We tested the numbers on the top cash-back credit cards for groceries — from the simplicity of a flat 2% earner to the high-octane 6% return of a category specialist. Whether you spend $300 or $1,000 a month on groceries, here's the card that puts the most money back in your pocket.
If you're like most households, groceries are one of your biggest monthly line items — and that makes them one of the biggest opportunities to earn cash back without changing a thing about how you shop. The right credit card can quietly return hundreds of dollars a year on the food you were already buying.
But not all "grocery cards" are created equal. Some reward you with a high percentage but charge an annual fee. Others keep it simple with a flat rate on everything. Here's our take on the things actually worth buying — the cards that earn their spot in your wallet.
| Rank | Card | Best For | Grocery Rewards | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citi Double Cash® | Flat-rate simplicity | 2% (1% when you buy + 1% when you pay) | $0 |
| 2 | Apple Card | Daily cash with no fees | 2% Daily Cash (with Apple Pay) | $0 |
| 3 | Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards | Flexible category choice | 2% at grocery stores (or choose your 3% category) |
Best for: Shoppers who want one card, one rate, no categories to track.
The Citi Double Cash® is the platonic ideal of a no-fuss rewards card. You earn 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off — effectively 2% cash back on every dollar you spend, including groceries.1
There's no rotating calendar, no bonus cap to memorize, and no annual fee eating into your rewards. For a household spending $600 a month on groceries, that's roughly $144 back per year — with zero effort.
The trade-off: You won't get the headline 5% or 6% rates that category-specific cards offer. But you also won't accidentally earn only 1% because you swiped at a warehouse club instead of a supermarket. The 2% is guaranteed, always.
Best for: Apple Pay users who want instant, no-strings-attached cash back.
The Apple Card earns 2% Daily Cash on every purchase made with Apple Pay — and since most major grocery chains (including Kroger, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Safeway) accept Apple Pay, that covers the vast majority of grocery trips.1
The cash back lands in your Apple Cash card the next day. No statement credits, no minimum redemption thresholds, no waiting. It's the closest thing to an instant rebate at checkout.
There's no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and the card lives in your iPhone's Wallet — though you can also order a physical titanium card (which earns only 1% on non-Apple-Pay purchases).
The trade-off: If your local grocer doesn't support Apple Pay, you're stuck at 1%. And the 2% rate, while solid, is still beaten by category-specific cards at supermarkets that accept Apple Pay.
Best for: Bank of America customers who want flexibility.
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card lets you choose your own 3% category each month from a list that includes gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, or home improvement. Groceries aren't in the 3% slot, but the card earns 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs automatically — plus 3% in your chosen category and 1% on everything else.1
For someone who wants grocery rewards and a boosted category for another big expense (say, gas or dining), this is a clever two-in-one solution. There's no annual fee, and Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can boost those rates by 25%–75%.
The trade-off: The 2% grocery rate is good but not best-in-class. And the 3% category is capped at $2,500 in combined quarterly spending.
Apply for Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
Your ideal card comes down to two questions:
1. How much do you spend on groceries each month?
| Monthly Grocery Spend | Best Pick | Annual Cash Back (Est.) |
|---|---|---|
| $300 | Apple Card (2% via Apple Pay) | ~$72 |
| $600 | Citi Double Cash (2% flat) | ~$144 |
| $1,000+ | Consider a category card like Amex Blue Cash Preferred (6% up to $6k/yr, then 1%) | Up to $360 |
2. Do you want to track categories or set it and forget it?
If you want maximum return and don't mind an annual fee, cards like the Amex Blue Cash Preferred® earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%).2 That's the highest grocery rate available — but it comes with a $95 annual fee (waived the first year).2 You'd need to spend roughly $1,600+ a year on groceries just to break even on the fee vs. a no-fee 2% card.
If you prefer simplicity — one card, one rate, no math — the Citi Double Cash is the better long-term play.
We evaluate credit cards based on publicly available rate sheets, issuer disclosures, and independent financial reviews from sources like Business Insider and Yahoo Finance.1 We do not accept payment for placement in our rankings. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links — if you apply and are approved, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. This helps us keep the lights on and continue testing the things actually worth buying.
| Pick | Price | Reward Rate | Annual Fee | Category Tracking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Citi Double Cash ▶ Pick | — | 2% flat | $0 | None | Check price ↗ |
Apple Card instant daily cash back for apple pay users at most major grocers. no annual fee, no redemption minimums — just 2% that lands in your account the next day. | — | 2% via Apple Pay | $0 | None | Check price ↗ |
Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard Secured a flexible no-fee card that earns 2% at grocery stores plus a bonus 3% in a category you choose each month. | — | 2% groceries | $0 | Choose 3% category | Check price ↗ |
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