Everybody needs to put food on the table, so you might as well earn rewards while doing so. And considering that grocery prices continue to grow quickly, there’s no better time to earn useful rewards and cash back on this essential household expense.
Best grocery credit cards in Canada
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card
American Express Cobalt Card
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Best grocery credit cards by category
Take stock of your shopping habits, and get ready to cash in on the rewards.
Best cash back card for groceries
At a glance: With the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite, you’ll earn a healthy 4% on groceries, as well as subscription services like Netflix and recurring bill payments, while transportation costs (including Uber) and gas earn at 2%.
Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite
Annual fee: $120
- 4% cash back on groceries, recurring bill payments and subscription services
- 2% on gas and public transit
- 1% on everything else
Welcome offer: Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). Offer ends October 31, 2025.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% 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 |
Best no-fee cash back credit card for groceries
At a glance: If you’re looking for the best no-fee cash back grocery credit card, look no further. The 3% cash back on grocery purchases, no annual fee, and solid earn rates in other categories have made this card is a standout in the category. Keep in mind, though, that earnings are capped at $500 spent per statement period, so if you spend more than $500 per month on groceries, you’ll want to consider another card in order to reap the full benefits. In addition to earning cash back on groceries, this card earns you 1% on recurring bill payments and an unlimited 0.5% on other spending. You can choose when to redeem cash back, in increments as little as $1; you can also set up automatic recurring redemptions of $25 or more.
BMO CashBack Mastercard
Annual fee: $0
- 3% cash back on groceries (on the first $500 per month)
- 1% on recurring bills
- 0.5% on everything else
Welcome offer: Earn up to 5% cash back during your first three months.
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 23.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | n/a |
| Credit score | None specified |
Best credit card for groceries and gas
At a glance: When it comes to can’t-avoid-it expenses, gas and groceries top the list. Our pick for the best gas and grocery credit card in Canada was a draw, with each card boasting 4% cash back on both filling your tank and your fridge, as well as some pretty decent earn rates in other categories and perks. Which card you choose will really depend on where you tend to spend more, and what perks are most useful to you. This credit card offers compelling earn rates on all types of food purchases—with 4% cash back on groceries and 2% on dining (including take out and food deliveries). And you will earn 4% on gas as well helping you earn at the pump while on your way to earn at the grocery store. Plus, save up to $0.10 per litre at participating Chevron, Ultramar and Pioneer gas stations when you link your card with Journie Rewards.
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite
Annual fee: $120 (rebated first year)
- 4% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging and grocery purchases
- 2% on dining, daily transit and recurring payments
- 1% on everything else
Welcome offer: Get up to $400 in value, including a first-year annual-fee rebate. Offer not available to Quebec residents.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% 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 |
Best credit card for Loblaw banner grocery stores
At a glance: With about 2,500 stores operating under the Loblaw company banner, including the economy brand No-Frills, the big-box Real Canadian Superstore and the market-style Fortinos, it’s safe to say the PC World Elite is a useful card for many Canadians. Shoppers who pay with this card will earn a whopping 30 PC Optimum points per $1 on grocery purchases (equivalent to 3.0%) at any Loblaw banner store and at PC Travel; 45 points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart; and 10 points per $1 everywhere else. Gas purchases at Esso and Mobil earn at least 30 points per litre, making this an all-around valuable card for everyday living expenses. PC Optimum points are easily redeemed at the checkout counter starting at 10,000 points (which is equal to $10) and can be used on any products in participating stores.
PC World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $0
- 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 gas stations
- 10 points per $1 on everything else
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 22.97% on cash advances (21.97% for residents of Quebec) |
| Income required | Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000 |
| Credit score | 560 or higher |
| Point value | 10 PC points = $0.01 at Loblaws grocery network and Shoppers Drug Mart. |
Best points cards for groceries
At a glance: For those who want to turn their grocery purchases into world travel, the American Express Cobalt is here to help. There are a few standout elements of this card, starting with the unique payment structure that bills the annual fee in monthly installments of $12.99. The earn rate on groceries as well as dining out and food delivery services is a very competitive 5 points per $1. Because this is a travel-based card, it should come as no surprise that there are some sweet perks geared toward frequent flyers and drivers, like emergency medical coverage and car rental theft and damage coverage. Cardholders are also eligible for a credit on amenities at participating hotels. It does bear mentioning that because this is an American Express card, it is not accepted at every store—but if you’re a shopper at Food Basics, Longo’s, McEwan, Metro, Pusateri’s, Rabba, Safeway, Sobeys or Whole Foods, you’re golden. Loblaw banner stores, including No-Frills, do not accept Amex.
American Express Cobalt
Annual fee: $155.88 ($150 for Quebec residents)
- 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 all other purchases
Welcome offer: Earn 1,250 points for each month you spend $750, up to a maximum of 15,000 points.
