Credit Cards Cash Back Credit Cards

The Best Credit Cards for Gas and Groceries [2024]

Gas and groceries are necessities, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get rewarded for buying them. Check out the best credit cards for gas and groceries to earn rewards.

beautiful woman with shopping cart at supermarket
Updated Nov. 6, 2024
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Did you know you could earn rewards for everyday purchases like gas and groceries? Why not reward yourself with gift cards, cash, or travel benefits for all that you do? There are many cards that offer cash back bonuses for these purchases and more.

The key is to know what type of rewards they offer, the spending threshold they set, and how you earn rewards. You’ll find credit cards with no annual fee and unlimited cash back and those with annual fees and low limits on what you can spend.

Check out the best credit cards for gas and groceries below to see how you can start rewarding yourself.

How we evaluate products

The best credit cards for gas and groceries

Compare the best credit card for gas and groceries

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express(See rates and fees)
5.0
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Our overall winner Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express(See rates and fees)
4.9
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No annual fee Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases $0
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.4
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Choosing categories Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and 1% on all other purchases $0
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
5.0
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Flat cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases $0
Citi Double Cash® Card Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
5.0
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Easy rewards Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25 $0
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Citi Strata Premier℠ Card(Rates and fees)
4.9
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Elevated rewards Earn 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X points on all other purchases $95
Citi Custom Cash® Card Citi Custom Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
4.7
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Flexible rewards Earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026 $0

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Our overall winner

Card details:
  • Rewards: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases
  • Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months
  • Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express pays healthy rewards of 6% on spending at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, but note the $6,000 annual spending limit. Since most families spend well over $6,000 a year on groceries, you can use this card to max out the rewards, and then use a different card for the remainder of the year.

You can easily offset the $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter annual fee on this card if you spend at least $1,583 on groceries every year, and unlike many other American Express cards, you can carry a balance on this one, although interest will accrue.

Other featured benefits include:

  • Up to $84 annual Disney bundle credit
  • Access to special ticketed events
  • Access to the Global Assist Hotline when you travel 100+ miles from home

I also like that the card has 0% intro APRs:

  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers, then 18.74% - 29.74% (variable) with a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, then 18.74% - 29.74% (variable)

This gives you a chance to spread out the cost of large purchases or pay off old credit card debt with no interest.

Pros
  • High rewards rate for certain categories
  • Low annual fee
  • Includes other benefits, like the Disney Bundle credit
Cons
  • Low spending cap on elevated rewards
  • High spend required for welcome offer

Learn how to apply or for more information, read our Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card review.

Keep in mind
Cash back with both the Amex cards on this list can only be redeemed as a statement credit, so you won’t be able to book travel or get gift cards with the Amex Membership Rewards program.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Excellent for no annual fee

Card details:
  • Rewards: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases
  • Welcome offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months
  • Annual fee: $0

If you don’t like paying annual fees, you can still earn 3% back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%) with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. The spending caps are the same as the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card — $6,000 per year — so I’d use this card to earn the higher reward rate and then supplement with another one for the rest of the year.

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card also offers 0% intro APR offers:

  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 18.74% - 29.74% (variable)) with a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 18.74% - 29.74% (variable))
  • Pros
    • $0 annual fee makes the card a no-brainer
    • Lengthy 0% intro APR period
    Cons
    • Relatively high spend requirement for welcome offer
    • Low spend threshold for grocery and gas rewards

    Learn how to apply or for more information, read our Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card review.

    Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

    Excellent for choosing categories
    Card details:
    • Rewards: 3% cash back in the category of your choice and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and 1% on all other purchases
    • Welcome offer: Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
    • Annual fee: $0

    The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card allows cardholders to choose their bonus category to earn 3% in the category of your choice — gas and EV charging stations, online shopping, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter).

    If you choose gas, you can earn 3% back on your purchases. Plus you earn an automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter). Keep in mind that there’s a limit of $2,500 spent quarterly, then you earn 1% on all other purchases, which still isn’t terrible, but you can swap cards when you reach the limit to earn higher rewards from another one.

    If you have credit card debt, you can also tackle it with the 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.74% - 28.74% Variable), and there is a balance transfer fee.

    You can redeem your rewards for any amount and choose from the following:

    • Statement credits
    • Bank of America® deposits
    • Credits to a Merrill account, including 529 accounts ($25 minimum)
    Pros
    • Option to choose your bonus category (including gas)
    • $0 annual fee
    • Option to reinvest your cashback in your Merrill account
    Cons
    • No travel or purchase benefits
    • Low spending cap on elevated rates

    Apply now or for more information, go to our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards review.

    Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

    Excellent for flat cash rewards
    Card details:
    • Rewards: Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
    • Welcome offer: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
    • Annual fee: $0

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card isn’t a traditional gas or grocery cash rewards card, but you can make it that way with its flat 2% cash rewards on purchases. The best part is there’s no limit to your spending and a $0 annual fee.

    This is a good example of a credit card you can use to supplement your gas and grocery cash rewards when you max out your benefits on a card like the American Express Blue Cash Everyday card.

    If you need a card for large purchases or balance transfers, the card also offers:

    • 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable) with a balance transfer fee of 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%; min: $5
    • 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases (then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable)

    Other features include:

    • Auto rental collision damage waiver
    • Travel emergency assistance services
    • Roadside dispatch
    • Cell phone protection
    Pros
    • No limit on rewards
    • Access to exclusive Wells Fargo deals at your favorite retailers
    • Includes credit score monitoring
    Cons
    • The cash rewards are lower than other cards for gas and grocery
    • Charges a balance transfer fee

    Apply now or for more details, check out our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.

