The best credit card for shopping at Walmart is the best cash back card in Canada, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard. Users earn up to 5 points per dollar spent at Walmart, plus additional perks and benefits.
This article presents the top cards for shopping at Walmart, reviews why Walmart's own issued cards may not be your best choice, offers tips on how to maximize your trips to this retail giant, and more.
Key Takeaways
- The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard is the best credit card for shopping at Walmart.
- To maximize your Walmart run, shop with a credit card that gives an accelerated earn rate for grocery purchases.
- Walmart offers 2 co-branded no-fee Mastercards, but they're far from offering the best rewards for Walmart shopping.
- The Walmart Rewards program is pretty limited in terms of what you can earn and how you can redeem your rewards.
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Best credit cards for shopping at Walmart
Before we launch into your best credit card for shopping at Walmart options, we want to point out that, since most Walmarts are Supercentres now, the best cards are Mastercard cards with grocery store bonuses.
Unfortunately, Walmart-branded credit cards don't actually provide as much value for deal shoppers as we'd like. Still, for the right type of dedicated shopper, they can still be worthwhile.
And now, here are the best credit cards for shopping at Walmart:
| Card name | Annual fee | Rewards | Walmart earn rate | Average return | Welcome bonus | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $120 | * 5 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $50,000 spent annually per category) * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | 5% | 2.86% |  $40 GeniusCash + 30,000 bonus points (terms) | Learn more |
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | $150 | * 5 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants, up to $2,500 in total spend per month (2 points after) * 2 points per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, recurring bills, and travel booked through À La Carte Rewards * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | 5% | 1.55% | None | Learn more |
| Neo World Elite Mastercard - Gas & Grocery | $149 | * 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 | 5% | 2.55% | None | Learn more |
| Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard | $0 | * 2% cash back on purchases in up to 3 Money-Back Categories * 0.5% cash back on all other purchases | 2% | 1.14% | $75 GeniusCash + $100 (terms) | Learn more |
| BMO CashBack Mastercard | $0 | * 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 | 3% | 0.99% | $20 GeniusCash + 5% cash back for the first 3 months (terms) | Learn more |
| Walmart Rewards Mastercard | $0 | * 3% back in Walmart Rewards at Walmart * 1% back in Walmart Rewards on all other purchases | 3% | 1.1% | 25 Walmart Dollars (terms) | Learn more |
| Walmart Rewards World Mastercard | $0 | * 3% back in Walmart Rewards at Walmart * 1% back in Walmart Rewards on all other purchases | 3% | 1.1% | 25 Walmart Dollars (terms) | Learn more |
Best for cash back: MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
×7 Award winner 
GC: $40
7x Award winner Since Mastercard codes Walmart Supercentres as grocery purchases, a credit card with a high grocery reward rate is what you're looking for – and the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard has one of the best grocery cash back rates around. You'll get 5% cash back on groceries, restaurants, and recurring bills.
Unlike some rewards cards, MBNA sets the reward cap at a reasonable amount. You'll earn accelerated rewards on $50,000 of qualifying purchases each year. All purchases beyond that earn a steady 1% cash back.
Pros:
- High earn rate
- 10% annual birthday bonus points
- 12 types of insurance
Cons:
- High income requirements
Best for groceries: National Bank World Elite Mastercard
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard also gives a high reward rate for groceries – 5 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants. If you're also looking for rewards on gas, select travel, and recurring bills, you'll appreciate the card's accelerated earn rate.
We should also highlight the card's fantastic purchase protection, which gives 180 days of coverage – more than any other card in Canada. This type of coverage is an excellent feature for Walmart shoppers, especially if you're buying high-ticket items.
Pros:
- 180 days of purchase protection
- 2 years extended warranty
- Airport lounge access
Cons:
- No welcome bonus
Best for low interest: Neo World Elite® Mastercard - Gas & Grocery
The Neo World Elite Mastercard - Gas & Grocery is one of Neo's newest credit cards, designed to give even more value for specific everyday purchases: groceries and gas. You'll earn 5% cash back when shopping at Walmart, and enjoy one of the lowest purchase interest rates of the cards on our list: 19.99%. This can save you money in the long run if you know you'll carry a balance.
