Everyone has to buy groceries, so why not earn rewards while you shop? With grocery prices rising, now is a smart time to choose a credit card that gives you meaningful cash back or points on this essential expense.
Best grocery credit cards in Canada
Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card
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BMO CashBack MasterCard
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American Express Cobalt Card
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Earn 1,250 points for each month you spend $750, up to a maximum of 15,000 points.
MoneySense is a long-standing personal finance publication. Our editorial team reviews credit cards by comparing offers from major banks, credit unions and card issuers across fees, rates, rewards and perks. We work with financial experts to make unbiased recommendations. Learn more about our editorial process and disclosures.
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Best grocery credit cards by category
Review your shopping patterns and pick a card that rewards the places where you spend the most. Below are top options by category to help you maximize value on groceries.
Best cash back card for groceries
At a glance: The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card pays 4% cash back on groceries and on eligible subscription and recurring payments. It also offers 2% on transit and gas and 1% on all other purchases.
Cash back anytime: You can redeem cash back any time with a minimum redemption of $25 instead of waiting for an annual payout.
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card
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Annual fee: $120
- 4% cash back on groceries, subscription services and recurring bill payments
- 2% on gas, transit and food delivery
- 1% on all other purchases
Welcome offer: 15% cash back on all purchases for the first three months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). No annual fee in the first year, including on additional cards.
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Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | New minimum income requirements apply; check issuer for details |
| Credit score | 725 or higher generally recommended |
Best no-fee cash back credit card for groceries
At a glance: The BMO CashBack MasterCard is a strong no-fee option if you want straightforward cash back on groceries. It offers 3% cash back on grocery purchases up to $500 per statement period, 1% on recurring bills and 0.5% on other spending. If you routinely spend more than $500 per month at the grocery store, consider a different card to avoid the cap.
BMO CashBack Mastercard
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Annual fee: $0
- 3% cash back on groceries (on the first $500 per month)
- 1% on recurring bills
- 0.5% on all other purchases
Welcome offer: Up to 5% cash back for the first three months and a 0.99% introductory rate on balance transfers for nine months (2% transfer fee).
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Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 23.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | n/a |
| Credit score | Not specified |
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Best credit card for groceries and gas
At a glance: If you want rewards for both groceries and fuel, consider cards that offer high earn rates in both categories. One top pick provides 4% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases, 2% on dining and transit, and 1% on other purchases. Some cards also include partnerships that save you money at participating fuel stations when you link rewards programs.
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite
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Annual fee: $120 (rebated first year)
- 4% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging and grocery purchases
- 2% on dining, transit and recurring payments
- 1% on everything else
Welcome offer: New cardholders can earn significant value including a first-year fee rebate. Offer details vary by region.
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Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000 |
| Credit score | 725 or higher recommended |
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Best credit card for Loblaw banner grocery stores
At a glance: If you shop at Loblaw-owned banners—like No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore and Fortinos—the PC World Elite Mastercard delivers strong value. It earns high PC Optimum points on groceries at Loblaw banners and generous points at Shoppers Drug Mart, plus points on fuel at Esso and Mobil. PC Optimum points redeem at checkout starting at 10,000 points (equal to $10) at participating retailers.
PC World Elite Mastercard
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Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 points when you spend $50 or more at participating stores within 60 days of account approval.
- 45 PC Optimum points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart
- 30 points per $1 at Loblaw banner grocery stores
- At least 30 points per litre at Esso and Mobil
- 10 points per $1 on other purchases
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Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 22.97% on cash advances (rates may vary by province) |
| Income required | Personal income and household thresholds may apply |
| Credit score | 560 or higher often accepted |
| Point value | 10 PC points = $0.01 at participating Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart locations |
Best points cards for groceries
At a glance: If you want to convert grocery spending into travel rewards, a points card such as the American Express Cobalt is a strong contender. It earns elevated points on groceries, dining and delivery, and offers travel-related benefits. Keep in mind that American Express isn’t accepted everywhere, so check acceptance at your usual stores.
American Express Cobalt
Annual fee: $15.99/month (equivalent to $191.88/year)
- 5 points per $1 on dining and groceries
- 3 points per $1 on streaming services
- 2 points per $1 on transit and gas
- 1 point per $1 on other purchases
Welcome offer: Earn 1,250 points for each month you spend $750, up to a total of 15,000 points.
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases and cash advances; penalty APRs may apply for missed payments |
| Income required | None specified |
| Credit score | 725 or higher generally recommended |
| Point value | Values vary by redemption method; check issuer for current conversion rates |
At a glance: If you prefer travel points over cash back, the Scotiabank Gold American Express converts points to travel at a simple rate where each point is worth about $0.01 toward travel. It also offers accelerated points on groceries, dining and entertainment, and has no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
Scotiabank Gold American Express
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Annual fee: $120
- 6 points per $1 at certain grocery partners
- 5 points per $1 on dining, entertainment and groceries
- 3 points per $1 on gas, transit and streaming
- 1 point per $1 on everything else
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad
Welcome offer: Earn up to $850 in combined welcome offers, first-year rewards and savings value, including bonus Scene+ points. Check issuer for current expiration dates.
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Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | $12,000 per year |
| Credit score | 725 or higher |
| Point value | 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel, store purchases and select partner benefits |
Our methodology: How we determine the best cards
We evaluate cards based on features that matter to most Canadians: annual fees, interest rates, welcome offers, rewards earn rates, redemption options and eligibility requirements. Our rankings aim to be objective and useful so you can choose a card that matches your spending and financial goals. Affiliate links do not influence our recommendations.
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Frequently asked questions
There’s no single best card for everyone. The right choice depends on how often you use credit for groceries, where you shop and what other categories you want to earn rewards in. If you rarely use a credit card, a no-fee card may be best. If you shop at a specific banner often, choose the card that pays the most at that retailer. Consider how grocery spending compares to other regular expenses like gas when deciding which card fits your needs.
Using a credit card for groceries can offset rising costs by earning cash back or points. It’s a good strategy if you pay your balance in full each month. Avoid carrying a balance, since interest charges can outweigh any rewards earned.
Acceptance varies by retailer. Many regional and national grocers accept American Express, but some banners—especially certain Loblaw stores—do not. Check with your preferred stores to confirm card acceptance before relying on Amex for grocery rewards.
Not always. Merchant categorization determines how purchases are classified for rewards. Some issuers treat Walmart as a grocery merchant in certain locations or for online purchases, while others do not. If you shop at Walmart often, check how your card categorizes those transactions.
Costco only accepts certain card networks, and many cards treat Costco purchases differently than grocery purchases. You may still earn rewards, but often at the card’s base earn rate rather than a grocery bonus. If you shop at Costco regularly, consider a card that earns consistently on warehouse or wholesale purchases.
No Frills accepts Visa and Mastercard; it typically does not accept American Express.
More of Canada’s best credit cards:
- Canada’s best no-fee credit cards
- Canada’s best no foreign transaction fee credit cards
- Canada’s best travel credit cards
- Canada’s best cash back credit cards