hilton Gold status and up to $200 per year in Hilton statement credits.
Welcome bonus
The card is offering a welcome bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $3,000 within the first six months. I value the 130,000 points at $650.
Rewards structure
- 12x Hilton Honors points at Hilton properties globally
- 6x Hilton Honors points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations
- 4x Hilton Honors points on U.S. online retail purchases
- 3x Hilton Honors points on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees)
- $150 (Rates & Fees)
Link: Learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
5. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
The no annual fee Capital One Savor is one of the most underrated cards on this list. It earns 3% cash back on grocery store purchases globally, with no annual caps and no foreign transaction fees. The combination of no annual fee, no caps, no foreign transaction fees, and a broad global grocery category makes this card uniquely versatile, and I personally have this card in my wallet.
Welcome bonus
The card offers $200 cash back after spending $500 within the first three months. That is one of the lowest spending requirements of any card with a $200 bonus, making it very easy to earn.
Rewards structure
- 3% cash back on dining, grocery stores, entertainment, and popular streaming services globally, all with no caps
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
The grocery category on the Capital One Savor excludes superstores like Walmart and Target, but otherwise applies globally, which is a meaningful distinction compared to the Amex cards that restrict the grocery bonus to U.S. locations only.
Link: Learn more about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
6. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
The no annual fee Amex Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. It also earns 3% at U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases under the same $6,000 cap per category. The Blue Cash Everyday is a natural starting point for anyone who wants no annual fee cash back across three practical everyday categories (Rates & Fees).
Welcome bonus
The card offers as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 within the first six months. The spending requirement is low, and the 0% intro APR for 15 months is a useful feature for large upcoming purchases.
Rewards structure
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases, each on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- No annual fee
The $6,000 per category cap covers up to $500 per month at the supermarket, which is sufficient for most households. The 1% on non-bonused categories is the card’s main weakness, and for that reason I would recommend pairing it with a flat-rate card like the Citi Double Cash for everything outside the three bonus categories.
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday is a strong no annual fee option for U.S. grocery, gas, and online retail spending. The 1% on non-bonused categories is its main gap, but paired with a flat-rate card, it forms a simple and effective cash back setup with no ongoing cost.
Review: Learn more about the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
7. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X does not have a dedicated grocery bonus category, but it earns 2x Capital One miles on all purchases with no exceptions. I value Capital One miles at 1.7 cents each, making that 2x equivalent to a 3.4% return on every purchase including groceries. For a premium card that also offers $300 in annual travel credits and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, the all-purchases floor of 2x makes this one of the best cards for everyday spending across the board.
Welcome bonus
The card is offering 75,000 Capital One miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months. I value that at about $1,275.
Why it makes the grocery list
The Venture X earns 2x on every purchase everywhere, including foreign grocery stores, without any category restrictions, annual caps, or foreign transaction fees. For someone who has the Amex Gold for 4x on U.S. supermarkets and hits the $25,000 annual cap, the Venture X is a natural overflow card at 2x. For international grocery shopping, the Venture X is one of the best options available. And for those who want simplicity over optimization, 2x on everything with a net-zero annual fee is a genuinely compelling proposition.
The Capital One Venture X belongs in this list because its 2x-on-everything floor, no foreign transaction fees, and near-net-zero annual fee make it a strong option for global grocery spending and an excellent complement to cards with U.S.-only grocery bonuses.
Link: Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
8. Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash does not have a grocery-specific bonus category, but it earns an effective 2x ThankYou points on all purchases through its structure of 1x when you make a purchase and 1x when you pay. I value ThankYou points at 1.7 cents each when transferred to airline partners, making that 2x equivalent to a return of up to 3.4%. For a no annual fee card, that is exceptional.
Welcome bonus
The card offers 20,000 ThankYou points after spending $1,500 within the first six months. That is a modest bonus, though the ongoing earn rate is the real story.
Why it makes the grocery list
The Double Cash is on this list because it is the ideal companion card to the grocery-focused cards above. Many of the cards above have a weak 1x or 1.5x earn on non-bonused purchases. The Citi Double Cash fills that gap at 2x on everything with no annual fee. Paired with the Citi Strata Premier® Card, you unlock the full ThankYou transfer partner roster on both cards’ combined points, including American AAdvantage. That is a powerful and low-cost setup.
