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Rates, caps and fees are as of October 20, 2026. Grocery rewards vary by card, with some focusing on high rates at traditional supermarkets and others offering flexibility or no annual fee. Understanding the exact rules helps match a card to actual shopping patterns.
The American Express Gold Card earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point, with a $325 annual fee. Superstores, warehouse clubs, convenience stores and meal-kit services do not count as supermarkets under the program rules.
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%, with a $0 annual fee for the first year then $95. The same supermarket exclusions apply.
No-annual-fee options earn 2% to 3% at grocery stores, depending on the card's cap and category rules. Superstores, warehouse clubs and meal kits are excluded by most issuers from the higher grocery rates.
Our own free tracker, RewardTracker.io, lets you track two cards free; a one-time $10 unlock adds the rest of the catalog on that account.
At a Glance: Grocery Rates, Caps and Annual Fees
| Card | Grocery rate | Cap | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Gold Card | 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets | $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point | $325 |
| Blue Cash Preferred from American Express | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets | $6,000 per year, then 1% | $0 first year, then $95 |
| Blue Cash Everyday from American Express | 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets | $6,000 per year, then 1% | $0 |
| Capital One Savor | 3% cash back at grocery stores | Unlimited | $0 |
| Citi Strata Card | 3 ThankYou points per dollar at Supermarkets | Unlimited | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Go | 2X points at grocery stores | Unlimited | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Cash+ | 2% cash back on grocery stores if selected as everyday category | Unlimited if enrolled, else 1% | $0 |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards | 2% cash back automatically at grocery stores and wholesale clubs | $2,500 combined with choice category each quarter, then 1% | $0 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | 3x points on online grocery purchases | Unlimited | $95 |
| Citi Strata Premier | 3 ThankYou points per dollar at Supermarkets | Unlimited | $95 |
No-fee picks earn 2% to 3% (or 2X to 3X points). Savor, Citi Strata and Altitude Go have no cap; Blue Cash Everyday caps at $6,000 a year. Flexible and online options follow their specific rules on category selection or purchase type. Compare the exclusions carefully, as warehouse clubs and superstores rarely qualify for the bonus rates on these cards.
Best Overall: American Express Gold Card
Earn rate and cap
The American Express Gold Card earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point. That's the highest cap among the capped grocery cards here (Savor and Citi Strata have no cap but earn 3%). The high rate applies only to purchases that meet the supermarket definition, which requires a wide variety of food and household products.
Specialty stores, superstores, warehouse clubs, convenience stores and meal-kit services do not count toward the 4X rate. Purchases at those merchants earn the base rate instead. Tracking spend against the $25,000 calendar-year limit is straightforward through the issuer’s online tools, and any excess automatically drops to 1 point per dollar.
Annual fee and value
The annual fee is $325. The current welcome offer is as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months (offers vary). Membership Rewards points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or used for other redemptions, which may increase the effective value of the grocery earnings compared with pure cash-back cards. For the full card breakdown, see the Amex Gold review.
For households that regularly spend near or above the $25,000 supermarket cap, the 4X rate produces a large volume of points. The fee must be weighed against the total rewards from groceries plus any other categories the card covers, such as restaurants which have a separate $50,000 annual cap at 4X.
Who it fits
This card fits households with high annual supermarket spend that can utilize most or all of the $25,000 cap. It also suits those who value transferable points over straightforward cash back. Because the rate drops sharply after the cap, pairing it with a no-fee card for overflow spend can maximize overall returns. The exclusions for warehouse clubs and superstores mean shoppers who primarily use those retailers will see limited benefit from the grocery category.
The combination of the large cap and the high earn rate makes the Gold Card the strongest option for maximizing supermarket rewards when the annual fee is acceptable.
Best Cash Back: Blue Cash Preferred from American Express
6% rate and $6,000 cap
The Blue Cash Preferred from American Express earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. This is the highest percentage rate on the list of cards reviewed. The same supermarket definition and exclusions apply as with the Gold Card: specialty stores, superstores, warehouse clubs, convenience stores and meal kits do not qualify for the 6% rate.
Once the $6,000 annual threshold is reached, additional supermarket purchases earn only 1%. The cash back posts as a statement credit or can be redeemed in other ways according to the program rules. For pure cash-back maximization at traditional supermarkets within the cap, this rate is difficult to match.
First-year fee
The annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $95. The current welcome offer is as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. The first-year fee waiver reduces the cost of testing the card against actual grocery spend. After the first year the $95 fee remains in place.
