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When it comes to choosing the right card, well, you want to be sure you get the most bang for your buck. Well, you’re in luck. We’ve gone through some of the best credit cards out there for groceries, so you don’t have to.
Credit Cards with the Best Rewards for Grocery Purchases
When it comes to rewards credit cards, there are just too many to choose from. However, since everyone uses a form of monetary payment to purchase groceries, a card that earns you rewards just for that is a great choice. That said, each of these cards also earns you some great rewards for other purchases you make, so you can choose which one works the best for you.
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is a great option for those who like to travel. The reason that it’s considered one of the best credit cards out there for groceries is because it is the only credit card out there that allows you to earn 6x the points for every $1 you spend on eligible grocery purchases, dining purchases and eligible entertainment purchases. There are also no foreign transaction fees for those who like to travel or make foreign purchases online.
While there is no minimum income requirement for applicants, there is an annual fee of $120 and a minimum credit amount of $5,000. This card's purchase interest rate is 20.99%, and the cash advance rate is 22.99%. The annual fee for any supplementary cards is $29. If you have an eligible bank account with Scotiabank, the annual fee for the primary cardholder is waived.
The benefits included with this card are:
- Amex Offers
- Front of the Line Presale Tickets
- Front of the Line Reserved Tickets
- Scene+ Travel access
- Complimentary concierge services
- A preferred discount on Priority Pass memberships and access to over 1,200 VIP airport lounges
You also have access to insurance coverages, including:
- Travel Emergency Medical Insurance
- Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance
- Flight Delay Insurance
- Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance
- Travel Accident Insurance
- Rental Car Collision Loss/Damage Insurance
- Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
- Mobile Device Insurance
- Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Protection
MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
Another one of the best grocery credit cards is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard. This MBNA credit card has an annual fee of $120, a purchase interest rate of 19.99%, a cash advance rate of 24.99%, and a balance transfer rate of 22.99%. Any additional cardholders will have an annual fee of $50. That said, this card has a minimum income requirement. You must have a minimum personal income of $80,000 or a minimum household income of $150,000.
The reason this card is a great option when it comes to grocery store credit cards is that you earn 5 points per dollar spent on groceries, restaurant purchases, digital everyday services and household utility purchases until you reach an annual spend of $50,000.
You can choose to redeem any points for cash back, brand-name merchandise, gift cards from participating retailers, charitable donations and even travel. You can even choose to redeem points for more grocery store purchases. The best part is that these points never expire, as long as your account is open and in good standing.
Some other valuable benefits that are included are:
- Emergency Services, which include emergency card replacement
- Trip Assistance and Legal Assistance
- Collision Damage Waiver Benefits
- Travel Medical Insurance
- Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance
- Flight/Trip Delay Insurance
- Mobile Device Insurance
- Price Protection Service
- Avis Rent-A-Car and Budget Rent-A-Car Discounts
- Mastercard Zero Liability
- Maximum birthday bonus of 15,000 points per year
BMO Cash Back World Elite Mastercard
The BMO Cash Back World Elite Mastercard is another rewards credit card that also has a minimum income requirement. You need a minimum individual income of $80,000 or a combined household income of $150,000. The annual fee for this card is $120 unless you have a BMO Premium Chequing Account, then there’s no fee.
In terms of cash back, you can earn 5% back on groceries, 4% back on transit, 3% on gas purchases and 2% on recurring bills, such as a monthly phone bill. On all other eligible purchases, you get 1% back in credit card rewards, and there’s no limit on how much cash back you can earn. The purchase interest rate on this card is 21.99%, and the rate on cash advances is 23.99%. In Quebec, the cash advance rate is only 23.99%.
Other benefits that you can get with this card are:
- Flexiroam
- 7% off Booking.com
- Complimentary Mastercard Travel Pass membership with Dragon Pass
- Rental car discounts
- Mastercard Zero Liability
- Mastercard Identity Check
- BMO PaySmart Installment Plans
Neo World Elite Mastercard
One card that’s considered to be one of the best cash back cards in Canada is the Neo World Elite Mastercard. With this card, you can get 5% back on groceries, 3% on gas, 4% on recurring bill payments, and 1% back on everything else.
The best part is, if you have a Neo Everyday Account, you can get boosted rates on your cash back, which is 7% on groceries, 5% on recurring bill payments, 4% on gas and 1% back on all other credit card purchases.