The card does have high income requirements, but it's also available as a secured credit card. This means you'll have near-guaranteed approval and can use the World Elite Mastercard to build credit.
Pros:
- High rate of return
- 12 types of insurance
- Valuable partner offers
Cons:
- Caps on rewards
Best no-fee card: Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®*
It's rare for a World Mastercard card to not charge an annual fee, but the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard is just such a card. It's also unique in that it allows you to earn rewards on up to 3 categories of your choosing – including groceries.
There's also a decent welcome bonus and additional insurance coverage. You'll get mobile device coverage and purchase protection, which is especially impressive for a no-fee card. And if you don't quite meet the eligibility requirements, you can try the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card instead. Still without an annual fee, this Tangerine card offers the same rewards, but has much lower income requirements.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- Mobile device insurance
- Fuel discounts at Shell
Cons:
- Low base earn rate
Best for balance transfers: BMO CashBack® Mastercard®*
GC: $20
The BMO CashBack Mastercard has a valuable balance transfer offer: 0.99% interest for 9 months, with a 2% transfer fee. That's 9 whole months of very low interest payments, to help you get back on track.
While it's important not to spend on your balance transfer card while paying it down, this card offers decent rewards for shopping at Walmart – after you've paid the balance. You'll earn 3% cash back at Walmart, and you can choose to cash out whenever you like.
Pros:
- 0.99% interest balance transfer
- No annual fee
- Redeem cash back on demand
Cons:
- Low base earn rate
Best co-branded card: Walmart Rewards Mastercard
The basic Walmart credit card, the Walmart Rewards Mastercard, doesn't charge an annual fee or have income requirements, so it's fairly easy to qualify for – and this is why we think it's the best of the 2 Walmart-branded cards.
You'll earn 3% back in Walmart Rewards when shopping at Walmart and 1% back for all other purchases – and while this rate is certainly on the low side, it can still be valuable for loyal Walmart shoppers. The welcome bonus is a nice start, too: 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend, plus $20 in GeniusCash.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- Low eligibility requirements
- 3 free months Walmart+
Cons:
- No insurance
Best premium co-branded card: Walmart Rewards World Mastercard
The premium Walmart Rewards World Mastercard has the same reward rate as its more basic sibling, but significantly higher income requirements: $100,000 minimum household income, plus a 760 – 900 credit score (also required for the base card). There's no annual fee, though, which is surprising for a World Mastercard.
The included extended warranty and purchase protection might not seem like much, but these insurance options are likely more valuable than you think. The World Mastercard benefits are significant too – a Dragonpass lounge membership, exclusive seating and perks for Cirque du Soleil performances, impressive partner discounts, and more.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- Price protection and extended warranty
- $300 welcome bonus
Cons:
- Poor rewards value
Walmart Rewards vs. other rewards programs
To choose the best credit card for shopping at Walmart that fits your specific needs, it helps to understand how Walmart Rewards stacks up against other reward programs:
| Walmart Rewards | Scene+ | PC Optimum | More Rewards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cents per points (CPP) value | 1 CPP | 0.67 – 1 CPP | 0.1 – 0.21 CPP | 0.15 – 0.43 CPP |
| Co-branded credit card available | 2 credit cards | 8 credit cards | 4 credit cards | 2 credit cards |
| Elite status opportunity | No | No | No | No |
| Redemption options | * Discount at Walmart | * Store discounts * Trave * Gift cards * Points for credit | * Car washes * Store discount * Fuel discount * Statement credits | * Travel * Gift cards * Grocery discount |
| Minimum number of points to redeem | 500 points | 100 points | 100 points | 100 points |
Walmart Rewards vs. Scene+
In this program showdown, we have to declare Scene+ the winner. Not only does it offer more card-related opportunities to earn rewards, but it also offers additional redemption options, such as:
- Booking travel
- Gift cards
- Statement credits
- Store discounts
Walmart Rewards vs. PC Optimum
Walmart Rewards provides a better return rate than PC Optimum points, but the PC Optimum program offers a bit more flexibility when redeeming them. PC Optimum lets you put the points towards your choice of:
- Car washes
- Fuel discounts
- Statement credits
- Store discounts
Walmart Rewards vs. More Rewards
The More Rewards program struggles to deliver value for its members, but it offers more redemption opportunities than Walmart Rewards.
