Best Grocery Credit Cards In Canada For 2025
Credit cards that earn the most rewards on your grocery shopping.
The best grocery credit cards in Canada give you accelerated rewards for your grocery store purchases. The best of these is the American Express Cobalt Card. While it’s not strictly a grocery credit card, it gives you the best rate of return in this category (along with restaurant purchases).
Since the Cobalt isn’t your only option, we reviewed other top credit cards that reward you for every grocery shopping haul. Plus, we’ve broken down your options by store and category to make it easier to find the right card for you.
Key Takeaways
- The best grocery credit card in Canada is the American Express Cobalt Card, followed by the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
- Grocery credit cards reward your food purchases but may include high annual fees and low earning rates in other spending categories.
- The best credit cards for grocery shopping are accepted at your local store, earn plenty of points with every purchase, and provide perks for shopping at partner stores.
The best grocery credit cards in Canada
Grocery credit cards are a type of rewards credit card with spectacular earning rates at – where else? – grocery stores!
We’ve made comparison easier by presenting the earning power of every card on this list as a return rate.
Value of rewards in Canadian dollars / Canadian dollars spent = return rate
Every 1% in returns means you get $1 in rewards per $100 spent. The 8 best grocery credit cards in Canada boast a return rate of 2 – 10% based on $700 of grocery shopping per month:
| Category | Credit card | Annual fee | Grocery return rate | Grocery rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best in Canada | American Express Cobalt Card | $191.88 | 10.00% | 5 points per $1 spent (limited) |
| Best for flexible rewards | Scotiabank Gold American Express Card | $120 | 6.00% | 6 points per $1 spent (unlimited) |
| Best for cash back | Neo World Elite Mastercard | $125 | 5.00% | Limited 5% cash back |
| Most versatile | BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | $120 | 3.86% | Limited 5% cash back |
| Best for flexible travel | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card | $120 | 3.35% | 5 points per $1 spent (limited) |
| Best for Aeroplan | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | $139 | 3.00% | 1.5 points per $1 spent (limited) |
| Best for no fee | Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | 2.00% | Unlimited 2% cash back |
| Best for students | BMO CashBack Mastercard for students | $0 | 1.01% | 3% cash back (limited) |
Here's a look at the top five grocery cards with the best rates of return:
1. Best grocery credit card in Canada
×8 Award winner 
$100 GeniusCash + Transfer points to Aeroplan and 7 other travel partners with Canada's #1 credit card.*
GC: $100
8x Award winner Rewards:
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up tp $2,500 spent per month)
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services
- 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Grocery return rate: 10%
The American Express Cobalt Card isn’t just the best grocery credit card in Canada, it’s also the best overall credit card in Canada, period. Once you’ve earned enough points with the 5:1 rate on groceries, you can transfer your Amex Membership Rewards to the Aeroplan program and get up to 2 cents per point (CPP) when you redeem them on a flight.
Cost of reward in $CAD / cost of reward in points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)
Plus, the American Express Cobalt Card tops the leaderboard with the highest return rates and most valuable perks. If the Cobalt has a flaw, it’s the $2,500 monthly cap on eligible spending in the grocery, restaurant, and food delivery categories – and not every grocery store accepts American Express.
Hint: You can use your Amex card at Costco and Loblaws by ordering grocery delivery through Instacart.
Pros:
- High earn rate
- 10 types of insurance included
- Amex Experiences, Offers, Front of the Line, and The Hotel Collection benefits
- No income requirements
Cons:
- $2,500 monthly cap on eligible grocery, restaurant, and food delivery spending, after which rewards drop to 1 point per $1 spent
- Lower acceptance as an American Express
2. Best flexible rewards grocery credit card
×1 Award winner GC: $100
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more
- 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, select streaming services, and transit
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Grocery return rate: 6%
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card's incredible grocery earning rate has just one catch: you can only earn and redeem Scene+ points at partner stores like FreshCo, Sobeys, Cineplex, etc. Save up enough points and you can trade 1,000 Scene points for a $10 in-store discount or travel through the Scene+ or Expedia website, yielding 1 CPP.