As for the basics of the card, the annual fee is $125, the purchase interest rate ranges from 19.99% to 29.99%, and the cash advance rate ranges from 22.99% to 31.99%. In order to be eligible, you must have a personal income of $80,000 or a household income of $150, 000. The other benefits included with this card are:
- Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection
- Auto Rental Collision Loss Damage Insurance
- Car Rental Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
- Car Rental Personal Effects Insurance
- Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance
- Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance
- Flight Delay Insurance
- Hotel and Motel Burglary Insurance
- Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
It’s important to note that these insurances will differ for those in Quebec.
American Express Cobalt Card
While the American Express Cobalt Card doesn’t have an annual fee, it does have a monthly fee of $12.99 that equals out to $155.88 annually. If you live in Quebec, however, the fee is just an annual fee of $150. The purchase interest rate is 21.99% and the cash advance rate is 21.99%. As for points, you can earn:
- 5x the points on eligible food and drink purchases, including groceries
- 3x the points on eligible streaming subscriptions
- 2x the points on gas, transit, and ride share
- 1x the points on everything else
You can also get an additional point for every dollar spent on car rentals and hotels made with American Express Travel. There’s even a referral bonus of up to 75,000 points for approved referrals. The points can then be redeemed for things like streaming services, movie tickets, food and drink, retail, statement credits, and more. The options are endless.
Some other benefits you can get with this card include:
- The Cobalt Perks Program
- Access to the Hotel Collection
- Mobile Device Insurance
- Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance
- Flight Delay Insurance
- Baggage Delay Insurance
- Hotel Burglary Insurance
- Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
- $250,000 Travel Accident Insurance
- Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance
- Front of the Line Amex Presale and Reserved Tickets
- Amex Experiences
- Buyers Assurance Protection Plan
- Purchase Protection Plan
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Fraud Protection Guarantee
- Emergency Card Replacement
- American Express SafeKey
- Amex Offers
- American Express Travel Online
- Instacart Benefit
- Plan It - The American Express Installment Program
Scotiabank American Express Card
With the Scotiabank American Express Card, you can earn 3x the points on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment purchases. The eligible grocery stores include:
- Sobeys
- Safeway
- Foodland
- Foodland and Participating Co-ops
- Freschco
- Chalo Freshco
- Thrifty Foods
- Participating IGAs
- Rachelle Bary
- Les Marchés Tradition
- Voila by Sobeys
- Voila by Safeway
- Voila par IGA
For other eligible grocery purchases at other eligible grocery stores, you can earn 2x the points. You can also earn 2x the points at restaurants, on fast food delivery purchases, eligible entertainment purchases, eligible gas and daily transit purchases, and on eligible streaming services. It’s 1x the points on all other purchases.
Some other benefits included with this card are:
- Amex Offers
- Scene+ Travel
- Front of the Line Presale and Reserved Tickets
- Car Rental Discounts at Budget Rent-A-Car and Avis Rent-A-Car
- Mobile Device Insurance
- Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Protection
Another great thing about this card is that there’s no annual fee. It has a minimum credit limit of $1,000, and the purchase interest rate is 19.99%. The cash advance rate on this card is 22.99%.
National Bank World Elite Mastercard
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard focuses on earning more points for everyday purchases. This means that you can earn 5x the points on groceries and at restaurants, 2x the points on gas and electric vehicle charging, 2x the points on recurring bill payments and a la carte travel purchases, and 1x the points on all other purchases.
When it comes to using the points, you can choose how they’re spent. 7,250 will earn you a $50 gift card, 25,000 points will pay off $100 on your credit card, and a round-trip flight from Montreal to Toronto will cost you 37,500 points. That said, though, there is an annual fee for this card of $150. The purchase interest rate is 20.99% and the cash advance rate is 22.49%. The annual fee for a second authorized card is $50.
Other benefits included with this card are:
- Out-of-Province Hospital Medical Insurance
- Flight Cancellation Insurance
- Trip Interruption Insurance
- Delayed Flight and Stolen Luggage Insurance
- Lost or Stolen Luggage Insurance
- Vehicle Rental Insurance
- Medical, Legal or General Assistance
- Mobile Device Insurance
- Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty Coverage
- Fraud Protection
- Discount on The Total and The Connected banking packages
In order to qualify for the card, you have to meet one of the following requirements.