    Citi Double Cash® Card

    Excellent for easy rewards
    Card details:
    • Rewards: 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25
    • Welcome offer: Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back
    • Annual fee: $0

    The Citi Double Cash® Card makes it easy to earn cash back on gas and groceries, but in a non-traditional way. You can earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25. It's an incentive not to carry a balance!

    The cash back is unlimited so you don’t have to worry about overspending, which is nice compared to other cards with low limits.

    The Citi Double Cash card also offers a lengthy 18 months 0% APR on balance transfers, then the rates increase to 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable).

    The card doesn’t include many other notable features except for exclusive access to Citi Entertainment, which offers exclusive access to special ticketed events.

    Pros
    • No category or spending limits
    • Many options to redeem rewards
    • Includes 24 hour fraud protection
    Cons
    • Rewards rate is lower than some other grocery and gas cash back cards
    • Requires a balance transfer fee

    Apply now or for more information, read our Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees) review.

    Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

    Excellent for elevated rewards
    Card details:
    • Rewards: 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X points on all other purchases
    • Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
    • Annual fee: $95

    The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card makes it easy to earn cash back on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations at a rate of 3X points per dollar spent. There’s no limit to the reward, so you don’t have to juggle cards.

    If you travel, this card is especially beneficial since you can earn 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. You also enjoy $100 off a $500 hotel stay annually when booking through CitiTravel.com plus you can use your points earned for grocery and gas purchases to fund your travels.

    Travelers may also enjoy the points transfer option to participating airlines including Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines.

    In addition, travelers can enjoy these benefits:

    • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
    • Trip delay coverage
    • Lost or damaged luggage coverage
    • Car rental coverage
    Pros
    • No foreign transaction fees
    • Many options for points redemption
    • Offers access to Citi Entertainment for exclusive tickets
    Cons
    • Most benefits cater to travelers
    • No 0% intro APR offer

    Apply now or for more information, read our Citi Strata Premier℠ Card(Rates and fees) review.

    Citi Custom Cash® Card

    Excellent for flexible rewards
    Card details:
    • Rewards: 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026
    • Welcome offer: Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back
    • Annual fee: $0

    The Citi Custom Cash® Card can give you a nice boost on your grocery or gas purchases, but only one category and only up to $500 spent each billing cycle. I’d use the card for grocery spending to earn the high cash back percentage and use a different card for gas.

    The 1% on all other purchases is low for most categories, but the card has a $0 annual fee, so you don’t have anything to lose.

    You can also access 0% intro APR offers:

    • 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)) with a balance transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum)
    • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable))

    However, if you travel, you can take advantage of Citi’s special travel offer of 4% back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.

    Pros
    • Cash back is unlimited
    • Offers many options for redemption
    • Offers access to Citi Entertainment
    Cons
    • Charges a relatively high balance transfer fee

    Apply now or for more information, read our Citi Custom Cash® Card(Rates and fees) review.

How to choose the best credit card for gas and groceries

When choosing the best credit cards for groceries or the best credit cards for gas, you have many factors to consider. Chances are you’ll use your credit card for more than just gas or groceries, so you should know everything the card offers to determine which one is best.

Consider the following:

  • Evaluate a card’s welcome offer and what it takes to earn it
  • Understand your monthly spending in groceries and gas to choose the right card
  • Make sure you spend enough to offset the annual fee if a card has one
  • Consider rewards in other spending categories such as travel purchases or streaming subscriptions
  • Think about the fine print details such as foreign transaction fees and spending caps, if applicable
  • Research the typical credit score requirements for different cards to see if you might qualify
  • Weigh the importance of other perks and benefits that could help you reach personal finance goals, such as 0% introductory APR offers (note that balance transfers typically have balance transfer fees)

FAQs

Which credit card is best for fuel and groceries?

Which credit card gives you the most points on gas?

How do gas rewards credit cards work?

Gas rewards credit cards typically offer points or cash back when you use them for fuel purchases. They typically offer these rewards at a higher rate than their base rate for other purchases. Depending on the credit card issuer, you might be able to redeem the rewards you earn for statement credits, gift cards, travel, or more.

Do credit card rewards expire?

Credit card rewards might expire, but it depends on the specific terms of the credit card issuer. Some rewards programs have expiration dates for earned points or miles, while others may allow you to keep your rewards indefinitely as long as your account remains open and in good standing.

Credit card rewards that expire typically require you to stay active by making regular purchases or completing certain redemptions to keep your rewards from expiring.

Products that didn’t make our list

There are many credit cards that pay cash back for groceries and gas, but not all made our list.

Here are two that are worth mentioning in case they apply to you:

  • Prime Visa: Amazon Prime members earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases. The card also includes plenty of travel benefits, but you get the most out of it if you are an Amazon Prime member or the cash back drops.
  • Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi: The Costco Anywhere Visa pays 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter; 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% on all other purchases. It’s great for cash back on gas, but grocery purchases fall under the lowest earning categories.

Bottom line

When choosing a double-duty card for gas and groceries, analyze your annual spending habits and discover whether you’re spending the most on gas, groceries, or another category altogether. Consider your total spending when deciding whether or not you can offset an annual fee and decide how you’ll want to use your rewards to meet your goals.

Don’t forget, you can mix and match cards, taking advantage of cards with low spending thresholds but high bonuses, and supplementing with cards with lower cash back percentages. The key is to figure out what works best for you.

Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets

5.0
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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Current Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter

Rewards Rate

6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details