If you do travel, don’t leave the Scotia Gold Amex behind – it’ll save you 2.5% on currency exchange rate fees and $99 USD on a Priority Pass airport lounge membership.
Pros:
- 24/7 complimentary concierge services
- 12 types of insurance included
- 0.00% foreign transaction fees
- Amex Offers, Experiences, and Front of the Line benefits
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership
- No monthly or annual caps on eligible grocery purchases
Cons:
- $12,000 personal income required
- Lower acceptance as an American Express
3. Best cash back grocery credit card
Rewards:
- Average of 5% cash back at partner retailers
- 5% cash back on groceries, up to $1,000 spent monthly
- 4% cash back on recurring bills, up to $500 spent monthly
- 3% cash back on gas and EV charging, up to $1,000 spent monthly
- 1% cash back everywhere else
Grocery return rate: Up to 7%
The Neo World Elite Mastercard can get you extremely high rates for a cash back credit card – a base rate of 5%, which can climb to 7% if you have $10,000 in a Neo Everyday Account. These rates are limited to $1,000 monthly, after which the rate drops to 1%, so bigger spenders may find better rewards elsewhere. If you can stay under that $1,000 cap, the Neo World Elite Mastercard’s rates are tough to beat.
The Neo World Elite Mastercard boasts impressive insurance coverage for a cash back card and allows you to redeem your cash back at any point – no waiting for your money to become available. As a World Elite Mastercard, it also gets you all the usual benefits, including a Mastercard Travel Pass membership and access to Priceless events.
Pros:
- 12 types of insurance included
- Earn an average of 5% cash back at Neo retail partners
- Increase your cash back by keeping a balance of $5,000 in a Neo Everyday Account
- Redeem your cash back whenever you want
Cons:
- Caps on bonus categories
- $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income required
- No welcome bonus
4. Most versatile cash back grocery credit card
GC: $150
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on groceries, up to $500 in monthly spend
- 4% cash back on transit, up to $300 in monthly spend
- 3% cash back on gas, up to $300 in monthly spend
- 2% cash back on recurring bills, up to $500 in monthly spend
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Grocery return rate: 3.86%
Although the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard earns slightly less than the card above and caps your eligible grocery spending at $500 per month, it has the advantage of cash back on demand. You can redeem as little as $1 whenever you want as a credit or a deposit to your BMO bank account using the banking app or website.
Its perks and benefits include World Elite Mastercard concierge services, worldwide Wi-Fi hotspot access, and DragonPass membership; the largest credit card insurance package on this list (valued at $560), and complimentary roadside assistance – all for $120 per year.
Pro Tip: Only Mastercard credit cards categorize Walmart as a grocery store. You may not earn the rewards you expect if you shop there with Visa or Amex!
Pros:
- Up to 20% off Alamo, Enterprise, and National car rentals
- 13 types of insurance included
- 7% off accommodations at Booking.com
- Up to 7 cents off per litre at Shell
- Cash back rewards on demand
- Free roadside assistance
- World Elite Mastercard benefits
Cons:
- $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income required
- $500 monthly cap on eligible grocery purchases
5. Best grocery credit card for flexible travel
GC: $150
Rewards:
- 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on dining, groceries, gas, and transit
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Grocery return rate: 3.35%
Other travel credit cards may be more rewarding but the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is the most flexible. Cardholders can redeem BMO Rewards points for a travel credit with the provider of their choice or drop them into a BMO investment account for 0.67 CPP. And, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card leads our list with the biggest welcome bonus of $469.
Just remember: you’ll only earn 5x the points on up to $50,000 of eligible spending per year, after which your rewards will drop to just 1 point per $1 spent.
