Best Grocery Credit Cards For 2021

Get rewards for buying the necessities.

Best Grocery Credit Card award seal

Food is one of the single biggest expenses we have. And unless you eat at restaurants all the time, a grocery store will take the lion's share of your food budget.

So with all this spending, why not capitalize on it, and supercharge your rewards for making purchases you're already making?

Many credit cards offer great rewards on your groceries or help you save money on groceries.

How to choose a credit card for grocery stores

How do you choose a credit card for your grocery purchases? There are several things to consider.

First, you need to decide what type of rewards you want to earn. Then, you'll have to think about whether or not you want to pay an annual fee.

There are a few things to watch out for as well...

Here's a rundown of everything you need to think about.

Getting the right credit card rewards

First, you'll want to decide on what kind of rewards you want to earn. Many credit cards offer great rewards, but if you can't or won't be able to use them, they won't be of much use.

Here are the credit card rewards options available.

Cash back rewards for your grocery spend

If you're looking for the most straightforward rewards, cash back credit cards could be right up your alley.

For every dollar you spend, you'll get a set percentage back in cash rewards. They usually come in the form of a statement credit, but it's also possible to get checks, direct deposit to a bank account, and even withdraw from an ATM.

Either way, it's money you can use for anything.

Flexible travel rewards for your grocery spend

Flexible travel rewards are just that – flexible. You'll earn points that can be used towards any type of travel deal you can find.

Travelling far and want to use your points for flights? No problem. Heading out on a road trip and want some free hotel stays? You're covered. Want to take in life at sea and go on a cruise? Use your points for them as well.

And if all else fails, you can usually redeem your points for cash – just note that you may lose some value, depending on the credit card.

Airline & hotel rewards for your grocery spend

If you find yourself consistently travelling on one airline or staying at the same hotel brands, they have credit cards geared just for you.

And while this type of reward isn't as flexible, the cards that carry them come with great perks that make your traveling life easier, like:

  • companion vouchers,
  • free checked bags,
  • priority check-in,
  • priority boarding, and
  • onboard food and beverage discounts.

Hotel credit cards are no slouches either:

  • free night stays,
  • upgraded hotel status, and
  • statement credits on property purchases.

Store grocery cards

Do you consistently shop for groceries at one retailer? It may be worth finding out if they issue a credit card.

Store credit cards generally offer high rewards when you use the card at their locations. You then use your rewards for extra savings in store.

And, as a bonus, they usually don't have an annual fee, giving you great rewards for free.

In the world of credit cards, loyalty does pay off.

Getting a card with an annual fee

The other thing to decide is whether or not to pay an annual fee.

While each spending situation is different, our rule of thumb is if you spend more than $1,500 per month on a credit card, an annual fee will generally pay for itself.

Not to mention the extra rewards and perks you'll be able to enjoy.

Things to watch out for

As with everything related to credit cards, there'll be a few things you'll want to keep an eye out for.

Specific stores

Like store specific cards, some cards may only give extra earnings at a set retailer as well.

And while many stores sell groceries, they may not necessarily be categorized as a grocery store by the card network.

For example, even though Costco provides many grocery items, its MCC code isn't classified as a grocery store.

Walmart Supercentres are another example. Depending on your card issuer, they may be categorized as a grocery store or a department store. It's always good to do the proper research before taking a chance on a grocery card.

Limits on earnings

Many cards have caps on how many extra rewards you can earn off a certain spending category.

It could be wise to break down how much you spend on groceries per year – some cards' limits are lower than others.

Compare Grocery Credit Cards

Note: Rewards based on a monthly spend of $700 in groceries only, to illustrate cards that give great bonuses for gas.