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If you spend a lot of money on groceries, it makes sense to use a credit card that earns bonus rewards at the supermarket to make the most of this unavoidable expense. Fortunately, there are lots of credit cards that offer bonus points, miles, or cash back at the grocery store — and some even don't charge an annual fee.

One of the best picks if you like earning flexible points is the American Express® Gold Card , which earns 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in spending per year (then 1x). That's my go-to card for grocery spending, but if the supermarket I'm shopping at doesn't accept Amex, I'll use my Citi Premier® Card to earn 3x points instead. 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a new entry on this list, because it now offers 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs) — including meal kit delivery services.

Here are our top credit card picks for earning the most rewards at grocery stores.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Compare the best grocery credit cards

The best grocery credit card reviews

American Express® Gold Card

The American Express® Gold Card is an excellent all-around choice for foodies, offering 4x points on up to $25,000 in combined annual purchases (then 1x) at U.S. supermarkets. It also earns 4x points at restaurants, 3x points on airfare booked with the airline or through Amex Travel, and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

In addition, cardholders receive up to $120 per year in dining credits** (up to $10 per month) with participating restaurants and food delivery services, and up to $120 per year (up to $10 per month) in Uber Cash credits**. The card charges a $250 annual fee, but if you take advantage of these credits and other perks, you can more than offset the yearly cost.

Review: American Express Gold card review

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The pandemic has shifted consumer grocery shopping habits, with many now preferring to order groceries online for curbside pickup or delivery. As part of a recent refresh, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card now offers 3x points for online grocery purchases.

You'll earn bonus points when you use your card to pay for grocery pickup and delivery orders that are placed online with grocery stores, specialty food stores, meal kit delivery services, or delivery service merchants that classify as grocery store merchants (excluding membership and subscription fees).

Purchases from Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs, liquor stores, and merchants that specialize in only a few grocery items do not qualify. Pharmacy purchases (even from those located in supermarkets), gift cards, gift boxes, and gift baskets aren't eligible, either.

Review: Chase Sapphire Preferred card review

Citi Premier® Card

The Citi Premier® Card might not be the first card that comes to mind for groceries, but if you're looking for an all-purpose card that earns bonus rewards in lots of categories — including the supermarket — it's an excellent choice.

Along with a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, you'll earn 3x points at supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and on airfare, and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases. Citi ThankYou points are often underrated, but they're incredibly versatile — you can transfer them to airline and hotel partners, use them to book travel through the Citi ThankYou portal, or redeem them for gift cards, cash back, merchandise, and more.

Review: Citi Premier credit card review

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is unique in that it automatically earns 5x points (5% back) in your highest eligible category each billing cycle, on up to $500 in spending (then 1x). Qualifying categories include grocery stores (as well as restaurants, gas stations, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment).

There's no annual fee, and the card offers a solid welcome bonus: $200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. It's a good choice if your spending habits change from time to time, or if you prefer a hands-off approach and don't want to keep tabs on activating or tracking bonus categories.

Review: Citi Custom Cash card review

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

If you prefer earning cash back on your grocery spending, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can't be beat. It earns 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year (then 1%) — so by maximizing this category alone by spending, on average, $500 a month on groceries, you can earn $360 in cash back each year.

The card also offers 6% back on select US streaming services, 3% on transit, 3% at US gas stations, and 1% on all other purchases. There's an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, but if you spend a lot in the card's bonus categories, you can make up for the cost easily (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as statement credits).

Review: Amex Blue Cash Preferred card review

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you like earning cash back without paying an annual fee, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is an easy choice — especially since there are no caps or geographic restrictions on what you can earn. Cardholders earn an unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% cash back on groceries, dining, entertainment, and streaming services, and 1% back on everything else.

The card offers a decent welcome bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, and it doesn't add foreign transaction fees, so it's a good choice if you're traveling abroad.

Review: Capital One SavorOne credit card review

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Amazon Prime members can take the sting out of their Whole Foods grocery bill when they use the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card. With a Prime membership, cardholders earn 5% back on Whole Foods and Amazon purchases (including Amazon Fresh), 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases.

If you don't have a Prime Membership, the card earns 3% back instead of 5%. There's no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, so this card is a good pick if you spend a lot at Whole Foods and Amazon. If you shop at other supermarkets, though, you'll likely do better with a card that earns a bonus at all grocery stores.

Review: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature credit card review 

Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card

Of all the Amex cards in my wallet, I've had the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card the longest. Before I opened the Amex Gold Card, this was my primary card for grocery spending because it earns 3x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year (then 1x). It also earns 2x points at U.S. gas stations, and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

The card has a trick up its sleeve, too. If you make at least 30 purchases on the card in a billing cycle, you'll get a 50% bonus on all the points you've earned, effectively bumping the rate to 4.5x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to spending limits). The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card also comes with a much more manageable annual fee of $95 compared to the Amex Gold Card.

How we chose the best grocery credit cards

We narrowed down our list of the best credit cards for grocery shopping by evaluating several factors:

• Ease of use — Does the card have a straightforward rewards program? Are there any restrictions on earning bonus rewards?
• Earning potential — What bonus do you earn at the supermarket with this card, and are there other bonus categories that reward everyday spending?
• Annual fee — Some rewards credit cards have no annual fee, but for those that do charge one, are there additional benefits that make it worth it?
• Cards for various types of consumers — We chose cards to reflect different types of spending, from families looking to earn the most cash back to those who prefer shopping online.

Grocery credit card frequently asked questions (FAQ)