We compared three top cash back credit cards for grocery spending — the Amex Gold, Citi Double Cash, and Apple Card — looking at reward rates, annual fees, and real-world yield. Here's which one fits your wallet.
If you're spending hundreds of dollars on groceries every month, the right credit card can quietly put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket each year. But not all cash back cards treat groceries the same — some offer bonus categories, others keep it simple, and a few charge annual fees that change the math entirely.
Here's our take on three of the most popular options, ranked by how much they actually earn on groceries.
The American Express Gold Card is the heavy hitter here. It earns 4× points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1×).1 That's a strong earn rate for grocery shoppers who fill a cart every week.
The catch: there's a $250 annual fee (see rates & fees). You need to spend enough on groceries and dining to make that fee worthwhile. If you spend roughly $400+ per month on groceries alone, the 4× category can offset the fee — especially when you factor in the $120 annual dining credit and $84 Uber Cash that come with the card.
Best for: households with consistent grocery bills who want premium rewards and don't mind an annual fee.
The Citi Double Cash takes a different approach: 2% cash back on everything — 1% when you buy, 1% when you pay.2 No categories, no caps, no tracking.
For groceries, that means you earn a flat 2% on every trip. No bonus category, but also no worrying about whether a store codes as a supermarket. Warehouse clubs like Costco? Covered. Convenience stores? Covered. Farmer's market? Covered.
And there's no annual fee, so every dollar of cash back is yours to keep.
The trade-off: if you spend heavily at supermarkets, you'll earn less than the Amex Gold. But if you value simplicity and shop at a mix of stores, this card wins on flexibility.
Best for: anyone who wants a no-fuss, no-fee card that works everywhere.
The Apple Card earns 3% Daily Cash on purchases made with Apple Pay at select merchants — including many grocery stores — and 2% on all other Apple Pay purchases.3 If you shop at a store that accepts Apple Pay (most major chains do), you're getting a solid 2–3% back with no annual fee.
The cash back is deposited into your Apple Cash card daily, which is a nice psychological boost. And the card lives in your iPhone's Wallet app, making it easy to track.
The limitation: if the store doesn't take Apple Pay, you're stuck at 1% back with the physical titanium card. So this card's value depends heavily on your shopping habits.
Best for: iPhone users who already tap to pay and want a simple, fee-free experience.
| Card | Grocery earn rate | Annual fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Gold | 4× at U.S. supermarkets | $250 | High grocery spenders |
| Citi Double Cash | 2% flat on everything | $0 | Simplicity seekers |
| Apple Card | 2–3% with Apple Pay | $0 | Apple ecosystem users |
There's no single "best" grocery card — it depends on your spending pattern.
Disclosure: AskBuy may earn a commission when you apply for a card through our links. This doesn't affect our recommendations — we pick what we'd tell a friend.
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