The Best Credit Cards to Maximize Bonuses for Grocery Shopping

I like to get the most miles and points out of every dollar I spend and grocery spending definitely makes up a big part of my monthly budget. I spend about $500 a month (or $6000 a year) on my groceries. For me, that’s $6000 that can be working for me to earn bonus points, cash back or miles towards travel. I recently chose a new credit card to maximize my grocery store bonus points and am going to share the best options and my thoughts on the cards.

Although some of these cards do offer additional bonus categories, which I’ll of course mention, I am going to concentrate on the cards solely for their potential in maximizing grocery store/supermarket bonuses. After all, that was my goal in searching for the perfect grocery store shopping card! We will be focusing on the cards that offer at least 5% value in cash back (or 5 points per dollar). Except one, all the cards I mention actually are cash back.

I was looking for a card that:

• Would offer me a big reward on my grocery store shopping.
• That I could keep for a long time to continue to earn rewards.
• If there is an annual fee, it’s worth it. 

Here are the contenders:

• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers 6% cash back on purchases up to $6000 a year in spending.
• Wells Fargo Cash Back Card offers 5% cash back on grocery spending for the first 6 months.
• TD Easy Rewards Visa offers 5% cash back on grocery store spending for the first 6 months.
• Amex Hilton Surpass Card offers 6 points per dollar.
• Sallie Mae World MasterCard offers 5% cash back on $250 per month.

1. Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is a simple cash back card and, as we always say, cash is king! At 6% cash back, it’s the highest cash back credit card I have seen for grocery store shopping with a limit of up to $6000 a year on grocery store shopping. It also earns 3% cash back on gas, 1% cash back everywhere else. The current sign-up bonus is $100 after spending $1000 in the first 3 months plus a free year of Amazon Prime membership. The card has a $75 annual fee.

My thoughts: The Blue Cash Preferred card actually ended up being my pick for my official grocery store spending credit card. For someone who spends $500 a month or $6000 a year on grocery shopping, the limit matched well with my shopping habits. My goal was to maximize the bonus and this was the right card for me. I also have a great relationship with American Express with a great history so I am partial toward their cards and their services.

What about the annual fee? The Blue Cash Preferred Card does come with a $75 annual fee, but let’s take a look at why I decided it’s worth it. This card offers me 6% cash back and the next highest card offers at most 5% cash back, as you’ll see. Although the annual fee is $75, I spend $6000 a year on my groceries. In cash that’s $6000*(0.6) = $360. That extra 1 percent already nets me an extra $60 every year. The incremental value covers most of the annual fee with just $15 left over and that’s before figuring in any kind of sign-up bonus.

In reality, this card comes with a $100 sign-up bonus and a free first year of Amazon Prime membership. And unlike other cards where the 5% supermarket bonus only lasts 6 months, I won’t have to keep getting new cards to continue to get the 6% cash back. This card is a keeper for me, although I can always even downgrade to the no-annual fee Blue Cash Everyday card, which earns 3% cash back at supermarkets on up to $6000 spending every year.

2. The Wells Fargo Cash Back Card

The Wells Fargo Cash Back Card has no annual fee and offers 5% cash back at drugstores, supermarkets and gas stations for the first 6 months. It offers 1% cash back everywhere else. The card also has no annual fee. Those that have a banking relationship with Wells Fargo may apply online, though others have to physically visit the branch. People have been saying non-Wells Fargo customers have had somewhat of a hard time getting the card so everyone’s experience may vary.

My thoughts: I actually did sign up for the card and have been happily earning bonus points at grocery stores and drugstores the past few months. However, given that the bonus only lasts 6 months, that perk is about to expire. That’s why I decided to move on to the Blue Cash Preferred, which gives me an additional sign-up bonus and a higher return on my supermarket purchases.

One thing this card does have, which the Blue Cash Preferred does not, is the ability to earn bonus points at drugstores. Drugstores are known to sell various prepaid gift cards and sometimes Vanilla Reloads, which can be used for increased bonus earnings if you are in the market to use these.

3. TD Easy Rewards Visa Card

The TD Easy Rewards Visa is similar to the Wells Fargo Cash Back Card. It offers 5% cash back on dining, groceries, gas and cable, phone and utility bill payments and 1% cash back on everything else. Again, this is much easier to get for those that have a banking relationship with TD Bank. The card has no annual fee.

My thoughts: I have not yet been tempted to try for the card as I do not have an account with TD Bank, but those that do may find some good value for the first 6 months. Just keep in mind it is only 6 months so you should carefully consider the value you’d gain from the card and it’s short-lived, although good, bonus categories.

4. Hilton Amex Surpass Card

The Hilton Amex Surpass Card offers 12 points per dollar for spending at Hilton hotel brands, 6 points per dollar at supermarkets/restaurants/gas stations and 3 points per dollar everywhere else. The current sign-up bonus is 75,000 Hilton HHonors bonus points after spending $3,000 within 3 months and you receive Hilton HHonors Gold status for the life of the card. The card carries a $75 annual fee.

My thoughts: The Hilton program has severely devalued its points and, right now, it’s pretty much impossible to get even one cent of value from a Hilton HHonors points. I value Hilton HHonors points at about half a cent each at best.  The 75,000 sign-up bonus sounds high, but in reality, it isn’t even enough for a single night at a top Hilton HHonors hotel. I’d much rather go for a cash back card on my groceries that pays at least 5% than earn 6 Hilton HHonors points, which I’d equate a value of 3% cash back at most.

5. Sallie Mae World MasterCard

The Sallie Mae World MasterCard is a cash back card offering statement credits and is geared toward the student population. This is the reason for the low limits on the bonuses and extra incentive for buying books. It offers 5% cash back on the the first $250 you spend per month on gas and grocery purchases each and the first $750 you spend per month on book purchases. It offers 1% cash back on every other purchase. The card has no annual fee and currently comes with a $25 sign-up bonus if you use your card within 90 days of account opening.

My thoughts: The Sallie Mae World MasterCard is certainly a contender for those that spend a smaller amount on groceries and those with small budgets. I spend $500 a month so I’d be missing out on half the bonus with this card and, for this reason, never considered it. Even though the card I chose has an annual fee and this one does not, the most cash back you can earn on your grocery store shopping is: $250 * 12 months * 5% cash back = $150. 

Final Verdict and Summary

I’ve now gone through the five cards with the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, Wells Fargo Cash Back Card and Sallie Mae World MasterCard coming out as the best contenders for different situations.<

• Those that spend around $6000 a year on groceries and want a card to keep for a long time may want to consider the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express. The card offers 6% cash back on groceries up to $6000,  3% cash back on gas, a $100 sign up bonus, a free year of Amazon Prime membership and a $75 annual fee. This is the card I chose.
• Those that have significant spending at drugstores along with their grocery stores may want to consider the The Wells Fargo Cash Back Card, which offers 5% cash back at drugstores, grocery stores and gas stations for 6 months with no limit. Just keep in mind the bonus only lasts 6 months so make sure the sign-up is worth it!
• Those that spend around $250 a month or less on groceries may want to consider the Sallie Mae World MasterCard with no annual fee. This card offers 5% cash back on the first $250 spent every month on each of gas and groceries. It also offers 5% cash back on up to $750 every month for books.