Break-even versus no-fee
Compared with a no-fee card that earns 3% at supermarkets, the 3-percentage-point difference on the first $6,000 produces $180 in extra cash back before the annual fee. After subtracting the $95 fee in year two and beyond, the net advantage is $85 on a full $6,000 of supermarket spend. Households that consistently spend the full cap therefore cover the fee and still come out ahead. Those who spend substantially less may find a no-fee 3% card produces a higher net return once the fee is included.
The combination of the top percentage rate and a manageable cap makes Blue Cash Preferred the leading cash-back choice when supermarket spend stays near or under $6,000 and the fee is offset by the higher earn rate.
Best No-Fee Picks for Groceries
Blue Cash Everyday
The Blue Cash Everyday from American Express earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%, with no annual fee. The same supermarket exclusions apply as on the Preferred and Gold cards. This provides a solid mid-tier rate without any annual cost, making it a straightforward option for households that stay under the $6,000 threshold.
Cash back is earned automatically on qualifying supermarket purchases. After the cap the rate falls to 1%, so tracking annual spend remains useful. Because there is no fee, the card remains competitive even if grocery volume is moderate.
Capital One Savor
The Capital One Savor earns 3% cash back at grocery stores, defined as supermarkets, specialty markets, meat lockers, freezers and dairy product stores, excluding superstores like Walmart and Target. The rate is unlimited, and some versions of the card carry a $0 annual fee. The current welcome offer is a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months.
The broader grocery definition can capture more specialty retailers than some supermarket-only categories. Unlimited earning removes the need to monitor a hard cap, which simplifies use for households whose grocery spend varies. The exclusion of major superstores is the main limitation for shoppers who rely on those stores.
Citi Strata
The Citi Strata Card earns 3 ThankYou points per dollar at Supermarkets with no annual fee. The rate applies without a stated spending cap in the category. ThankYou points can be redeemed for various rewards, providing flexibility beyond pure cash back.
Because there is no annual fee, the 3-point rate delivers straightforward value on supermarket purchases.
U.S. Bank Altitude Go
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go earns 2X points at grocery stores, excluding discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs, with no annual fee. Purchases at excluded merchants earn only 1X.
The 2X grocery rate is lower than the 3% options above, but the lack of an annual fee and the unlimited nature of the rate (outside the excluded merchants) keep it viable for lighter grocery spenders or as a secondary card. All of these no-fee picks avoid annual fees while covering core supermarket spend under their respective rules.
Flexible-Category Cards That Cover Groceries
U.S. Bank Cash+
The U.S. Bank Cash+ earns 2% cash back on grocery stores if selected as the everyday category, excluding discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs. Quarterly enrollment is required; without enrollment all purchases earn 1%. There is no annual fee indicated.
Selecting grocery as the everyday category locks in the 2% rate for that quarter. Forgetting to enroll returns the rate to 1%, so setting a reminder for the quarterly window is important. This structure suits households that want a modest grocery rate alongside higher rates in other chosen categories.
Bank of America Customized Cash
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards earns 2% cash back automatically at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to $2,500 in combined purchases with the choice category each quarter, then 1%. There is no annual fee. The choice category, which can include gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement, can be changed up to once each calendar month.
The automatic 2% on groceries and wholesale clubs does not require selection, which simplifies use. The combined quarterly cap with the 3% choice category means high spend in the chosen category reduces the remaining room for the grocery 2%. These flexible cards are useful when grocery is not the only focus and the household wants the ability to direct higher rates toward other spending areas.
Online Grocery and Other Picks
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x points on online grocery purchases excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs. The annual fee is $95. The rate applies specifically to eligible online grocery transactions; in-store supermarket purchases do not receive the 3x bonus under this category. Points can be transferred to travel partners or redeemed through the issuer’s portal. If you are deciding between the two, see Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Households that order most of their groceries through online services may find this rate attractive, provided the merchant codes as an eligible online grocery rather than a general merchandise or technology purchase. The exclusion of Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs matches the pattern seen on several other cards. The modest annual fee is lower than the Gold Card’s fee but still requires enough online grocery volume to justify it relative to no-fee alternatives.
Citi Strata Premier
The Citi Strata Premier earns 3 ThankYou points per dollar at supermarkets with a $95 annual fee. The rate is not limited to online purchases and applies to qualifying supermarket spend. ThankYou points offer redemption flexibility similar to other Citi cards. The annual fee places it in the same modest-fee tier as the Sapphire Preferred.
Both cards target supermarket or online grocery spend with annual fees that are lower than the Gold Card. They can complement a primary no-fee grocery card when the household values the points currency or the online-specific bonus. Confirm current merchant eligibility and fee details on the issuer pages, as category coding can affect whether a given online order receives the bonus rate. Matching the card’s rules to actual shopping—online versus in-store, traditional supermarket versus superstore—produces the most reliable results.
