Best Grocery Credit Cards 2026: 3-6% Back at Supermarkets
Amex Blue Cash Preferred is the best grocery card if you spend $150+/month at US supermarkets — the 6% return exceeds the $95 annual fee quickly. For grocery spenders under $150/month, the no-fee Amex Blue Cash Everyday (3%) or Citi Custom Cash (5% on top category) earns more net value.
At a Glance
| # | Card / Product | Award | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | APR Range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Our Top Pick | $0 first year, then $95/year | — | — | Apply → |
| 2 | Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Also Excellent | $0 | — | — | Apply → |
| 3 | Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | Best Value | $0 | — | — | Apply → |
| 4 | Citi Custom Cash® Card | Worth Considering | $0 | — | — | Apply → |
| 5 | Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi | Honorable Mention | $0 with paid Costco membership | 4% on gas/EV (first $7,000/year, then 1%); 3% on restaurants and eligible travel; 2% at Costco/Costco.com; 1% everywhere else | 18.74%–26.74% Variable | Apply → |
Grocery Credit Cards Buying Guide
Photo by Kampus Production / PexelsHow we evaluated these. We compared grocery credit cards across rewards rate at supermarkets (3%–6% cash back or points), annual fee, bonus category caps, sign-up bonus, APR range, and exclusions (warehouse clubs, superstores), cross-referencing NerdWallet, Bankrate, and verified cardholder reviews. Rates as of April 2026. Terms apply. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.
Affiliate disclosure: Some products featured are from partners who compensate us. This does not affect our ratings or editorial recommendations.
Supermarket vs. Warehouse Club vs. Grocery Delivery: Which Qualifies
Grocery credit card rewards are highly specific about where they apply. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday cards pay elevated rates at US supermarkets — defined as stores whose primary business is selling food. Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs (Costco, Sam's Club) do not qualify as supermarkets on Amex cards, even for food purchases made there. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards lets you select "online shopping" as your 3% category, which captures grocery delivery services like Instacart and Amazon Fresh — a meaningful advantage for buyers who primarily shop online. The Citi Custom Cash auto-tracks your top spending category each month and applies 5% automatically; if groceries consistently dominate your spending, it activates without any action required.
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Annual Fee Math
The Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% at US supermarkets on the first $6,000 spent annually ($500/month), then 1% above that cap. It carries a $95 annual fee (waived year one). The Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% at US supermarkets with no annual fee and no cap. The break-even calculation: at $265/month in grocery spending, the Preferred earns an additional $95 in rewards compared to the Everyday — exactly covering the annual fee. Above $265/month on groceries, the Preferred wins; below that, the Everyday wins on net value. For households averaging $400+/month on groceries, the Preferred returns $305/year on grocery spending alone, making the $95 fee clearly justified.
Warehouse Club Strategy: Costco Anywhere Visa
Costco members who do significant grocery shopping at the warehouse face a dilemma: Amex cards are not accepted at Costco, and Costco's own Costco Anywhere Visa (Citi) earns 2% on Costco purchases rather than a grocery-specific rate. For Costco-primary shoppers, the Costco Anywhere Visa's 2% on all Costco purchases (including gas at 4% and restaurants at 3%) may outperform a supermarket-specific card if Costco represents the majority of total spending. The comparison is household-specific: run the math on your actual spending split between Costco, traditional supermarkets, and delivery services to determine which card configuration earns more.
Citi Custom Cash: The Set-and-Forget Option
The Citi Custom Cash earns 5% on up to $500 in spending per billing cycle in your top eligible spending category — including grocery stores — automatically identified each month. No activation, no tracking required. For households where groceries are consistently the largest category, this delivers 5% passively. For months where another category surges (holiday shopping, travel), the 5% shifts to that category instead. This makes it an excellent complement to a flat-rate card: use the Custom Cash for whichever category runs highest each month, and the flat-rate card for everything else.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using an Amex grocery card at Costco or Walmart: You earn 1% at warehouse clubs and superstores on Amex grocery cards — the same as the base rate. Check your grocery card's definition of eligible stores before assuming bonus rates apply.
