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Groceries make up a significant portion of everyday expenses. Wouldn't it be great to earn cash back or perks on all that spending you have to do anyway? You can if you use the right rewards credit card to buy groceries. Several credit cards offer cash back or rewards points for grocery purchases.
3 Partner Offers
| Our Top Picks for Best Cash Back Cards | |
|---|---|
 Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel NULL cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target); NULL cash back on popular streaming services and entertainment 1% cash back on all other purchases $250 one-time cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening |
 Credit One Bank American Express® Card for Rebuilding Credit | 1% cash back on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services; terms apply |
 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | 3% cash back in the category of your choice; automatic 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 spent each quarter in 3% and 2% categories) 1% back on all other purchases |
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Want a card that makes it simple to earn rewards on grocery spending and charges no annual fee? The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, unlimited NULL cash back on dining and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), NULL cash back on popular streaming services and entertainment and 1% cash back on all other purchases. There's no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee and no limits on the cash back you can earn.
You can earn a one-time $250 cash bonus if you make $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. There's also an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; the APR is 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) (a balance transfer fee applies). See rates and fees.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
on Capital One's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Intro APR
Rewards
3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 1% Cash Back on all other purchases
5% Cash Back on Hotels and Rental Cars Booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
3% Cash Back on Grocery Stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), Dining, Entertainment & Popular Streaming Services
1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases
Intro Bonus
$250 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- For a limited time, earn a $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
Credit One Bank American Express® Card for Rebuilding Credit
The Credit One Bank American Express® Card for Rebuilding Credit is one of few cards for poor or fair credit that has a rewards program. You earn 1% cash back on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
This card has a high 29.24% Variable, which is typical of cards geared toward lower credit score ranges. As a result, aim to pay your bill in full every month. There is a $75 annual fee your first year, then it increases to $99, which is billed monthly at $8.25.
Credit One Bank American Express® Card for Rebuilding Credit
on Credit One Bank's website
Terms Apply
Recommended FICO® Score*
Credit One Bank American Express® Card for Rebuilding Credit
APR
29.24% Variable
Intro APR
Rewards
Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services, terms apply
Annual Fee
$75 First year. $99 thereafter, billed monthly at $8.25
Card Details
- Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services, terms apply
- With $0 Fraud Liability, you won't be responsibe for unauthorized charges
- Retail Protection covers you if an eligible item is accidentally damaged or stolen, terms apply
- Get deals on shopping, dining travel, and entertainment through Amex Offers
- Enjoy exclusive access to pre-sale tickets for some of the hottest nationwide concerts and events
- Know you're covered when the unexpected happens while traveling with Travel Accident Insurance, terms apply
- If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
If you want a rewards program that's tailored to your spending, consider the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. You earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, which might include gas and EV charging stations, online shopping, cable/internet/phone plans, streaming, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings.
You'll also earn an automatic 2% cash back each quarter at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases; then earn 1% cash back) and an unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
You can earn an elevated rewards rate if you're also a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member. These members earn 25% to 75% more cash back on every purchase depending on your tier in the program.
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How Do Rotating Categories Work for Grocery Rewards?
Rotating rewards categories change each quarter. For example, you might earn cash back on grocery store purchases one quarter, restaurants the second, travel the third and online shopping the fourth.
If you're using a card with rotating rewards, be sure you understand the requirements for earning them. You'll want to keep track of spending limits as well as when your quarterly rewards categories change so you can plan your spending to maximize rewards. You may also need to activate your account each quarter to earn that quarter's rotating rewards.
Do Cards Restrict Where You Can Earn Grocery Rewards?
Whether purchases are considered "groceries" generally depends on where they are made. For instance, buying milk and eggs at a supermarket usually earns rewards, but buying them at a convenience store may not. Cards may not reward grocery purchases at warehouse clubs, discount stores, gas stations and convenience stores, or at smaller retailers such as bakeries.
These guidelines have specific exceptions and can vary from one card to another. For instance, many cards exclude purchases made at big box stores, such as Target or Costco, from being counted as grocery spending. To maximize your rewards, read each card's benefit details before applying. If you're unsure whether a particular merchant qualifies for grocery rewards, contact the card issuer or make a small purchase and check your credit card statement to see how it was categorized. You might ultimately decide that a card that rewards grocery purchases isn't right for you if it excludes your favorite stores.
Do I Need a Good Credit Score to Get a Grocery Rewards Card?
Typically, rewards credit cards require good to exceptional credit. In the FICO® Score☉ ☉ model commonly used by credit card issuers, a score of 670 to 739 is considered good; a score of 740 or higher is considered exceptional. However, you can also find rewards cards for fair credit (a FICO® Score of 580 to 669).
Credit card issuers may indicate preferred credit score ranges for their cards. As you research your options, checking card issuers' preferred ranges will help narrow your search to a card for which you're likely to qualify. Using Experian CreditMatch™ can help you find the credit cards suitable for your credit profile. You may also look into getting prequalified for credit cards, which won't result in a hard inquiry that can reduce your credit scores.
How to Decide Which Card is Right for You
When selecting the best credit card for buying groceries, consider the following:
- The rewards you want: Frequent travelers may want airline miles or points good toward travel. If you'd rather have cash in hand, consider a card that offers cash back or points you can redeem for gift cards or shopping online.
- How you shop: Review rewards program details to see if the places you shop qualify for rewards. Also consider your grocery budget: If you spend $1,000 a month at the supermarket, a card that caps your grocery rewards may not be ideal.
- Features and costs: Assess the ongoing APR; special offers such as spending bonuses or introductory 0% APR offers on purchases or balance transfers; perks such as travel insurance or purchase protection; and annual, foreign transaction and late fees.
- How rewards work: Some cards require quarterly activation to earn rewards or earn a certain dollar amount in rewards before you can redeem them. If that's too complicated for you, look for a card that rewards you automatically, have no minimum redemption value or expiration date, or earn a flat rewards rate all year.
- Your credit score: Before applying for a credit card, check your credit score. Since every application can generate a hard inquiry on your credit report, focus on cards for which you're likely to be approved.
Food for Thought
Using the right credit card when grocery shopping can net substantial rewards. Just be careful that your appetite for rewards doesn't spur you to overspend. To ensure your new credit card doesn't take a bite out of your credit score, pay your bill on time each month and pay off the balance in full; otherwise, you'll end up paying interest on your groceries, which can quickly wipe out any savings from using the card. Setting up free credit monitoring makes it easy to keep tabs on how credit card spending is affecting your credit score.