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases and cash advances, 25.99% to 29.99% penalty APR on purchases and cash advances (rates are variable) |
| Income required | None specified |
| Credit score | 725 or higher |
| Point value | 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers |
At a glance: Want to earn points toward next year’s vacation while you cover this week’s grocery haul? Here’s how it works with the Scotiabank Gold: For every point you earn, you get $0.01 redeemable toward travel, which is easy to figure out and calculate. Just think of it like a cash-back credit card with 1% earn rate toward travel savings. While we’re comparing the two, it’s worth noting that the American Express Cobalt has an edge on the Scotiabank Gold American Express card since the former lets you get 15% to 75% more value out of your points through Amex’s fixed points travel chart or by transferring points to hotel loyalty programs. Neither are available with the Scotiabank Gold. That said, the Scotiabank Gold American Express is still a great card. Plus, the Scotiabank Gold American Express has some great perks that the Cobalt doesn’t, like no foreign transaction fees and additional points on entertainment and streaming services.
Scotiabank Gold American Express
Annual fee: $120
- 6 points per $1 at Sobeys-affiliated stores
- 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
- Pay no FX fees on foreign purchases
Welcome offer: Earn up to $1,050 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points. Offer ends October 31, 2025.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% 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 food and drink at Cineplex and Scene partners |
Our methodology: How we determine the best cards
The MoneySense editorial team selects the best credit cards by assessing the value they provide to Canadians across various categories. Our best grocery credit cards ranking is based on an extensive list of card details and features, including annual fees, interest rates, welcome offers, rewards earn rates and redemption options and annual income requirements. Our rankings are an unbiased source of information for Canadians. The addition of links from affiliate partners has no bearing on the results. Read more about how MoneySense makes money.
Frequently asked questions
To answer this question, start by taking stock of your spending habits. How frequently you use your credit card for grocery purchases, where you choose to shop, and what secondary purchase categories you spend the most money on will determine the best card for you. For example, if you don’t use credit for groceries very often, you may be better off with a no-fee credit card—otherwise, any rewards you receive may be offset by the annual fee. On the other hand, if you shop frequently at a particular banner or grocery store, you’ll want the card that offers the most cash back or points at your chosen retailer. If you spend as much on groceries as you do on gas, look for a card that offers high earn rates on both spending categories.
Using your credit card for grocery purchases can help offset the rising costs of groceries in Canada. Since groceries are a necessary expense, it may be helpful to earn a return—in the form of cash back or points—by paying with credit. This can help reduce the overall cost of groceries, especially if you are strategic about where and how you shop.
As with other credit card purchases, however, make sure you have the money needed to pay off your credit card balance at the end of the month. Carrying a balance on your card may cost you more in interest than the rewards are worth.
The major grocery stores that accept American Express and let you earn bonus points for grocery purchases include: 88 Supermarket, Bownesian Grocer, Farm Boy, Federated Co-op, Longo’s, Metro, Safeway, Sobeys, Rabba, Pusateri’s Fine Foods, Whole Foods and Instacart.
The American Express Cobalt and Scotiabank Gold American Express* offer the most bonus points for grocery purchases on our list, but they aren’t as widely accepted as some other cards. For example, they aren’t accepted at No Frills and Costco.
Walmart may be synonymous with groceries for you, but not all credit cards recognize Walmart as a “grocery store.” While American Express and Visa are accepted at Walmart, neither credit card company categorizes Walmart on their merchant code system as a grocery store. For instance, while the TD CashBack Visa Infinite earns 3% cash back on groceries, it earns just the base 1% cash back rate at Walmart.
If you frequent the Walmart Supercentre, know that Mastercard does, however, recognize several Walmart Supercentre locations for grocery purchases—but not all. You will have to check with Mastercard to find out if the Walmart Supercentre near you qualifies. The best credit cards to use for groceries at Walmart Supercentres include the BMO CashBack Mastercard and Tangerine Money-Back Card.
If you prefer to “add to cart” at Walmart.ca for grocery pickup and grocery delivery, the Walmart World Mastercard is a good card to look at. It earns you 3% on online purchases from Walmart (and 1.25% when shopping in store and 1% at all other grocery stores).
Costco exclusively accepts Mastercard credit cards (sorry Visa users.) Costco isn’t recognized as a “grocery store” in credit card reward programs, either, but you can still earn rewards—it just won’t be as many rewards as you might get elsewhere for groceries.
For example, the BMO CashBack Mastercard earns 3% on groceries, but at Costco you earn the card’s base earn rate of 0.5% on your purchases. That’s why we categorized the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard as the best credit card for use at Costco, since it earns double the points—regardless of the purchase category. Other great cards to use at Costco include the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard and the Rogers World Elite Mastercard.
While it used to be that No Frills only accepted Mastercard, like Costco, the grocery chain now accepts both Visa and Mastercard. As a grocery store under the Loblaw corporate banner, however, No Frills does not accept American Express.
