If you’re like most Americans, groceries and gas are two of your biggest monthly expenses—and they’re also the hardest to cut back on. You have to eat. You have to drive. So why not get paid for it? Best Cashback Credit Cards for Gas & Groceries.
The right cashback credit card can put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket every year on spending you’re already doing. But with so many cards claiming to be “best for gas and groceries,” how do you choose?
I’ve analyzed the top cards for 2026 based on current data from WalletHub, Bankrate, Forbes, and U.S. News to bring you the definitive guide to maximizing your cashback on these essential categories.
Quick Comparison: Top Gas & Grocery Cards for 2026
| Card | Grocery Rewards | Gas Rewards | Annual Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Preferred® from Amex | 6% (up to $6,000/year) | 3% | $0 intro, then $95 | Heavy grocery spenders |
| Blue Cash Everyday® from Amex | 3% (up to $6,000/year) | 3% | $0 | No-fee grocery shoppers |
| Capital One Savor | 3% (excludes superstores) | 1% | $0 | Dining & groceries combo |
| Bank of America Customized Cash | 2% | 3% (if selected) | $0 | Flexibility & no annual fee |
| Citi Strata Premier® | 3 points | 3 points | $95 | Points enthusiasts |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® | 2% | 2% | $0 | Simplicity & flat rate |
| Discover it® Cash Back | 5% rotating | 5% rotating | $0 | Rotating category maximizers |
| Costco Anywhere Visa® | 1% (Costco) / 2% (Costco.com) | 4% | $0 (requires Costco membership) | Costco members & heavy drivers |
The Best Cards in Detail
1. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for Heavy Grocery Spenders
If you have a family or simply spend a lot on groceries, this is the card to beat. WalletHub and Quartz both named it the best overall card for gas and groceries in 2026 .
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Grocery Rewards | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) |
| Gas Rewards | 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations |
| Other Rewards | 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% on transit |
| Welcome Bonus | As high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in first 6 months |
| Annual Fee | $0 intro first year, then $95 |
| Intro APR | 0% on purchases for 12 months |
| Credit Needed | Good to Excellent (670-850) |
The math: If you spend $500/month on groceries, that’s $6,000 annually—exactly maxing out the 6% category. You’ll earn $360 cash back on groceries alone. Add gas spending ($200/month at 3% = $72 annually), and you’re looking at over $430 in cash back the first year.
Who it’s for: Families, grocery-heavy households, anyone spending more than $300/month on groceries. The $95 annual fee is easily offset by the grocery rewards alone.
Watch out: The 6% rate applies only to U.S. supermarkets—not wholesale clubs like Costco or superstores like Walmart and Target . After $6,000 in annual grocery spending, it drops to 1%.
WalletHub’s take: “The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is the best credit card for groceries because it offers 6% cash back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year” .
2. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best No-Annual-Fee Alternative
Love the grocery rewards but don’t want to pay an annual fee? This is your card.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Grocery Rewards | 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000/year, then 1%) |
| Gas Rewards | 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (up to $6,000/year, then 1%) |
| Other Rewards | 3% on online retail purchases (up to $6,000/year) |
| Welcome Bonus | As high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in first 6 months |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Intro APR | 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months |
| Credit Needed | Good to Excellent |
The math: With $400/month on groceries and $200/month on gas, you’d earn $144 + $72 = $216 annually—all with no annual fee .
Who it’s for: People who want solid grocery and gas rewards without paying an annual fee.
Watch out: Like the Preferred version, this excludes superstores and wholesale clubs. The 3% caps at $6,000 per year in each category.
3. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Food & Fun Combo
If your spending is split between groceries and dining out, this card deserves a serious look.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Grocery Rewards | 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) |
| Gas Rewards | 1% cash back |
| Other Rewards | 3% on dining, entertainment, streaming services; 5% on hotels/rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| Welcome Bonus | $200 after spending $500 in first 3 months |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Intro APR | 0% on purchases for 12 months |
| Credit Needed | Good to Excellent |
Why it’s special: While gas is only 1%, the 3% grocery rate combined with 3% on dining and entertainment makes this an excellent all-around card for food-related spending .
The grocery caveat: The 3% grocery category excludes superstores like Walmart and Target, so if you do most of your shopping there, this may not be the best fit.
Who it’s for: People who spend heavily on groceries AND dining out, and want a no-annual-fee card that covers both.
4. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Flexibility
This card won U.S. News’ 2026 Editors’ Choice Award for “Best Credit Card for Essential Spending in Uncertain Times” .
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Grocery Rewards | 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs |
| Gas Rewards | 3% cash back (if you select gas as your 3% category) |
| Customization | Choose your 3% category: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement |
| Welcome Bonus | $200 online cash rewards after $1,000 in first 90 days |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| First-Year Boost | New cardholders earn 6% in their chosen category for the first 12 months |
| Credit Needed | Good to Excellent |
The customization angle: You can change your 3% category monthly based on your spending patterns. Driving more this month? Set it to gas. Holiday shopping? Switch to online shopping .
Who it’s for: People who want maximum flexibility and already have or are willing to open a Bank of America account (Preferred Rewards members get even higher bonuses).
5. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best Flat-Rate Simplicity
Don’t want to track categories or remember which card to use for which purchase? This is your card.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Grocery Rewards | 2% cash back on all purchases—no categories, no caps |
| Gas Rewards | 2% cash back on all purchases |
| Welcome Bonus | $200 after spending $500 in first 3 months |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Intro APR | 0% for 12 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers |
| Credit Needed | Good to Excellent |
Why it’s special: WalletHub named it the best overall card for 2026 . The Motley Fool gave it a 5/5 rating, calling it the “best overall flat-rate card” . It’s as simple as it gets: 2% back on everything, everywhere.