If you're on the West Coast and weighing these 2 options, you'll really want to evaluate which stores give the best value for your grocery purchases before you sign up for a program.
Best credit card for shopping at Walmart: What users think
To learn what real program users think of Walmart Rewards and the best credit card for shopping at Walmart, we turned to Reddit.
As it turns out, most people think very little of the Walmart Rewards credit cards, so much so that it was difficult to find anything positive to report.
Instead, we found many comments like this:
Others reported being signed up for the card without realizing it was a credit card rather than a free rewards membership.
Then, there are all the comments about fighting Walmart's customer service to close their cards. Long story short, most Redditors would say to avoid Walmart credit cards at all costs.
We did find one Redditor had a slightly more optimistic take in response to a negative comment:
How to maximize your shopping at Walmart
Using the best credit card for shopping at Walmart will help you save and maximize your spending, but you should also have a shopping list, use coupons, and check for clearance items.
Here are some tips to help save on your next Walmart run:
- Create a shopping list and stick to it. If you're watching your spending, this is perhaps the best way to stay within budget. If you're trying to maximize rewards, though, you might want to stock up on items you regularly purchase when they go on sale.
- Use manufacturer's coupons. Just because Walmart doesn't issue its own coupons doesn't mean they don't accept coupons from manufacturers. If you do plan to use them, double-check that what you're buying exactly matches the coupon requirements.
- Use Walmart+ to help you stick to a budget and save on delivery fees. If you fall prey to impulse shopping, having your order delivered can actually save you money, even with the $9/month Walmart+ membership cost. You'll also save on delivery fees with this subscription, enjoying free same-day delivery from your local Walmart and free shipping on any online order.
- Use a credit card with a high flat rate for your online Walmart order. We've focused on the best grocery credit cards for Walmart, but if you're buying things for around your home and ordering online, use a credit card that earns cash back on all purchases. It's an easy way to get a little reward for your online shopping.
- Walk the aisles for discounts and clearance items. Depending on your store's setup, these might be mixed in or at the aisles' end caps. You're also more likely to find discounts on perishable goods like food and drinks.
FAQ
What's the best credit card for Walmart Canada?
The best credit card for Walmart Canada is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard. You'll earn 5 points per $1 spent on groceries, which is how Mastercard codes Walmart purchases. This means the MBNA card offers a higher rewards rate for Walmart purchases than the co-branded credit cards.
How do I apply for a credit card for Walmart?
To apply, you can fill out a Walmart credit card application in-store or online. Head to walmartrewards.ca to choose your card, then follow the prompts and provide your details. If you qualify, you'll receive your physical card in the mail within a week or two.
What's the best credit card for Walmart groceries?
Mastercard codes all Walmart Supercentre purchases as groceries, so you'll get the same rate at Supercentres, no matter what you buy. When shopping at Walmart, look for a Mastercard with a good grocery earn rate. The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard is Mastercard's best grocery store credit card in Canada.
Which credit card is best for shopping?
Of the best store credit cards, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard earns the #1 spot. It does charge an annual fee, but the card's average 2.86% earn rate means it's quite likely that you'll recoup the fee and earn rewards on top of it.
Is it worth it to get a Walmart Mastercard?
A Walmart Mastercard can be worthwhile, but for most Canadians, a card with a high grocery reward rate works for your Walmart purchases, so you don't really need a Walmart-branded card. We reccommend the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard.
How can I get 5% cash back at Walmart?
If you use the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, you can earn 5 points per $1 spent at Walmart and redeem them for statement credits or direct deposits. However, you get better value by redeeming your points for travel through MBNA Rewards.
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