Best Credit Card for Groceries

Yes, you should use a credit card for groceries. Using a credit card for grocery shopping is a good idea because it is convenient, secure, and a great opportunity to earn rewards – with the potential to save you up to 6% every time you buy groceries.

Why You Should Use a Credit Card for Groceries

• Convenience. Carrying a credit card is easier than making sure you have enough cash on hand, or in your checking account, to buy groceries.
• Security. $0 fraud liability protects you against unauthorized charges.
• Rewards. Some credit cards give you an opportunity to earn 1% to 6% back on grocery purchases.

The best credit card to use for groceries is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express because it gives 6% cash back at U.S. grocery stores, up to $6,000 spent annually (then 1% cash back), earned as statement credit. Although Blue Cash Preferred charges an annual fee, the card can pay for itself with rewards earnings if you use it right. For example, it's important that you pay off the entire balance each month because interest charges might otherwise wipe out any earned cash back rewards.

No, there is no Chase Freedom Unlimited grocery stores list of all the specific qualifying locations. However, cardholders can use Chase Freedom Unlimited at any store with the merchant category code for supermarkets. 

The Chase Freedom Unlimited grocery store category includes:

• major supermarket chains
• smaller stores that mainly sell groceries
• delivery services
• online groceries

Superstores such as Walmart and Target do not qualify as grocery stores for Chase Freedom Unlimited. Purchases made at retailers like drugstores and gas stations are also excluded. 

The best Whole Foods credit card is the Whole Foods version of the Amazon.com Credit Card. Amazon owns Whole Foods, and the card rewards you with 3 points per $1 spent on all purchases for the first 3 months up to $1,500, after that 3 points per $1 spent at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases, 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. This card requires good credit or better for approval and has a $0 annual fee.

You don't necessarily have to get a card with rewards specific to Whole Foods in order to save on purchases you make there, however. Lots of other credit cards offer bonus rewards on groceries, allowing you to earn at a high rate when shopping at Whole Foods and elsewhere.

Best Whole Foods Credit Cards

Initial Bonus: $60 Amazon.com gift card upon approval ($150 for Prime members)

Ongoing Rewards: 3 points per $1 spent on all purchases for the first 3 months up to $1,500, after that 3 points per $1 spent at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases, 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $0

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus: $250 statement credit for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months

Ongoing Rewards: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent per year), 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% back on all other purchases, earned as statement credits

Annual Fee: $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus: $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases, along with 1% back on all other purchases (except for 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 10% back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats)

Annual Fee: $0

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus: 50,000 points for spending $2,000 in the first 120 days

Ongoing Rewards: 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 4 points per $1 spent on travel, 4 points per $1 at gas stations, 2 points per $1 at grocery stores, 2 points per $1 on dining, grocery delivery and streaming services, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after

Min. Credit Required: Excellent credit

Ongoing Rewards: 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $39

Min. Credit Required: Limited History credit

If you truly want the most bang for your buck, Blue Cash Preferred offers the highest earning rate on groceries. But the Amazon.com Credit Card is also a good option and has no spending limits for the 5 points / $1 it offers on Whole Foods purchases if you have an eligible Prime membership.

Costco is the only major grocery store that doesn't accept American Express credit cards at the moment. However, some smaller grocery store chains and independent merchants may also not accept American Express. So, it's better to check with these retailers beforehand if you plan to use an Amex card to pay for groceries at their stores.

Popular Grocery Stores that Accept American Express

• ALDI
• Meijer
• ShopRite
• Trader Joe's
• Vons
• Whole Foods
• Winn-Dixie

If your favorite grocery store takes American Express cards, you could earn bonus rewards for grocery purchases, depending on which Amex card you use. One of the best credit cards to use at grocery stores is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. This card gives 6% cash back on U.S. grocery store purchases, up to $6,000 spent each year, and 1% cash back after that.

If you're not loyal to American Express, you can also check out our editors' latest picks for the best credit cards for groceries to weigh your options.

Walmart is not considered a grocery store for credit cards. Major credit card networks assign a specific merchant category code (MCC) to purchases made at traditional grocery stores. This code doesn't include “big-box” retailers like Walmart or Target because they sell a lot more than groceries. But Walmart Neighborhood Markets are considered grocery stores for credit cards since they sell groceries exclusively.

