Double Duty: The Best Credit Card for Gas AND Groceries [2024]

CREDIT CARDS - CASH BACK CREDIT CARDS
Here’s how to get rewarded for everyday purchases you make to put food on the table and gas in the car — using just one credit card.
Updated April 18, 2024
Fact checked
Best Credit Cards for Gas and Groceries

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There are credit cards that can help you earn cash back and travel rewards for your purchases at gas stations and grocery stores, allowing you to easily save hundreds of dollars every year or put that money toward something special.

And you don’t need to juggle multiple cards to accomplish these savings — we’ve put together a short list of single credit cards that are good credit cards for gas and groceries.

Our top pick is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express due to its elevated earnings rates. Find out more about our recommendations so you can maximize your savings.

In this article

Key takeaways

  • We’ve found the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is an amazing card for gas and groceries. No other card has the same unique blend of elevated rates on U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.

  • If you want a card that earns bonus points on both gas and groceries with no spending caps, we recommend the Citi Premier® Card. There’s no limit to how many points you can earn with its high rewards rate.

The best credit cards for gas and groceries

Compare the best credit card for gas and groceries

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express(See rates and fees)
5.0
Our overall winner Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter (Terms apply)
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express(See rates and fees)
4.9
No annual fee Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases $0 (Terms apply)
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.4
Flexible rewards Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and 1% on all other purchases $0
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
5.0
Easy rewards Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases $0
Citi Double Cash® Card Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
4.8
Easy rewards Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24 $0
Citi Premier® Card Citi Premier® Card(Rates and fees)
4.9
Elevated rewards Earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases $95
Citi Custom Cash® Card Citi Custom Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
4.7
Flexible rewards Earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025 $0
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
4.5
Costco members Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter; 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% on all other purchases $0
Prime Visa Prime Visa
4.9
Whole Foods Earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases; 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, and on local transit and commuting; 1% cash back on all other purchases $0

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Our overall winner

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express(See rates and fees)
5.0
Our overall winner Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter (Terms apply)

Why we like it: Because of its high earning potential, the Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cards for both gas and groceries.

You can easily offset the $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter annual fee on this card if you spend at least $1,583 on groceries every year. This card is a good choice for anyone who spends a lot on groceries and gas, especially people who also use rideshare services. In addition, this card offers a generous welcome bonus.

Apply now or for more information, read our Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card review.

Keep in mind
Cash back with both the Amex cards on this list can only be redeemed as a statement credit, so you won’t be able to book travel or get gift cards with the Amex Membership Rewards program.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Excellent for no annual fee

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express(See rates and fees)
4.9
No annual fee Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases $0 (Terms apply)

Why we like it: For those who want a $0-annual-fee card that still has a high rewards rate for groceries and gas, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a great option. 

This Amex card is also a good choice for someone that needs to finance a larger purchase or do a balance transfer. It offers 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable and 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable.

Apply now or for more information, read our Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card review.

Perspectives
Yahia Barakah, CEPF
Yahia Barakah, CEPF
Editor - FinanceBuzz

Yahia is an Editor for FinanceBuzz.

WHY I LIKE THIS CARD

I like that the Amex Blue Cash Everyday has a $0 annual fee. This makes it easy to always keep it in my wallet and use it on the go. Just last week, I went on a major grocery haul for an upcoming family gathering. I knew that my Amex Blue Cash Everyday was the best card in my wallet to use at U.S. supermarkets since I would earn cash back on my purchase. This made me feel good about the large haul, knowing that a portion of the cost would come back to me via statement credit.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for flexible rewards

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.4
Flexible rewards Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and 1% on all other purchases $0
Why we like it: 

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a good choice for cardholders who want a $0 annual fee, while still earning competitive rewards on their everyday purchases. This card is best suited for those whose spending may fluctuate throughout the year since you're able to pick your highest earning reward category.

Additionally, this card is a good choice for anyone interested in 0% interest on purchases, balance transfers, or both. That’s because the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card offers an introductory 0% APR on all purchases made in the first 15 billing cycles of account ownership, then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR.

You also get a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, and then the interest rate reaches 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR. This gives you a little over a year to pay down your balance without incurring interest charges.

Apply now or for more information, go to our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards review.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for easy rewards

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
5.0
Easy rewards Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases $0
Why we like it: 

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) could be a good fit if you want a card that earns a flat, unlimited rate on eligible purchases. It’s simple to understand because there aren’t any spending categories to think about. For example, you don’t have to wonder what cash rewards rate you can earn from filling up your gas tank compared to buying groceries — you earn the same rate on each eligible purchase.

Apply now or for more details, check out our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.

Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for easy rewards

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Citi Double Cash® Card Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
4.8
Easy rewards Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24 $0
Why we like it:

For some people, this straightforward earnings rate on all categories might make the most sense. For example, if you find that your monthly spending is sometimes greater in categories other than groceries or gas at certain times of the year, but you still only want one credit card to keep track of, then it might be a good idea to get a card with an overall high rewards rate.

Plus, if you’re interested in doing a balance transfer you’ll have a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)). That makes the Citi Double Cash® Card an awesome option for paying down debt.

Apply now or for more information, read our Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees) review.