Who it’s for: People who want one card for all spending, don’t want to track categories, and value simplicity over slightly higher category-specific rates.
6. Citi Strata Premier® Card: Best for Points Enthusiasts
If you prefer points over cash back, or want the flexibility to transfer to travel partners, this is your card.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Grocery Rewards | 3x points at supermarkets |
| Gas Rewards | 3x points at gas stations |
| Other Rewards | 3x on air travel, hotels, restaurants; 10x on hotels/car rentals booked via CitiTravel.com |
| Welcome Bonus | 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months |
| Annual Fee | $95 |
| Credit Needed | Good to Excellent |
The points value: Points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, or transferred to 15+ travel partners. WalletHub values the initial bonus at $600 in gift cards .
Who it’s for: Travelers who want to earn transferable points on everyday grocery and gas spending.
7. Discover it® Cash Back: Best for Rotating Categories
If you’re willing to activate categories each quarter, this card can deliver exceptional value—especially in the first year.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Grocery Rewards | 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (when groceries are the category) |
| Gas Rewards | 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (when gas is the category) |
| Other Rewards | 1% on everything else |
| First-Year Match | Discover matches all cash back earned at end of first year |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Intro APR | 0% on purchases for 15 months |
| Credit Needed | Good to Excellent |
Why it’s special: The first-year match means your 5% becomes effectively 10% in your first year . There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards for the match—you could turn $150 cash back into $300 .
The catch: Gas and groceries aren’t always the 5% categories. They rotate quarterly, and you must manually activate each quarter .
Who it’s for: Disciplined spenders willing to track quarterly categories and activate them on time.
8. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi: Best for Costco Members
If you’re already a Costco member, this card punches above its weight for gas and in-warehouse spending.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Gas Rewards | 4% cash back on eligible gas (first $7,000 per year, then 1%) |
| Grocery Rewards | 2% cash back at Costco (in-warehouse and Costco.com) |
| Other Rewards | 3% on dining and travel, 1% on everything else |
| Annual Fee | $0 (requires Costco membership: $60-$120/year) |
| Credit Needed | Good to Excellent |
Why it’s special: The 4% gas rate is among the highest available, and it works at gas stations everywhere—not just Costco .
The math: If you spend $200/month on gas, that’s $2,400 annually at 4% = $96 cash back. Add Costco grocery spending, and the card easily justifies the Costco membership cost.
Who it’s for: Costco members who want the best gas rewards available and do a significant portion of their grocery shopping at Costco.
How to Choose the Right Card for You
Step 1: Calculate Your Monthly Spending
| Category | Your Monthly Spend |
|---|---|
| Groceries (supermarkets) | $______ |
| Gas | $______ |
| Costco/Wholesale clubs | $______ |
| Walmart/Target (non-supermarket) | $______ |
Step 2: Match Your Pattern
If you spend $400+/month on groceries: The Blue Cash Preferred is mathematically unbeatable. The $95 fee pays for itself multiple times over.
If you spend $200-$400 on groceries and want no annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday or Capital One Savor are your best bets.
If you do most of your shopping at Costco: The Costco Anywhere Visa is a no-brainer.
If you shop at Walmart/Target for groceries: Look for flat-rate cards like Wells Fargo Active Cash or Citi Double Cash—most category cards exclude superstores.
If you want maximum flexibility: Bank of America Customized Cash lets you choose your 3% category monthly.
If you hate complexity: Wells Fargo Active Cash gives you 2% on everything, no thinking required.
Step 3: Run the Numbers on Annual Fees
Blue Cash Preferred: $95 fee
- Annual grocery spend at 6%: $500/month = $360 cash back
- Annual gas at 3%: $200/month = $72 cash back
- Total after fee: $337
Blue Cash Everyday: $0 fee
- Annual grocery at 3%: $500/month = $180 cash back
- Annual gas at 3%: $200/month = $72 cash back
- Total: $252
Verdict: The Preferred earns $85 more even after paying the fee—and that’s before counting streaming and transit rewards.
Important Caveats to Know
What Counts as “Groceries”?
This varies by card and can significantly impact your rewards:
| Card | Includes Supermarkets | Includes Walmart/Target | Includes Costco/Sam’s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Preferred | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Blue Cash Everyday | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Capital One Savor | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Bank of America Customized Cash | ✅ (2%) | ❌ (1%) | ✅ (2%) |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash | ✅ (2%) | ✅ (2%) | ✅ (2%) |
| Costco Anywhere Visa | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (2%) |
The lesson: If you do most of your grocery shopping at Walmart or Target, a flat-rate card like Wells Fargo Active Cash may actually earn you more than a category card .
The “Pay in Full” Rule
All these cards have high APRs (typically 18-30%). If you carry a balance, interest charges will quickly wipe out any cash back you earn—and then some .
The golden rule: Only spend what you can pay off when the statement arrives. If you can’t pay in full, you’re not ready for a rewards card.
The Bottom Line
The best cashback card for groceries and gas depends entirely on your spending patterns:
- For heavy grocery spenders: Blue Cash Preferred from Amex (6% groceries, 3% gas)
- For no-annual-fee grocery shoppers: Blue Cash Everyday (3% groceries, 3% gas)
- For Costco members: Costco Anywhere Visa (4% gas, 2% in-warehouse)
- For simplicity lovers: Wells Fargo Active Cash (2% flat on everything)
- For flexibility seekers: Bank of America Customized Cash
- For points enthusiasts: Citi Strata Premier (3x points on both)
Which card fits your spending best? Drop a comment below—I’d love to help you run the numbers and find the perfect card for your situation!