- A personal income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000.
- Investable assets of $400,000.
- Be an existing customer with a yearly spend of $25,000 or more.
BMO Cash Back Mastercard
If you’re looking for a no-fee cash back card with BMO, then a great option is the BMO Cash Back Mastercard. With this card, you can get 3% cash back on groceries, 1% cash back on recurring bill payments, and 0.5% cash back on all other purchases. The purchase interest rate is 21.99% and the cash advance rate is 23.99% for all of Canada except Quebec, where it is 21.99%.
Other benefits included with this card are:
- 7% off Booking.com purchases
- Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection
- Discounts on Cirque Du Soleil shows
- Car Rental Discounts
- Discounts on fuel at Shell Stations
- Mastercard Zero Liability
- BMO Alerts
- BMO PaySmart Installment Plans
BMO Eclipse Rise Visa Card
A great grocery rewards credit card with BMO that’s a Visa instead of a Mastercard is the BMO Eclipse Rise Visa Card. There’s no annual fee, and the purchase interest rate is 21.99%. The cash advance rate is 23.99%, unless you live in Quebec, where it’s 21.99%. When it comes to points, you earn:
- 5x the points for every $2 spent on recurring bill payments, groceries, dining and takeout
- 1x the points on all other purchases
You can also earn up to 5,000 bonus points every year. You can earn 2,500 bonus points for making your statement balance payment in full for 12 consecutive months. You can also earn 2,500 points for redeeming a minimum of 12,000 points annually towards your statement balance. Some other benefits include:
- Up to 7 cents off per litre with Shell
- Mobile Device Insurance
- Extended Warranty Insurance
- Purchase Security Insurance
- BMO Alerts
- Visa Secure
PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard
While all PC credit cards will earn you some great rewards, the best for groceries is the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard. The purchase interest rate for this card is 21.99% and the cash advance rate is 22.97%, except in Quebec, where it’s 21.97%. There’s an annual fee of $120 for primary cardholders, but no fee for additional cardholders.
The points you earn with this card are:
- 5% back in points at Shoppers Drug Mart
- 4% back in points at Loblaws grocery stores
- 4% back in points at Joe Fresh stores and Online
- 1% back in points on dining, transit and everywhere else
Other great benefits include:
- $0 grocery delivery and pick up with a PC Express Pass
- Up to 7 cents per litre off at Esso and Mobil stations
- Travel Emergency Medical Insurance
- Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver Insurance
- Identity Theft Assistance Services
- Purchase Assurance
- Extended Warranty Coverage
- Mastercard Global Service
- Concierge Services
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card
With the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card, you can earn:
- 4%cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging and groceries
- 2% cash back on transportation, dining and recurring payments
- 1% cash back on everything else
With this card, there’s an annual fee of $120 for the primary cardholder and $30 for additional cardholders. The purchase interest rate is 21.99% and the cash advance rate is 22.99%, unless you’re in Quebec, where it’s 21.99%.
Like other Visa Infinite cards, this one is a great option for those who travel as well. Some other great benefits that you can get with this card include:
- Unlimited cash back
- The ability to redeem whenever you want
- Up to 10 cents per litre savings with Pioneer, Fas Gas, Chevron, and Ultramar
- $0 global money transfers
- Car rental discounts
- Access to the Visa Infinite Program
- 12 months free of Skip+
- Visa’s Zero Liability Policy
- Fraud Alerts
- Mobile Device Insurance
- Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Protection
- Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance
- $500,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
- Car Rental Collision and Loss Damage Insurance
- CIBC Pace It installment plans
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card is a great rewards card with a purchase interest rate of 19.99% and a cash advance rate of 22.99%. It’s also a great alternative to Mastercard credit cards for grocery rewards credit cards in Canada. With this cash back credit card, you can earn:
- 4% cash back on groceries, recurring bill payments, and eligible streaming services
- 2% cash back on daily gas and transit purchases
- 1% cash back on all other eligible everyday purchases
That said, it is important to consider that there is an annual fee of $120 and a minimum income requirement to qualify. You must have a personal annual income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000. You can also have a minimum of $250,000 in assets under management. Your credit score will also be considered when you apply, but this applies to any credit card.