Pros:
- $50 annual lifestyle credit
- 6 types of insurance included
- 10% bonus points for adding an authorized user
- Up to 7 cents off per litre at Shell
- Visa Infinite benefits
Cons:
- $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income required
- $50,000 annual cap on eligible gas, grocery, restaurant, and food delivery purchases, after which rewards drop to 1 point per $1 spent
6. Best Aeroplan grocery credit card
Rewards:
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, grocery and direct through Air Canada purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Grocery return rate: 3%
Thanks to its points-earning power, the Cobalt is also our top Aeroplan credit card – but it doesn’t enjoy the same perks as the real thing. Canadians with the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card enjoy one free checked bag on any Air Canada flight, plus a host of other Air Canada benefits.
Pros:
- $100 NEXUS credit every four years
- 50% more points and Stars at Starbucks
- 12 types of insurance included
- Air Canada benefits
- Automatic Avis Preferred Plus status
- Extra qualifying flights and miles toward Aeroplan Elite Status
- Visa Infinite benefits
Cons:
- $80,000 annual cap on eligible gas, grocery, and Air Canada purchases
- $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income required
7. Best no fee grocery credit card
×1 Award winner GC: $120
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 2% cash back on purchases in up to 3 Money-Back Categories
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
Grocery return rate: 2%
With few income or credit score requirements, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card offers students and newcomers the chance to build their Canadian credit history. It and the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard are the only credit cards in Canada that allow cardholders to choose their most rewarding spending categories from a list of 10, including groceries.
You can even swap categories (although it takes 90 days for changes to take effect) – not bad for a no fee credit card!
Pros:
- 1.95% interest on balance transfers for 6 months
- Monthly cash back rewards
- No monthly or annual cap on eligible grocery purchases
- $0 additional card fee
Cons:
- Only 2 types of insurance included
- $12,000 personal income required
8. Best grocery credit card for students
Rewards:
- 3% cash back on groceries (up to $500 per month)
- 1% cash back on recurring bill payments (up to $500 per month)
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
Grocery return rate: 1.01%
The BMO CashBack Mastercard for students is a great starter credit card for students who want a no-frills card that doesn’t charge an annual fee, but gives some rewards. It’s easy to qualify for, as there are no income requirements, and it doesn't require a good credit score.
Your BMO CashBack Mastercard for students earns you 3% back on groceries, and you’ll get 1% back on recurring bills. All other purchases only give you 0.5% back. These earn rates are limited to the first $500 of monthly spending.
Pros:
- 5% cash back for the first three months, up to $2,500 in spend
- Flexible redemption options
- No annual fee
- Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell
Cons:
- Only earns 0.5% cash back outside of bonus categories
- Limited insurance included
Compare the best grocery credit cards by Genius Rating
To find the best grocery credit cards in Canada, we considered over 126 credit card features in seven categories, from most to least important:
- Rewards
- Fees
- Perks
- Insurance
- Interest
- Approval
- Acceptance
Like many Canadians, we value rewards, so we put them first. For this page, the algorithm weighed each credit card's merits based on $700 of monthly spending purely on groceries and scored it out of 5.
After all that, here's a list of the best grocery credit cards according to their Genius Rating:
×8 Award winner GC: $100 8x Award winner ×4 Award winner GC: $100
4x Award winner 
GC: $150
Awards are given out once a year but rating and rankings can shift throughout the year. The #1 card for 2025 is pinned to the top.
Learn more about the Genius Rating methodology
What are grocery credit cards?
When we say grocery credit cards, we don’t mean cards issued by the stores themselves. Instead, we’re talking about credit cards that earn you increased rewards for your grocery purchases.
To count as a grocery store – and get those accelerated rates – the merchant has to be categorized as "Groceries." For instance, if you visit a Real Canadian Superstore to buy makeup and toiletries, the purchase still counts as groceries since Real Canadian Superstore is categorized as a grocery store.
One important note: not only does Costco not accept Visa or Amex in its warehouses, but your purchases there aren’t considered groceries.