- 2x ThankYou points (1x on purchase + 1x on payment) on all purchases including groceries
- No annual fee
- 3% foreign transaction fee, so best for domestic purchases
In conjunction with the Citi Strata Premier® Card, the Double Cash transforms into a full-featured transferable points card, not just a cash back card.
The Citi Double Cash is not the best standalone card for grocery spending, but it is the best no annual fee flat-rate companion to the grocery cards on this list. Pair it with the Amex Gold or Blue Cash Preferred for U.S. supermarkets, and use it for everything else.
Link: Learn more about the Citi Double Cash® Card
Best card for online groceries
For those who order groceries online rather than shopping in store, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is worth calling out specifically. The card offers 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on online grocery purchases, which is a dedicated category that covers grocery pickup and delivery orders placed online with grocery stores, specialty food stores, and delivery service merchants that classify as grocery store merchants. Meal kit delivery services like HelloFresh are also included. Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs are excluded.
For someone who does most or all of their grocery shopping online, this card is a natural fit alongside its other strong categories in dining, travel, and streaming.
Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
What qualifies as grocery & supermarket spending?
Before getting into the cards, it is worth understanding exactly what counts as grocery store spending for bonus points purposes, because the category is narrower than you might expect.
- The grocery store category generally excludes warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club, big-box stores like Walmart and Target, drugstores, convenience stores, and similar merchants; bonus points typically apply only at traditional supermarkets like Publix, Albertsons, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and similar chains
- For American Express cards with U.S. supermarket bonuses, the category is explicitly limited to U.S. locations only; foreign grocery store purchases and mini-markets do not qualify
- The Citi Strata Premier and Capital One Savor, by contrast, award grocery bonuses globally, which is a meaningful advantage for those who travel internationally
- It all depends on how a merchant categorizes themselves; for instance, some liquor stores and bodegas do code as grocery stores, which can be a pleasant surprise
- Instacart orders placed from qualifying supermarkets generally earn bonus points, though this is not universally consistent across all cards and situations
With those parameters in mind, here are the best cards for grocery spending.
Things to consider before applying
U.S.-only vs. global grocery bonuses matter if you travel or live abroad
The Amex Gold and both Blue Cash cards restrict their grocery bonuses to U.S. supermarket locations only. If you spend time outside the U.S. and buy groceries while traveling, those cards will earn at the base rate. The Citi Strata Premier and Capital One Savor both award grocery bonuses globally, making them the better options for anyone with meaningful international spending.
Annual caps can affect which card earns the most
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred caps its 6% grocery earn at $6,000 per year. The Blue Cash Everyday caps its 3% at $6,000 per year. The Amex Gold caps its 4x at $25,000 per year. The Citi Strata Premier and Capital One Savor have no caps at all on grocery spending. If your household spends over $500 per month at the supermarket, you should plan your card mix accordingly and consider which card covers the overflow most efficiently.
Cash back vs. transferable points
The Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday earn straight cash back with no ability to convert to airline or hotel partners. The Amex Gold, Citi Strata Premier, Capital One Savor (with Venture X), and Citi Double Cash (with Strata Premier) all earn currencies that can transfer to travel partners, potentially giving you significantly more than face value on redemptions. If you ever want to use your grocery-spending rewards toward business class flights or luxury hotels, the transferable points options are worth the extra consideration.
Check how your local stores code before committing
The category coding can vary by merchant, and sometimes in your favor. Local bodegas, ethnic grocery stores, liquor stores, Instacart, and various specialty food vendors sometimes code as grocery stores depending on how the merchant is registered. I always recommend making a small test purchase at any new store you plan to use regularly, and checking how it categorizes afterward. This often determines which card I use for those merchants going forward.
Bottom line
There are some genuinely outstanding credit cards for grocery store and supermarket spending across every price point and reward preference.
For travel rewards, the Amex Gold is the best card for U.S. supermarket spending, while the Citi Strata Premier is the best option for grocery spending globally with no caps. For cash back, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns the best rate available, and the no annual fee Capital One Savor earns a competitive global rate with no restrictions. For those who want simplicity, the Citi Double Cash and Capital One Venture X both earn a strong 2x return on everything with no annual cap and no need to think about categories.
As always, the best answer is usually a combination of cards rather than a single one. Just make sure to pay attention to how your specific stores code, since not every place you buy groceries will trigger the bonus category on every card. I always recommend verifying with a test purchase before committing.
Grocery credit card FAQs
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees).
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