What Counts as a Supermarket (Exclusions per Issuer)
A grocery card only pays its bonus when the store codes the way the issuer expects. Two shops that both sell milk and bread can earn very different rewards, so it pays to know each issuer's definition before you pick the card you swipe every week.
American Express definition
American Express says a supermarket offers a wide variety of food and household products, such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies. The store must be in the U.S.
Amex lists several kinds of merchants that do not earn the bonus:
- Specialty food stores, such as bakeries, butchers, cheese shops and other single-focus food sellers
- Superstores, including Walmart and Target
- Warehouse clubs, such as BJ's
- Convenience stores
- Meal-kit delivery services
This one definition covers the American Express Gold Card, Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday. If a store fails the test for one of those cards, it fails for all three.
Capital One Savor definition
Capital One draws its line in a different place. For Savor, a grocery store is a supermarket, meat locker, freezer, dairy product store or specialty market, and superstores like Walmart and Target are excluded. That means a butcher or a cheese shop that misses the Amex bonus can still earn Savor's 3% if it codes as a grocery merchant. The Savor rate is unlimited, so there is no annual cap to track.
Other issuers
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: the 3x rate covers online grocery, excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs. In-store supermarket swipes are not part of that category.
- U.S. Bank Altitude Go: the 2X grocery rate excludes discount stores/supercenters such as Target and Walmart and wholesale clubs, which earn 1X instead.
- U.S. Bank Cash+: the 2% grocery choice excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs.
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards: the automatic 2% applies at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, so this is the one card in this guide whose grocery bonus includes warehouse clubs.
If most of your food shopping happens at a warehouse club or a superstore, the Amex, Savor, Chase and U.S. Bank grocery rates will not apply there. Check how your main store codes before you build a strategy around one card.
How to Choose by Spend (Break-Even Math)
The right grocery card depends on how much you spend at the register in a year. The math below uses each card's published rate, cap and fee, and it counts grocery earnings only. Plug your own numbers into the card calculator to test other mixes, and remember that a card only earns its grocery rate at stores that meet its definition.
| Card (fee after year one) | $2,000 a year | $6,000 a year | $10,000 a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Everyday ($0) | $60 | $180 | $220 |
| Capital One Savor ($0 on some versions) | $60 | $180 | $300 |
| Blue Cash Preferred ($95), net of fee | $25 | $265 | $305 |
| American Express Gold ($325) | 8,000 points | 24,000 points | 40,000 points |
Low annual grocery spend
Take a household that spends $2,000 a year at U.S. supermarkets. Blue Cash Everyday pays 3%, or $2,000 × 0.03 = $60, with no annual fee. Blue Cash Preferred pays 6%, or $120, but once the $95 fee starts in year two, the net is $120 − $95 = $25. At this level a no-fee card keeps more money in your pocket.
Mid spend under $6,000
Blue Cash Preferred earns 3 percentage points more than Blue Cash Everyday on the same supermarket dollars. The break-even is the fee divided by that gap: $95 ÷ 0.03 = about $3,167 a year, or roughly $264 a month. Spend more than that at U.S. supermarkets and Preferred comes out ahead. At the full $6,000 cap, Preferred earns $360 − $95 = $265 net, while Everyday earns $180, a gap of $85.
High spend over $6,000
Both Blue Cash cards drop to 1% after $6,000 a year. Capital One Savor keeps paying 3% with no cap. At $10,000 a year:
- Blue Cash Everyday: $180 + ($4,000 × 0.01) = $220
- Blue Cash Preferred: $360 + $40 − $95 = $305
- Savor: $10,000 × 0.03 = $300
Those last two land within $5 of each other. Each extra dollar past $10,000 earns 3 cents on Savor and 1 cent on Preferred, so Savor pulls ahead from about $10,250 a year.
The American Express Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar on up to $25,000 a year, so $10,000 earns 40,000 points against a $325 fee. To match Savor's $300 on groceries alone, those points would need to be worth ($300 + $325) ÷ 40,000 = about 1.56 cents each. Whether that is realistic depends on how you redeem; our points valuations page can help you decide. Gold's case grows stronger the closer you get to its $25,000 cap and the more you also spend in its other categories.
Stacking with Rotating Categories
A rotating 5% category can sit on top of your everyday grocery card for one quarter. The idea is simple: use the 5% card until its quarterly cap is gone, then switch back to your regular grocery card for the rest of the quarter. See this quarter's 5% bonus categories for every card's calendar.
Chase Freedom Flex Q4 2026
From October 1 through December 31, 2026, Chase Freedom Flex earns 5% at grocery stores, excluding Walmart and Target, on up to $1,500 in combined bonus-category purchases after activation. The most the quarter's 5% rate can return is $1,500 × 0.05 = $75.
