The Best Credit Cards for Grocery Shopping All Have This One Thing in Common (2024)

• Groceries
• Shopping Tips

published Mar 26, 2023

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Most people will agree that groceries aren’t cheap. Currently, the average family in the United States dishes out $5,259 annually on food at home. While tried-and-true shopping hacks like swapping to store brands and avoiding prepared foods can reduce costs, thinking about how you pay can also benefit your budget. In fact, using a credit card that offers grocery rewards can take the sting out of rising food prices by giving you hundreds of dollars back each year.

While there are a variety of cash-back credit cards to consider, the best rewards programs offer a generous 5 to 6% cash back for grocery purchases. For many families, these reward dollars can go a long way in offsetting monthly expenses, including food costs. And cash rewards aren’t the only perk; you’ll also receive an interest-free period when you first sign up and cash bonuses (as long as you spend a certain amount of money within the first few months of opening your account). If you’re looking for a new grocery rewards card, here are three worth checking out.

Which Cards Offer the Most Generous Grocery Rewards?

1. American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card

One of the best grocery rewards cards is the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card, which offers a whopping 6% cash back on up to $6,000 worth of grocery purchases each year. And remember, the average family spends just under $5,300, so this card option would be suitable for most.

Once this spending threshold is met, the reward rate drops to one percent, but you still earn additional cash back beyond the cap. New cardmembers will also receive a $250 bonus when they spend $3,000 in the first six months and 0% introductory interest rate for purchases made within the first 12 months, along with no annual fee in the first year. After that, the annual fee of $95 kicks in, but it’s a relatively small price to pay for a high reward rate.

2. Discover It Cash Back Credit Card

The Discover It Cash Back Credit Card also tops the list of popular grocery reward cards, offering a high cash back rate of 5% on groceries during the first three months each year. These bonus rewards apply towards a $1,500 maximum spend at supermarkets during that time, then 1% on any additional groceries purchases beyond the cap.

Although you won’t find a typical sign-up bonus, the reward program takes a different spin by offering to match all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year. Those who earn $150 cash back, for example, will automatically accrue a $300 reward, so those reward dollars can add up fast. Another perk: There’s no annual fee, ever.

3. Citi Custom Cash Card

The Citi Custom Cash Card is another smart pick for anyone looking to earn grocery rewards, as you’ll qualify for 5% cash back on a top eligible spend category, one of which includes groceries, on up to $500 spent each billing cycle. This spending limit translates into $6,000 worth of food-at-home purchased annually. Plus, there’s a sweet sign-up bonus of $200 after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of the account opening and no annual fee, ever.

Before Applying for a Grocery Rewards Credit Card, a Few Tips

Filed in: