Best Grocery Credit Cards
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Compare the top credit cards for supermarket and grocery spending — including store-specific picks for Costco, Whole Foods, Target, and more. No affiliate links. We earn $0 from applications.
Where Do You Shop?
The right card depends entirely on which stores you use. Select your primary retailer and we’ll show you the best card for that store — including the exclusions most sites don’t mention.
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred pays 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000/year. At average household spend of $5,500/year you’d net ~$235 after the $95 fee. The Amex Gold earns 4× MR points at supermarkets up to $25,000/year — better if you redeem for travel.
Compare all cash back cardsCapital One Savor earns 3% at grocery stores, dining, and entertainment — no fee, no cap. Amazon Prime Visa earns 5% at Whole Foods and Amazon.com with no card fee (Prime required). Citi Strata earns 3× at supermarkets plus a self-select bonus category.
See grocery + gas combos Gas & EV charging card guide- Warehouse clubs — Costco and Sam’s Club excluded from most supermarket rates
- Superstores — Target and Walmart excluded from most grocery rates
- Spend caps — 5–6% rates capped at $6,000–$25,000/yr then drop to 1%
- Delivery apps — Instacart and DoorDash often don’t code as grocery
- Rotating quarters — must activate each quarter or lose the bonus rate
Live Grocery Card Rankings
Ranked by grocery-specific score — not a blended category score. Cards that perform best for supermarket spend rank higher here.
Best credit cards for grocery and supermarket spending, . Highest rate at traditional supermarkets: Amex Blue Cash Preferred (6% at US supermarkets, up to $6k/yr, $95 annual fee — breaks even at ~$3,200/yr vs a 2% card). Best no-fee option: Capital One Savor (3% at grocery stores, dining, and entertainment, uncapped). Best for Whole Foods: Amazon Prime Visa (5%, no card fee, Prime required). Best for Costco: BoA Customized Cash Rewards (2%, includes wholesale clubs). Walmart and Target excluded from grocery bonus on most cards. No affiliate links — no issuer pays to appear.
The Wallet Optimization Journal maps your monthly spend by store and category to every card in your wallet, then calculates your real annual return net of fees. No sign-up. No affiliate links.
Grocery Credit Card FAQ
What’s the highest cash back rate at grocery stores?
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000/year, then 1%. With a $95 annual fee it pays for itself at roughly $3,200/year vs a 2% card. At the average household’s $5,500/year the net annual return after the fee is around $235. Full grocery card comparison →
What’s the best card for Costco?
Costco only accepts Visa and is excluded from the supermarket category on most grocery cards. The Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi earns 2% on Costco purchases. Among general Visa cards, BoA Customized Cash Rewards earns 2% at “grocery stores and wholesale clubs” — one of few cards that explicitly includes warehouse clubs. Full Costco card guide →
What’s the best card for Whole Foods?
The Amazon Prime Visa earns 5% at Whole Foods in-store and online with no annual card fee, as long as you have an active Prime membership. If you don’t have Prime, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% at US supermarkets including Whole Foods, with a $95 annual fee.
Does Walmart count as a grocery store?
No. Walmart is excluded from the grocery or supermarket bonus category on virtually every major card. The Capital One Walmart Rewards Card earns 5% on Walmart.com and 2% in-store. Among general cards, a flat 2% card like Wells Fargo Active Cash is the best option for Walmart grocery purchases.
Amex BCP vs Capital One Savor — which wins for groceries?
At exactly $3,200/year in grocery spend they break even. Above that the BCP’s 6% beats the Savor’s 3% after the $95 fee. Below $3,200/year, the Savor wins. The Savor also earns 3% on dining and entertainment with no cap — better if you want one multi-category card.
Can I earn grocery rewards through Instacart or delivery apps?
It depends on how the transaction codes. Orders through a grocery store’s own app often code as grocery. Third-party apps like Instacart or DoorDash typically code as their own merchant category. The HSBC Premier includes $140/year in Instacart+ credits — more valuable than any earn rate for frequent Instacart users.
Is a grocery card worth an annual fee?
For most households, yes. A $95 fee on a 6% card breaks even at about $3,200/year vs a 2% no-fee card. The average US household spends roughly $5,500/year on groceries — well above break-even. Use the wallet calculator to run your specific numbers. The cash back you earn is not taxable income — see are credit card rewards taxable.
Should I use the same card for groceries and gas?
Not necessarily. The Amex BCP earns 3% at US gas stations — solid but not best-in-class. Many optimizers carry a high grocery card plus a separate gas card. Use the gas card rankings or the gas card deep-dive to find the best pairing. If you drive an EV, see the gas & EV charging card guide — EV charging coverage varies significantly by card.