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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.
4 Partner Offers
| Our Top Picks for Best Cash Back Cards | |
|---|---|
 Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® | 5% cash back on delivery or pickup purchases at Walmart.com; 2% cash back on purchases at Walmart stores 2% cash back on restaurants and travel 5% cash back on in-store Walmart purchases with Walmart Pay for the first 12 months 1% cash back on all other purchases |
 Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit | 1% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone, 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 (now with expanded categories); 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 |
 Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit 1% cash back on other purchases; terms apply |
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
If you frequently shop at Walmart, consider the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®. It offers 5% cash back on purchases made at Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery; 5% cash back on in-store purchases made using Walmart Pay for the first 12 months; and 2% cash back on purchases at Walmart stores. You'll also get 2% cash back on restaurant and travel purchases, at Murphy USA and Walmart fuel stations and 1% cash back on purchases everywhere else Mastercard is accepted.
Rewards are unlimited. Receive rewards as cash back, apply them as a statement credit, use them to pay at Walmart.com, or redeem them for gift cards or travel.
This card does not come with an annual fee, but the standard APR is 18.99% or 29.99% (Variable).
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
on Capital One's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
APR
18.99% or 29.99% (Variable)
Intro APR
Rewards
5% Cash Back at Walmart.com, including Pickup and Delivery, 2% Cash Back at restaurants and on travel, 2% Cash Back in Walmart® stores, Murphy USA and Walmart® fuel stations
2% Cash Back on Restaurants & Travel
2% Cash Back on Walmart In-store Purchases
1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- Earn 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery
- Earn 2% cash back on purchases in Walmart® stores, Murphy USA and Walmart® fuel stations, 2% cash back on restaurants and travel purchases, and 1% cash back on all other purchases everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted
- Introductory offer: Earn 5% cash back on purchases in Walmart® stores for the first 12 months when you use your card with Walmart Pay
- Redeem rewards for cash back, statement credits, purchases on Walmart.com, travel and gift cards
- $0 annual fee
- Fraud Coverage - $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges
- No foreign transaction fees
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
The Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® 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 grocery and gas purchases, as well as mobile phone, 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® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
on Credit One Bank's website
Terms Apply
Recommended FICO® Score*
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
APR
29.24% Variable
Intro APR
Rewards
Automatically earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
Annual Fee
$75 First year. $99 thereafter, billed monthly at $8.25
Card Details
- Automatically earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
- Looking for more credit? Get credit line increase opportunities, a fee may apply.
- Choose your monthly payment due date for added convenience, terms apply
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability
- Stay in-the-know with customizable account alerts via email and text
- Access your account on-the-go with the Credit One Bank mobile app
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, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings.
You'll also earn 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 Program. These members earn 25% to 75% more cash back on every purchase depending on your tier in the program.
You may be matched with this and other cards at Experian CreditMatch™
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers the highest rewards rate at U.S. supermarkets—6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). You also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more); and 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply.
While this card has a $95 annual fee (and $0 annual fee the first year), you can offset it by spending $1,584 annually ($132 per month) at eligible U.S. supermarkets. See rates and fees.
New cardholders earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. This is double the time frame of a more common intro bonus, which is helpful since the spending requirements are on the higher side.
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.