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Best credit card for groceries

Most rewards cards pay a bonus at supermarkets, but the rate and the cap vary a lot. Today the top-ranked card for supermarkets and grocery stores is the American Express Gold at 6.8% effective value, and the best with no annual fee is the Chase Freedom Flex at 5%.

Rates last reviewed between August 5, 2026 and October 22, 2026. Data published October 22, 2026.

Cards with a bonus on groceries

#CardEarnsEffective valueAnnual feeDetails
1 American Express GoldAmex 4x points 6.8% $325
  • U.S. supermarkets. (first $25,000 per year)
2 American Express Blue Cash PreferredAmex 6% cash back 6% $95
  • 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000/year in purchases, then 1%. Excludes superstores, warehouse clubs, and gas stat…
3 Chase Freedom FlexMastercard 5% cash back 5% $0
  • 5% Rotating Bonus Categories (first $1,500 per quarter)
  • Rotating: activate each quarter
4 Comenity AAA Daily AdvantageVisa 5% cash back 5% $0
  • Combined with gas stations and wholesale clubs, capped at $500 in cash back per calendar year across all three categori…
5 Citi StrataMastercard 3x points 4.8% $0
  • Supermarkets.
6 Citi Strata PremierMastercard 3x points 4.8% $95
  • Supermarkets.
7 Synchrony Verizon VisaVisa 4% cash back 4% $0
  • Earned as Verizon Dollars. No cap on earnings.
8 Chase Southwest PlusVisa 2x points 3.6% $99
  • First $5,000 in combined gas station and grocery store spend per calendar year, then 1x.
9 Chase Southwest PremierVisa 2x points 3.6% $149
  • First $8,000 in combined grocery store and restaurant spend per calendar year, then 1x.
10 Chase AeroplanMastercard 2x points 3.6% $195
  • Grocery stores. Chase is also paying 3x on these purchases until the end of 2026; the lasting rate is 2x.

For comparison: the best flat-rate cards

These pay the same rate on everything, so they set the bar a bonus card has to beat.

#CardEarnsEffective valueAnnual feeDetails
1 Coastal Community Bank Robinhood Gold CardVisa 3% cash back 3% $0
  • Flat rate on all purchases
2 Alliant Credit Union Alliant Visa® Signature CardVisa 2.5% cash back 2.5% $0
  • Flat rate on all purchases
3 Citi Strata EliteMastercard 1.5x points 2.4% $595
  • Flat rate on all purchases
4 Capital One Venture RewardsVisa 2x miles 2.4% $95
  • Flat rate on all purchases
5 Capital One Venture XVisa 2x miles 2.4% $395
  • Flat rate on all purchases

Effective value is the headline rate times what a point or mile is worth, before annual fees. Points and miles are valued at: American Express 1.7¢, Citi 1.6¢, Chase 1.8¢, Capital One 1.2¢. Cash back counts at face value. Personal cards only; sign-up bonuses, statement credits and other perks are not counted.

What usually counts

  • Supermarkets and grocery stores are the core of this category.
  • Some cards also count grocery delivery or pickup; the issuer's terms say which.

Watch out for

  • Superstores such as Walmart and Target, and warehouse clubs such as Costco, are often not treated as grocery stores. Check the terms before assuming a bonus.
  • Many bonus rates stop at a yearly or quarterly spending cap. The details column shows it when the data has one.

Which of your cards wins?

The best card in the world is the best card you actually own. Add your cards to PointMaxxer and see which one to use for groceries, and every other purchase, in a second. Free, no sign-up, no bank login.

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