Pros and cons of grocery credit cards
Grocery credit cards earn most of their rewards on food purchases. As you can guess, there are some benefits to this and some drawbacks:
Pros
- A wide variety of bank, no fee, and payment network options
- Bonus point offers, members-only pricing, and promotions at partner grocery stores
- Partnerships with major rewards programs like AIR MILES
- Redemption options like cash, travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more
But to get the maximum value out of your card, you’ll have to watch for:
Cons
- High annual fees
- Limited acceptance at certain grocery stores
- Low earning rates in other spending categories
- Missed earnings if the retailer isn’t categorized as “groceries”
The last point is the most important – you can’t collect any rewards on purchases you can’t make. For example, Costco only accepts Mastercard and you can’t take an Amex shopping at The Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, or any other Loblaws subsidiaries.
You can also miss out on rewards if your purchases aren’t categorized correctly. For example, if you buy a candy bar at a gas station, it’ll probably count as "gas," not “groceries.” Check your credit card statement to see how your favourite stores are categorized and whether you’re getting the rewards you want when you visit.
The right card based on your shopping preferences
You may be able to get even more value from a grocery store credit card by choosing a co-branded card. If you’re like most Canadians, you probably have a go-to grocery store, so look at our recommendations for the best co-branded and general options.
| Best for: | Best co-branded card: | Best general card: |
|---|---|---|
| Shoppers at Loblaw banner stores | PC Financial World Elite Mastercard | Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite |
| Costco members | CIBC Costco Mastercard | Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard |
| Walmart shoppers | Walmart Rewards Mastercard | MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard |
| Shoppers at Sobeys, Metro, and other major chains | Scotiabank Scene+ credit cards, RBC moi Visa | American Express Cobalt Card |
| Online grocery shoppers | N/A | Scotiabank Gold American Express Card |
For shoppers at Loblaw banner stores
Best co-branded card: PC Financial World Elite Mastercard
Best general option: Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite
You’ve probably been asked at some point if you’ll be paying with your PC card. Of the four PC cards available, we like the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard. There’s no annual fee and you’ll earn 30 PC Optimum points per $1 spent at Loblaw banner stores. For all other purchases, you’ll get 10 points per $1.
While those are solid earn rates, you could do better with the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite. You’ll earn 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bills (up to $25,000 spent annually), 2% on gas and transit, and a base earn rate of 1% on every purchase. While the card does have an annual fee, it includes some perks that make it worth your while.
For Costco members
Best co-branded card: CIBC Costco Mastercard
Best general option: Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
We’re not going to sugarcoat it: the CIBC Costco Mastercard is a disappointment when it comes to rewarding your loyalty to the warehouse giant. While the card earns you 3% back at restaurants and on Costco fuel, you’ll only earn 1% back on your in-person Costco purchases.
That’s where the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard comes in. The card only earns 1.5% back at Costco, but if you have a Rogers service (through Fido or Shaw), you’ll earn 2% back. And, if you travel to the U.S. to do some Costco shopping, you’ll get 3% back on your USD purchase.
For Walmart shoppers
Best co-branded card: Walmart Rewards Mastercard
Best general option: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
Walmart regulars will appreciate the Walmart-specific rewards that come with the Walmart Rewards Mastercard. Mainly, you’ll earn 5% back on Walmart brands, 1.25% back pre-tax in Walmart Rewards, and 1% back on all other purchases. That’s the good—the bad is that you can only use your rewards at Walmart.
If you’re looking for a card that rewards you for your Walmart haul but gives you more flexible rewards, check out the Brim Mastercard, which gives you a steady 1% for most purchases. And, if you purchase with a Brim partner, like Walmart, you’ll earn an additional 30%. When you go to redeem points, you won’t be limited to Walmart.
For shoppers at Sobeys, Metro, and other major chains
Best co-branded card: Scotiabank Scene+ credit cards, RBC moi Visa
Best general option: American Express Cobalt Card
Sobeys shoppers would do well to check out our recommendation for the Scotiabank Gold Amex card, which can earn you up to 6 points per $1 with the retailer, while Metro shoppers might earn 5 points per $1 with the same card. Metro shoppers looking for a co-branded card may be disappointed by the RBC moi Visa option, which only earns 1 point per $1 at Metro.
