Top Credit Card for Purchasing Groceries (updated on June 26, 2016)

It has been exactly one year since I last updated this list. And it doesn’t seem like groceries have declined much since. Seems more like the prices continue to climb. So I thought I’d update the list of top credit cards to use on groceries.

You will notice that some credit cards only give a higher bonus for the first few months of having the credit card. You may want to look into bouncing around the different credit cards to take advantage of each offer.

Another strategy that I would recommend is for example, let’s say you get the American Express SimplyCash Card that gives you 5% cash back on groceries for the first 6 months, you may want to load up on grocery store gift cards so that you bank the 5% cash back ahead of time.

Furthermore, keep in mind that there are spending limits for the bonus cash back as well. If you are maxing it out anyway, there will be no need for gift cards. But don’t leave money on the table, if you haven’t maxed out the limits, that’s when you want to load up on gift cards.

I have listed the credit cards base on the annual fee (from lowest to highest):

American Express SimplyCash Card

• No annual fee
• Earn 5% cash back for every $1 spent on grocery store purchases (up to $250 cash back for the first 6 months)

American Express SimplyCash Preferred Card

• $79 annual fee
• Earn 5% cash back on all purchases (for the first 6 months) (up to $400 cash back)

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

• $99 annual fee
• Earn 4 points for every $1 spent on grocery store purchases

CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card

• $99 annual fee (first year fee waived promotions sometimes offered)
• Earn 4% cash back on gas and grocery purchases

CIBC Dividend Visa Platinum Card

• $99 annual fee (first year fee waived promotions sometimes offered)
• Earn 4% cash back on gas and grocery purchases

Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card

• $99 annual fee
• Earn 4% cash back for every $1 spent on grocery store purchases

American Express Gold Rewards Card

• $150 annual fee (waived the first year)
• Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on grocery store purchases

Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card

• $399 annual fee
• Earn 4 points for every $1 spent on grocery store purchases