The Top 10+ Credit Cards For Groceries

Only a few credit cards are worth considering if you want maximum cash back on groceries without annual fees. A 2021 CNBC article said the average American household spends $5,174 per year on groceries. To optimize cash back rewards without annual fees, this page showcases the best options.

As always, do your research to see which credit card is best for you. Everyone has different habits and lifestyles, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If you do find something that should be on this list, feel free to contact us for updates.

Note: cash back for the “grocery” category typically excludes large wholesale clubs (Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, Wal-Mart). Some smaller shops also don’t count as grocery stores, although it’s pretty hit-or-miss.

 

1. Citi Custom Cash Mastercard

The Custom Cash (CCCC) earns 5% cash back in one category, and few categories are better than groceries. There’s a $500 spending limit per billing period, which should be comfortable enough for most people, even families. The CCCC also has Mastercard World Elite perks, including cell phone insurance and a Doordash discount.

If you max out the $6,000 per year limit, you’d earn $300 cash back. If you spend the average of $5,174, then 5% cash back nets you $258.70 annually. With the Citi Rewards+ card too, your cash back is worth 10% more.

 

2. NIH Federal Credit Union Cash Rewards Visa

This obscure card earns 3% on groceries, wholesale clubs, utilities, streaming, gas, rideshare, and EV charging. Cash back is unlimited except for gas ($6,000 annual spending limit for some reason). Anyone can join the Maryland/DC-based credit union.

 

3. Capital One SavorOne Mastercard

This card earns unlimited 3% cash back for groceries, dining, entertainment, and streaming. No foreign transaction fees is another plus. Although when it comes to travel, most people eat out instead of buying groceries. Overall, SavorOne is a strong credit card which covers popular spending categories.

If you spend more than $6,000 a year on groceries, your best bet is probably the SavorOne, or even American Express Gold card. Or use the Custom Cash for the first $6,000 spent, then switch to the SavorOne for the rest of the year.

3% back on $5,174 of spending is $155.22 in cash back.

 

4. Navy Federal Credit Union More Rewards AMEX

This card earns unlimited 3% cash back for groceries, gas, dining, and transit. Like the SavorOne card, it doesn’t have foreign transaction fees. However, this is American Express, which isn’t as widely accepted overseas.

The other downside is that it requires Navy Federal credit union membership. This is limited to military members (current or former) and their families, plus Department of Defense employees (civilian or military). A lot of people aren’t able to get the Navy Federal card.

 

5. UMB Simply Rewards Visa

This card earns unlimited 3% cash back for groceries, gas, dining, and discount stores. In some cases, this could be better than the above cards. It just depends on your spending, and which network you prefer. UMB is Visa instead of American Express or Mastercard.

There are two downsides for this UMB card: a 2% foreign transaction fee, and points expire after 5 years. The expiration shouldn’t be a problem because it’s rarely a good idea to hoard points anyway. It’s just an added restriction that many other card issuers don’t have.

 

6. Venmo Visa

This earns unlimited 3% cash back on your top spending category (automatically calculated) just like the CCCC in #1. The difference is (1) Venmo is unlimited 3% instead of limited 5% (2) Venmo can earn 2% cash back in a second category instead of CCCC’s 1%. However, since everyone should have an everyday card which earns 2% or better already, a card advertising 2% cash back for one category doesn’t mean anything. (3) Venmo doesn’t have foreign transaction fees, unlike CCCC.

Interestingly, their “grocery” category specifically includes wholesale clubs. Cards rarely do that. If you like Costco or Sam’s Club, take a close look at the terms and conditions for your credit cards. For that reason alone, we have to include this card in the top options.

 

7. Bank of the West Cash Back World

This Mastercard earns 3% on groceries, dining, and gas. It’s similar to the UMB Simply Rewards card above, except with 3 bonus categories instead of 4, so it comes lower on the list.

 

8. Andrews Federal Credit Union Titanium Rewards Visa

Another obscure credit union card. You’ll earn 3% cash back on groceries and gas, then 1.5% back on everything else. These aren’t the best rates, yet they’re competitive in a head-to-head against basic cards like the Capital One Quicksilver. No foreign transaction fees is an added bonus.

 

9. American Express Blue Cash Everyday

AMEX revamped this card in mid-2022 so it’d stay relatively useful. It earns 3% on groceries, gas, and online retail purchases. There’s a spending limit of $6,000 per year for each of these categories. The American Express Blue Cash Preferred will be a better option for some people. In general, you want to get the Preferred card, use it for 12 full months, then downgrade to the Everyday card when the BCP annual fee hits. The downgrade will let you avoid the annual fee while still getting cash back for groceries and gas. You’ll have to do the math to see which option is best, since an annual fee significantly cuts into cash back earnings.

 

10. UNFCU Azure Visa

This credit union is tough to get into for free, so the value of their cards may vary widely. The Azure gets unlimited 3% cash back for groceries and restaurants. While this sounds unimpressive compared to some other cards on this list, UNFCU has other benefits. The Azure comes with cell phone insurance, price protection, return protection, purchase security, and more. Most no-fee cards don’t have the same array of benefits. That makes UNFCU worth a look, even if those benefits don’t apply to food purchases.

 

Honorable mentions (without fees)

  • Discover It – 5% back (Jan/Feb/March 2019-2021)
  • Chase Freedom Flex – 5% back (July/August/Sept 2021)
    • Note: Chase Freedom cards sometimes give one year of 5% back on groceries, as part of the sign-up bonus for new cardmembers
  • Nusenda – 5% back (Jan/Feb/March 2016-2021)
  • American Heritage Credit Union Cash Reward – 3% back for pharmacies, home improvement stores, gas, and groceries
  • Consumers Credit Union Cash Rebate – 3% on groceries and convenience store purchases (limited to $6,000 per year)
  • Huntington Voice – 3% on groceries or another category of your choice, limited to $8,000 per year ($2,000 per quarter)
  • Kroger Family of Companies – 5% cash back on mobile wallet transactions, limited to $3,000 per year (not supported at every grocery store) which is too small of a limit to be useful for most people
  • Coinbase Debit can potentially earn up to 4% cash back on everything, but has tax implications

Honorable mentions (with fees or hurdles)

Disclaimer: This page was last updated in November 2022. Information may change in accuracy. Please do research as appropriate to ensure you get the best possible deal.