Instead of either of these cards, we highly recommend the American Express Cobalt Card, which consistently wins best credit card in Canada. You’ll earn a generous 5 points per $1 spent on groceries (including Sobeys and Metro). People who shop at various grocery chains will appreciate the chance to earn rewards at each location.
For online grocery shoppers
Best general option: Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
We know we sound like a broken record, but the Scotia Gold Amex really is one of your best options for grocery store purchases, including online orders. As a reminder, you’ll get 6 points per $1 at Safeway, Sobeys, Freshco, and more. Plus, other grocery stores will get you 5 points per $1, even when you shop online.
How to maximize your grocery rewards
Before you even apply for a grocery credit card, check that your grocery store of choice accepts it. American Express, we’re looking at you.
- Sign up for your grocery store’s loyalty program. By getting store discounts and rewards on top of the rewards you get from your card, you can make a significant dent in your grocery bill. For instance, sign up for the PC Optimum program and use your PC Financial World Elite Mastercard to earn the maximum rewards.
- Look for promos. As you make your grocery list, check for limited-time promotional offers, such as increased cash back rates or bonus points on certain items. That might be a good time to stock up!
- Watch for spending caps. Read your credit card’s terms and conditions to see if there are spending caps on grocery rewards. For example, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card gives a generous 4% cash back on groceries – but only up to $25,000 every year. After you hit the spending cap, your grocery haul will earn you the lowest rate.
Try using our handy calculator to find out just how much your rewards points are worth:
| Redemption Option | Point Value | Total Value |
|---|---|---|
| Cineplex theatres | 1 cent | $10 |
| Recipe Unlimited Restaurants | 1 cent | $10 |
| Any travel from Expedia Scene+ | 1 cent | $10 |
| Sobeys stores | 1 cent | $10 |
| Any travel (Scene+ credit and debit cardholders only) | 1 cent | $10 |
| Statement credits | 0.8 cents | $8 |
| Apple & Best Buy Merchandise | 0.77 cents | $8 |
| Gift Cards | 0.74 cents | $7 |
How to save more on groceries
Signing up for a grocery store credit card is an excellent first step to saving money, but there are several other things you can do:
- Buy bread, meat, or dairy on sale and freeze it for later
- Check grocery store flyers and plan your meals around what’s on sale
- Compare the price per 100 grams or millilitres on the shelf tag to find the better deal
- Eat more cheap and filling foods like legumes and whole grains
- Plan your meals to avoid food waste
- Price match when you can
While small, these tips can help you adjust to inflation while you work on long-term solutions like demanding political action or investigating community-funded agriculture.
"Double dip" by collecting credit card rewards and store loyalty points on the same purchase - using a high-rewards credit card at Loblaws and earning PC Optimum points on the same purchase can maximize your savings.
FAQ
What credit card gives you the most points for groceries?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earns 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries at Sobeys and Safeway. Technically, though, the Amex points earned with the American Express Cobalt Card are considerably more valuable than Scene+ points.
Should you buy groceries with a credit card?
Unless you’re struggling with debt, buying groceries with a rewards or cash back credit card could save you a significant amount of money over time. Think of it as getting a discount on your weekly groceries.
Does buying groceries with a credit card build credit?
As long as you pay your bills on time, stay below your spending limit, and don’t apply for many new credit products, every type of credit card purchase (including groceries) can help build your credit score.
What counts as grocery stores for credit cards?
Any store that has a merchant category code of "grocery" will earn you enhanced rewards on your grocery store purchases. It’s up to the credit card issuer to determine which stores are categorized this way.
Are Walmart and Costco considered grocery stores?
Only Mastercard credit cards consider Walmart to be a grocery store (and earn increased cash back rates). Costco is usually classified as a wholesale store, so you won’t get increased cash back on grocery purchases here.
Which grocery stores accept American Express?
You can shop at Farmboy, Metro, IGA, Food Basics, Sobeys, Whole Foods, and many other stores with an American Express credit card. The notable exception from this list is Costco, which doesn’t count as a grocery store.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 227 Canadian credit cards.
