The best grocery card for most people right now is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which pays 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases). Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout. If you spend big on groceries and don’t mind an annual fee after year one, nothing beats it.
But two other cards make a strong case depending on how you shop, and they both charge no annual fee at all. Here are the three cards I’d actually put in my wallet for the grocery run this month.
1. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: the highest grocery rate going
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions, the richest grocery rate on any mainstream card. That rate drops to 1% after the $6,000 in grocery spending cap each year. It carries a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. (See rates and fees.)
Why it’s great for groceries: A household spending the full $6,000 a year at supermarkets earns $360 in cash back from groceries alone. That single category more than covers the ongoing annual fee almost four times over, as calculated by Motley Fool Money. It also pays 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
Who it’s best for: This card fits families and heavy grocery spenders who buy most of their food at actual supermarkets. Warehouse club and superstore shoppers should look elsewhere, since those stores don’t count as supermarkets.
2. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: a limited-time welcome offer worth grabbing
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) earns unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) with no annual fee (see rates and fees).
Right now it also carries a limited-time welcome offer: Earn a one-time $250 cash back bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That’s a low spend hurdle for a solid payout.
Why it’s great for groceries: The Capital One Savor pays 3% on groceries forever, with no cap and no annual fee (see rates and fees) to earn back. It excludes superstores like Walmart and Target, but covers standard grocery stores. The same 3% applies to dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services.
Who it’s best for: The Capital One Savor suits anyone who wants strong grocery rewards without paying an annual fee. It’s also a natural pick if your spending spreads across food, dining, and entertainment rather than concentrating at the supermarket. The limited-time bonus makes July 2026 a good month to apply.
3. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: the warehouse club pick
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card automatically earns 2% cash back at at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases, with no annual fee. Wholesale clubs are the key here, because most grocery cards leave them out. New cardholders also earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of their choice.
Why it’s great for groceries: This card counts warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club as bonus spending, which the other two cards don’t. The 2% grocery and club rate applies to the first $2,500 in combined choice category and grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter. That’s a real edge if you buy in bulk.
Who it’s best for: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card is built for bulk shoppers and BofA Rewards™ members, who can boost that rate further. It also gives you a 6% choice category in year one, so you can point extra rewards at wherever you spend most. Pick this one if a warehouse club is your main grocery stop.
How to pick the right grocery card for you
My advice: match the card to where you actually buy food, not to the highest headline rate. One quick way to pick is to add up a year of grocery spending, multiply by each card’s rate, and subtract any fee.
The card that nets the most after that math is your winner. For most supermarket-heavy households, that’s still the Amex Blue Cash Preferred, even with the annual fee beyond year one. If you’d rather skip the fee or you shop in bulk, the other two earn their place.