If you want to earn bonus rewards on groceries purchased at Walmart, consider the Walmart Store Card. It offers 3% cash back on walmart.com purchases, including grocery pickup. The card also gives 2% cash back on Walmart and Murphy USA gas purchases. All in-store purchases, including groceries, yield 1% cash back.

The Discover card grocery store list does not include “big-box” stores such as Walmart and Target. Discount stores, convenience stores, wholesale clubs, and supercenters are not on the list, either. But you might still get a bonus for making purchases at some of these locations if they are included in the bonus category throughout the year. More specifically, the Discover 5% Cashback Bonus categories for 2023 are the following:

• January - March: Grocery stores, fitness clubs, drug stores, and select streaming services 
• April - June: Restaurants and wholesale clubs 
• July - September: Gas stations and digital wallets
• October - December: To be announced 

Here's how Discover's rotating bonus categories work:

For those who aren't familiar with Discover's rotating bonus categories, this is how it works: Certain Discover cards offer a 5% cash back bonus for purchases at grocery stores and other spending categories that change every quarter. The 5% cash back bonus is limited to the first $1,500 spent in a specific quarter's categories. Purchase amounts over the limit will earn 1% cash back. Cardholders must sign up for each new category to receive the cash back bonus.

Costco is not considered a grocery store. You will generally earn 1% back in rewards, as the purchases you make there are considered regular purchases.

Transaction processors (like Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover) do not count big-box stores (Target and Walmart) or warehouse clubs (such as Costco) as grocery stores or supermarkets.

Yes, you can use a credit card for food. You can buy food with a credit card at grocery stores, restaurants, wholesale clubs, food trucks, fast food locations, and anywhere else that sells food and accepts credit card payments. In fact, using the right rewards credit card to buy food can save you up to 6%.

Some of the Best Credit Cards for Food

Paying for food with a credit card is both convenient and cost-effective. For more options, check out the rest of WalletHub's picks for the best credit cards for grocery stores, restaurants, and food delivery.

Yes, nearly all major grocery stores take American Express cards. ALDI, Meijer, ShopRite, Trader Joe's, Vons, Whole Foods, and Winn-Dixie are among the large supermarket chains that accept American Express cards.

Be aware, though, that some smaller grocery store chains and independent merchants may not take American Express cards. So, check with these retailers beforehand if you plan to use an Amex card to pay for groceries at their stores. Costco is one major retailer that does not accept American Express credit cards for grocery purchases, as the warehouse club only takes Visa cards at its stores.

Earn rewards while shopping with Amex cards

If your favorite grocery store takes American Express cards, you could earn bonus rewards for grocery purchases, depending on which Amex card you use. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers 3% cash back at U.S. grocery stores, up to $6,000 spent annually, and 1% cash back after that. 

Alternatively, big grocery spenders who don't mind paying an annual fee can earn more with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. It gives 6% cash back on U.S. grocery store purchases, also up to $6,000 spent each year, and 1% after that.

The Chase grocery bonus offer is 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent at grocery stores per quarter with Chase Freedom Flex℠ when grocery stores are a bonus category. Additionally, the Amazon.com Credit Card gets you 5 points / $1 spent at Whole Foods Market.

It's important to note that Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders will not earn grocery bonus rewards at drugstores, discount stores, convenience stores or gas stations. Grocery purchases at superstores like Walmart and Target, or warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam's Club, are also excluded. Qualifying retailers may include major grocery store chains, smaller stores that primarily sell groceries, and grocery pickup and delivery services.

Chase Grocery Bonus Offers

• Chase Freedom Flex: 5% cash back up to $1,500 spent per quarter in rotating bonus categories, when activated.
• Amazon.com Credit Card: 5 points / $1 spent at Whole Foods Market with no quarterly limit. Prime members earn up to 5 points per $1 spent.

Major credit card networks assign a 4-digit number known as a merchant category code to credit card purchases. Credit card companies use these codes to determine if a specific purchase qualifies for their bonus rewards. If a purchase on your credit card statement includes the merchant category code for grocery stores and supermarkets, then it is eligible to earn grocery bonus rewards.