Best Credit Cards for Groceries of 2019

Options for brand loyalists

The cards identified above can earn elevated rewards regardless of the supermarket or grocery store where you shop. If you shop at Costco, Whole Foods or Target, consider these options.

Costco: Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi

If you buy your groceries wholesale-club-style, the Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi earns 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com. It also earns 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases (both at Costco and at other gas stations) on the first $7,000 per year (1% thereafter), as well as 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases. All other spending earns 1% back. The annual fee is $0*, although you have to be a Costco member to apply, and membership starts at $60 a year.
» Rewards on $5,000 a year in groceries at Costco: $100.

Whole Foods: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

If you're more of a Whole Foods fanatic — and if you already pay for an Amazon Prime membership — consider the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card. It earns 5% back at Whole Foods, plus 5% back at Amazon.com, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, and 1% everywhere else. Redeem your points for Amazon.com purchases at a value of 1 cent per point. The card's annual fee is $0, but you must be an Amazon Prime member, which does require a yearly fee.
» Rewards on $5,000 a year in groceries at Whole Foods: $250.

Target: Target REDcard™ Credit Card

The Target REDcard™ Credit Card doesn't offer rewards in the form of cash back or points, but you could argue that it gives you something even better: an immediate 5% discount on nearly everything you buy at Target, either in-store or online. You also get free shipping on most items at Target.com. If your grocery runs take you to a full-service Super Target — or just to the food aisles at a regular Target — this  $0-annual-fee card is mighty attractive.
» Savings on $5,000 a year in groceries at Target: $250.

5% rotating category cards

The other cards on this page offer elevated grocery rewards year-round. The Chase Freedom® and select Discover cards like the Discover it® Cash Back pay a higher rate on groceries for only three months at a time — but what a rate it is.

On each card, you earn 5% cash back in rotating categories that you activate, on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. In recent years, both cards have offered grocery stores as a 5% category. (See current and past categories here.) Other bonus categories on both cards tend to be common expenses, meaning it's not hard to get great value out of them. Neither card charges an annual fee.

» Maximum rewards on $5,000 a year in groceries (assuming each card offers grocery stores for one quarter): 

• If using one card: $110.
• If using both cards: $170.

To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this page.

To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please visit this page.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this page.