Here is how a stack might look for a household that spends $2,400 at grocery stores during the quarter:
- Put the first $1,500 on Freedom Flex: $1,500 × 0.05 = $75.
- Move the remaining $900 to Blue Cash Everyday, assuming you are still under its $6,000 yearly cap: $900 × 0.03 = $27.
- Quarter total: $75 + $27 = $102.
The same $2,400 on Blue Cash Everyday alone would earn $72, so the stack adds $30 for the quarter. Because the $1,500 cap is combined across the quarter's bonus categories, any other bonus-category spending on Freedom Flex uses up part of that room.
Enrollment notes
Freedom Flex requires activation each quarter to earn 5%, and activation for the October to December 2026 quarter opened September 15, 2026. Without the bonus, the card earns 1% on purchases, plus 3% on dining and drugstores. Grocery spending after the cap falls back to the base rate, which is the signal to switch cards.
U.S. Bank Cash+ requires enrollment each quarter for its 2% everyday category. If you do not enroll, all purchases earn 1%. If grocery stores are your chosen everyday category, set a calendar reminder at the start of each quarter so the 2% rate stays in place.
Keep the plan simple. One rotating card plus one everyday grocery card is easy to track, and it captures most of the extra value a stack can add.
Bottom Line
Pick by how much you spend and where you shop. Big supermarket spenders who value points fit the American Express Gold Card. Households near $6,000 a year fit Blue Cash Preferred. Lighter spenders, or anyone who wants no annual fee, fit Blue Cash Everyday, Capital One Savor, Citi Strata or U.S. Bank Altitude Go.
The Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 a year, with a $325 annual fee. Blue Cash Preferred pays 6% on up to $6,000 a year, with a $0 fee the first year and $95 after that. On the no-fee side, Blue Cash Everyday pays 3% on up to $6,000 a year, Savor pays an unlimited 3% at grocery stores, Citi Strata earns 3 points per dollar at supermarkets, and Altitude Go earns 2X at grocery stores.
Before you apply, match the card's store rules to your real shopping. Warehouse clubs and superstores are left out by most of these cards, and Chase Sapphire Preferred's 3x covers online grocery only. If you shop online, at a warehouse club, or across several store types, a two-card setup may cover you better than one. Dining too? See the best cards for dining rewards.
Finally, run your own yearly grocery total through the break-even math above. A card that wins on paper only helps if its cap, fee and store rules line up with the way your household actually buys food each week. To line up cards side by side, use the credit card comparison tool.
FAQ
What is the highest grocery earn rate available in 2026?
Among the cards in this guide, Blue Cash Preferred has the highest everyday rate: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year, then 1%. For October 1 through December 31, 2026, Chase Freedom Flex also pays 5% at grocery stores, excluding Walmart and Target, on up to $1,500 in combined bonus purchases after activation.
Does the American Express Gold Card have a supermarket spending cap?
Yes. The Gold Card earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar. Restaurants have a separate $50,000 yearly cap. The annual fee is $325.
Is there an annual fee on Blue Cash Preferred after the first year?
Yes. Blue Cash Preferred has a $0 annual fee for the first year, then $95 a year. At 6% versus a 3% no-fee card, you need about $3,167 a year in U.S. supermarket spending to cover that fee ($95 ÷ 0.03).
Which no-fee cards earn at least 3% at grocery stores?
Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year, then 1%. Capital One Savor earns an unlimited 3% at grocery stores, and some versions have a $0 annual fee. Citi Strata earns 3 ThankYou points per dollar at supermarkets with no annual fee.
Do Walmart and Target count as supermarkets for Amex or Capital One Savor?
No. American Express treats superstores, warehouse clubs, convenience stores and meal-kit delivery services as outside its supermarket category. Capital One Savor excludes superstores like Walmart and Target from its grocery category.
What grocery rate does Chase Sapphire Preferred pay and what does it exclude?
Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x points on eligible online grocery purchases. Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs are excluded. The annual fee is $95.
Does U.S. Bank Cash+ require enrollment for the grocery rate?
Yes. U.S. Bank Cash+ earns 2% at grocery stores only when you enroll each quarter and choose grocery stores as your everyday category. Without enrollment, all purchases earn 1%. Discount stores/supercenters like Target and Walmart and wholesale clubs are excluded from the grocery rate.
What is the current welcome offer on Capital One Savor?
As listed on the Savor page, new cardholders can earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
How does the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards grocery rate work?
Customized Cash Rewards pays 2% automatically at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. That 2% shares a $2,500 quarterly cap with the 3% choice category, which you can set to gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings and change monthly. After the combined $2,500, purchases earn 1%. There is no annual fee.