Category guide · April 2026
Best Grocery Credit Card of April 2026
The highest grocery earn rate available is 6% — but only with a $95 annual fee. Here’s what the math says across every tier, including the best no-fee options.
Highest grocery rate
6%
Amex Blue Cash Preferred ($95/yr)
Best no-fee rate
3%
Capital One Savor, Amex BCE
BCP break-even
~$3,167
annual grocery spend vs. 3% no-fee card
Independent·No issuer revenue·No sponsored rankings·Rankings based on actual spend math
Best grocery cards at every fee tier (April 2026)
Quick answer
Best overall: Amex Blue Cash Preferred — 6% at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000/year, $95 fee. Break-even vs. no-fee: roughly $3,167 in annual grocery spend.Best no-fee: Capital One Savor or Amex Blue Cash Everyday — both earn 3% with no annual fee, no cap on Savor.
| Card | Grocery Rate | Annual Fee | Cap | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred | 6% | $95 | $6,000/yr | Up to $300 |
| Citi Custom Cash | 5% (auto top cat.) | $0 | $500/mo | $200 |
| Capital One Savor | 3% | $0 | None | $300 |
| Amex Blue Cash Everyday | 3% | $0 | $6,000/yr | Up to $200 |
| USB Cash+ (groceries as 2% cat.) | 2% | $0 | None | $200 |
| Citi Double Cash | 2% | $0 | None | $200 |
The fee math: is Amex Blue Cash Preferred worth $95?
The Preferred earns 3% more than no-fee alternatives (6% vs 3%). On $4,000 in annual grocery spend, the extra 3% = $120 — minus the $95 fee = $25 net advantage. At $6,000 in grocery spend, the advantage grows to $85/year net.
The break-even point vs. a 3% no-fee card is approximately $3,167 in annual grocery spending ($95 ÷ 0.03). If you spend more than that on groceries, the Preferred pays for itself.
Break-even spend
~$3,167/yr
Annual grocery spend needed to justify the $95 fee vs. a 3% no-fee card
Max annual grocery bonus
$360
6% on $6,000 cap. After that, Preferred drops to 1% — pair with a flat-rate card for remaining grocery spend.
Where each card does and doesn’t work
| Store Type | Best Card | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Most U.S. supermarkets (Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Albertsons) | Amex Blue Cash Preferred | 6% |
| Target (coded as retail, not grocery) | Target RedCard | 5% |
| Walmart (supercenter, not grocery-coded) | Capital One Savor | 3% |
| Costco warehouses | Costco Visa by Citi | 2% + Executive bonus |
| Whole Foods Market | Amazon Prime Visa | 5% (Prime req.) |
| Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Sprouts | Amex Blue Cash Preferred | 6% |
Key rule: Amex Blue Cash grocery rates apply only to stores coded as “supermarkets.” Target, Walmart, Costco, and warehouse clubs do not qualify — they code as “general merchandise” or “wholesale clubs.”
Free grocery calculator · Live rankings
Enter your grocery spend — see your annual cash back on every card
The rewards calculator models your exact spending at supermarkets, Costco, Whole Foods, and warehouse clubs and ranks every card by annual net value after fees.
No affiliate links. YourBestCards.com earns $0 from card applications. Rates verified April 2026.