- Hitting the Amex $6,000 cap without realizing it: At $500/month in groceries, you hit the $6,000 annual cap exactly in month 12. Once exceeded, the rate drops to 1% for the rest of the calendar year. High-spending households may need a supplemental card (Citi Custom Cash) for grocery spending above the cap.
- Ignoring the first-year Amex welcome offer: The Blue Cash Preferred often includes a statement credit on spending in the first few months, which can significantly increase first-year net value. Calculate the total first-year value including the offer when comparing options.
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This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional before making major financial decisions.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
“6% at US supermarkets up to $6K/year, $95 annual fee”
What we like
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000/year) — highest rate in category
- 6% on 30+ streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify
- 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit (rideshare, tolls, parking)
- $300 welcome bonus after $3,000 spend in first 6 months
- $120/year Disney Streaming Credit ($10/month) offsets most of $95 fee
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
- $95 annual fee waived first year
Watch out for
- $6,000/year cap on 6% supermarket rate (then drops to 1%)
- Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam's Club don't qualify as supermarkets
- $95 annual fee after year 1 (requires sufficient grocery spending to justify)
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee — not for international use
- 1% on all other purchases is below some flat-rate cards
Rates as of April 16, 2026. Terms apply. Verify on issuer site.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
“3% at US supermarkets, no annual fee, no category cap”
What we like
- No annual fee
- 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail, and U.S. gas stations
- $200 welcome bonus after $2,000 spend in 6 months
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
Watch out for
- Half the supermarket rate of Blue Cash Preferred (3% vs 6%)
- No streaming bonus category
- $6,000/year cap on 3% supermarket rate
Rates as of April 16, 2026. Terms apply. Verify on issuer site.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
“3% on your chosen category (online shopping, dining, gas, or more)”
What we like
- Choose your own 3% bonus category each month
- Preferred Rewards boost up to 5.25% on chosen category
- 2% at all grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- No annual fee
Watch out for
- $2,500/quarter combined cap on 3%+2% categories
- Only 1% base rate
- Full value requires significant BofA/Merrill assets
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Rates as of April 16, 2026. Terms apply. Verify on issuer site.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
“5% on your highest category automatically, no annual fee”
What we like
- 5% automatically on top eligible category — no activation, no tracking
- No annual fee
- Broad eligible category list
Watch out for
- $500/month cap on 5% spending (much lower than Discover it's $1,500/quarter)
- 1% on all other spending — low base rate
- ThankYou Points ecosystem less intuitive than cash
Rates as of April 16, 2026. Terms apply. Verify on issuer site.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
“2% on all Costco purchases, 3% restaurants, 4% gas/EV, no annual fee”
What we like
- 4% on gas and EV charging (first $7,000/year) — highest no-fee gas rewards rate
- 2% at Costco warehouses and Costco.com
- 3% on restaurants and eligible travel including Costco Travel
- No annual fee with paid Costco membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Watch out for
- Rewards paid only once per year (February statement) — no on-demand redemption
- Annual certificate redeemable at Costco only — no cash deposit, transfer, or other use
- Gas rewards capped at 4% on first $7,000/year, then drop to 1%
Rates as of April 16, 2026. Terms apply. Verify on issuer site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best credit card for grocery shopping?
What counts as a supermarket for the Amex Blue Cash cards?
Is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred annual fee worth it?
Does the grocery credit card earn at Whole Foods?
What is the annual cap on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred grocery bonus?
What credit card gives 3% cash back at Walmart?
How We Evaluate Financial Products
We compare financial products based on objective criteria: annual fees, APR ranges, rewards rates, sign-up bonuses, and key perks. We do not factor in issuer relationships or compensation when determining rankings. Products are ranked based on overall value for the target use case described on this page.
Rates and terms change frequently. We update these pages regularly, but always verify current rates directly on the issuer’s website before applying. APR ranges shown reflect the full possible range — your actual rate depends on your creditworthiness.
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We compare products; we do not advise on which product is right for your personal financial situation. Read our full methodology →