Other benefits and insurance coverage you can get with this card include:
- Visa Infinite Collection access
- Car Rental Discounts
- New Mobile Device Insurance
- Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
- Travel Emergency Medical Insurance
- Flight Delay Insurance
- Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance
- Travel Accident Insurance
- Rental Car Collision Loss/Damage Insurance
- Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Protection
Overall Best Credit Card for Gas and Groceries in Canada
While there are many credit cards that are great for both gas and groceries, the top 2 seem to be the American Express Cobalt Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. These cards have high points for each category, which is great for those who use their credit cards to make everyday purchases.
Overall Best Credit Card for Groceries and Restaurants in Canada
When it comes to the best credit card for groceries and dining, the American Express Cobalt card also holds the top spot. Because it’s also a great travel credit card, you can even earn some great dining rewards while you’re on vacation.
Overall Best Credit Card for Food Delivery in Canada
Again, the American Express Cobalt Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card hold this top spot. When it comes to any sort of food purchase, these two cards will earn the most rewards. However, these other cards we mentioned also have some great benefits and may suit your lifestyle a little better. You may also already have relationships with these credit card companies and credit card issuers, or choose to combine current offers with bank account offers, which could allow you access to even more incentives.
Current Credit Card Promotions in Canada
If you’re considering any of these credit card options, it’s helpful to know that these credit card issuers often offer welcome bonuses when you register, as long as you meet the requirements. Let’s take a look at the welcome offers and how they work.
| Credit Card | Welcome Bonus | Offer Details |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express Card | Earn up to $1,050 in welcome offers, including no annual fee for the first year. | Get 30,000 points for $2,000 in everyday eligible purchases in the first 3 months. Spend $7,500 in the first year and get 20,000 points. |
| MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | Up to 30,000 bonus points. | Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 or more in the first 90 days. Get 10,000 more when you enroll for paperless statements in the first 90 days. |
| BMO Cash Back World Elite Mastercard | Up to $335 in additional cash back rewards and no annual fee for the first year. | Up to 10% back on the first $500 spent on both grocery and bill payments, $300 on gas, transit, and electric vehicle charging, and $1,000 on all other purchases. This has to occur in the first 3 months. |
| Neo World Elite Mastercard | None | None |
| American Express Cobalt Card | Up to 15,000 membership rewards points. | Up to 1,750 points for every $750 spent every monthly billing period for the first 12 months. Must be a new cardmember to be eligible. |
| Scotiabank American Express Card | Up to 7,500 bonus points in the first 3 months. | You can earn 2,500 points by making a minimum of $250 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months. You can get another 5,000 by spending a minimum of $1,000 in the first 3 months. |
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | Get up to $1,383 in benefits during the first year. | You get 5,000 points when you enroll, and another 10,000 after $5,000 in net purchases is made during your first 3 months. If you make $10,000 in net purchases in the first 6 months, you get another 10,000 points. Another 20,00 points will be given for $15,000 in net purchases in the first 12 months. |
| BMO Cash Back Mastercard | 5% back on purchases in the first 3 months and 0.99% on balance transfers for the first 9 months with a 2% transfer fee. | The 5% cash back is valid for $500 spent on groceries, $500 spent on recurring bill payments, and $1,500 spent on all other purchases. |
| BMO Eclipse Rise Visa Card | Up to 20,000 points when you spend $1,500 in the first 3 months. | Available on all purchases up to $1,500. |
| PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard | No annual fee for the first year. | A credit is applied to your account $120 to cancel out the annual fee. |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card | Up to $400 in value back. | The offer includes waiving the annual fee for your first year and 10% cash back on purchases up to $2,500 in the first four statement periods. You can also get a $50 cash back bonus when you set up a recurring bill payment in the first four statement periods. |
| Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card | No annual fee for the first year and 10% cash back for the first 3 months. | Earn 10% back on eligible purchases up to $2,000 total spend. |
Final Thoughts
When you’re on the hunt for a rewards credit card, it can be difficult to decide on the right one. Having a credit card that rewards you for everyday purchases is a great way to maximize your rewards while sticking to your budget. The great thing about these rewards programs is that most of them allow you to use what you earn for whatever you like.
While credit card debt can be expensive, using a credit card to benefit can actually extend your finances and help you to create a better financial future. The fact that credit cards are one of the most powerful ways to increase your credit score is also a bonus. With the ease of banking today, you can even pay your balances on time using online and mobile banking.
