As the cost of groceries continues to rise, households are looking for ways to save money on food expenses to keep more money in their bank account. Grocery credit cards offering cash-back rewards, points, and other benefits are helping consumers stretch their grocery budgets by as much as 6%. CNET’s top pick for grocery credit cards is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, with a CNET Rating of A for its high cash-back rates and rewards in various spending categories.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card earns cardholders 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, with 6% cash back available on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, and 1% cash back on other purchases. The card also offers a welcome bonus, with a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases on the new Card within the first 6 months, and an intro annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $95.
According to CNET’s evaluation, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card is a solid option for most people, providing the highest cash-back rate of any card researched, with an estimated maximum of $360 back per year on $6,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases. For those who spend more, the card still offers a 1% cash back rate. The card also includes an intro balance transfer and purchase APR of 0% for 12 months, and a regular APR of 19.24% – 29.99% variable.
Another top contender in CNET’s ratings is the Citi Custom Cash® Card, which offers a welcome bonus of $200 in cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months. The card automatically selects the highest eligible spend category and applies 5% cash back rewards on up to $500 of expenditure per billing cycle, then 1%. Grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, travel, transit, streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment all qualify as high cash-back categories with this card.
The Citi Custom Cash® Card has no annual fee, an intro balance transfer and purchase APR of 0% for 15 months, and a regular APR of 19.24% – 29.24% variable. With the automatic 5% cash back rewards in the highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, the Citi Custom Cash® Card is suitable for individuals who want a straightforward credit card option specifically for grocery purchases without limitations on location.
In conclusion, choosing the right grocery credit card can help consumers earn cash back or points on their grocery purchases, effectively stretching their grocery budgets while earning rewards on other spending categories. With careful consideration and comparisons of different credit card offers, consumers can select a card that best meets their financial needs and provides maximum benefit for their grocery spending.