Citi Premier® Card: Best for elevated rewards

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Citi Premier® Card Citi Premier® Card(Rates and fees)
4.9
Elevated rewards Earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases $95
Why we like it:

Not many cards can compete with the Citi Premier rewards rate that provides bonus rewards on both grocery spending and gas station purchases.

That makes the Citi Premier Card one of the best grocery credit cards and also one of the best gas credit cards for earning travel rewards.

Apply now or for more information, read our Citi Premier® Card(Rates and fees) review. 

Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for flexible rewards

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Citi Custom Cash® Card Citi Custom Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
4.7
Flexible rewards Earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025 $0
Why we like it:

The Citi Custom Cash makes it easy to earn cashback rewards on your grocery store purchases or gas spending when you fill up at a gas station. Just note you can only have one top eligible spending category per billing cycle.

Eligible categories include:

  • Gas stations
  • Grocery stores
  • Restaurants (typically includes takeout)
  • Select travel
  • Select transit
  • Select streaming services
  • Drugstores
  • Home improvement stores
  • Fitness clubs
  • Live entertainment

For flexibility with how you earn bonus cash back each month, the Citi Custom Cash Card makes sense with its high cashback rate and the opportunity to earn as a grocery rewards or gas rewards card.

Apply now or for more information, read our Citi Custom Cash® Card(Rates and fees) review. 

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi: Best for Costco members

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
4.5
Costco members Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter; 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% on all other purchases $0
Why we like it:

You need a Costco membership to qualify for the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, but you can use this cash back card anywhere Visa cards are accepted. That gives you some extra leeway for earning at different gas and EV charging stations when there’s no Costco nearby.

For more information, read our Costco Anywhere Visa Card review

Prime Visa: Best for Whole Foods

Card Excellent for Rewards rate Annual fee
Prime Visa Prime Visa
4.9
Whole Foods Earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases; 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, and on local transit and commuting; 1% cash back on all other purchases $0

Why we like it: If you have an Amazon Prime membership and primarily shop at Whole Foods, the Prime Visa can be a good bet. You do need a valid Prime membership to get the premium rewards rates, but you'll also receive a $100 Amazon gift card upon approval upon approval, and there’s no minimum spend requirement.

You can redeem your points for travel, gift cards, cash back, or Amazon purchases. There’s no minimum to redeem, so you can access your rewards whenever you want.

And the fact the 2% back category includes restaurants, gas stations, local transit and commuting is a nice perk that doesn’t come with all of the cards on our list. But if you don’t typically buy your groceries from Whole Foods, you’ll probably be better off with another option.

For more information, read our Prime Visa review.

How to choose the best credit card for gas and groceries

Rather than choose from the best credit cards for groceries or the best credit cards for gas, you can have the best of both worlds. While some credit cards occasionally feature gas and groceries as bonus categories, and others offer rewards on one category or the other, only a select few are great for both gas and groceries.

Some of these credit cards have higher rewards for gas than groceries or the other way around. This means you’ll need to:

  • Consider a card's welcome offer and if you might be able to earn it within a few months of account opening
  • Be aware of your monthly spending in these categories to choose the right card for you
  • Make sure you spend enough to offset the annual fee if a card has one
  • Consider rewards in other spending categories such as travel purchases or streaming subscriptions
  • Think about the fine print details such as foreign transaction fees and spending caps, if any exist
  • Research the typical credit score requirements for different cards to see if you might qualify
  • Weigh the importance of other perks and benefits that could help you reach personal finance goals, such as 0% introductory APR offers (note that balance transfers typically have balance transfer fees)

Note that many credit card offers for grocery shopping could also earn bonus points on online shopping purchases for groceries. For example, you might be able to earn additional rewards points on grocery delivery services, such as Instacart. In many cases, buying groceries at superstores like Target and Walmart won't count for bonus rewards on grocery credit cards.

Gas and grocery Credit cards FAQ

Which credit card is best for fuel and groceries?

Which credit card gives you the most points on gas?

How do gas rewards credit cards work?

Gas rewards credit cards typically offer points, cash back, or other forms of rewards when you use them for fuel purchases. They typically offer these rewards at a higher rate than their base rate for other purchases. Depending on the credit card issuer, you might be able to redeem the rewards you earn for statement credits, gift cards, travel, or more.

Do credit card rewards expire?

Credit card rewards might expire, but it depends on the specific terms of the credit card issuer. Some rewards programs have expiration dates for earned points or miles, while others may allow you to keep your rewards indefinitely as long as your account remains open and in good standing.

Credit card rewards that expire typically require you to stay active by making regular purchases or completing certain redemptions to keep your rewards from expiring.

Gas and grocery credit cards: bottom line

To choose the best cash back credit cards for you, analyze your annual spending habits and discover whether you’re spending the most on gas, groceries, or another category altogether. Consider your total spending when deciding whether or not you can offset an annual fee. And decide how you’ll want to use your rewards to meet your goals. 

Our top pick is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express because you earn 6% at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services. But, ultimately, no matter what card you choose, you can end up with extra rewards to redeem. Enjoy those rewards — you deserve them!

Methodology

In choosing these cards, we focused on credit cards with the highest rewards rates on both gas and grocery purchases. We stayed away from cards that only offer high grocery or gas rewards, or high rewards on rotating categories. Instead, we focused on cards that allow high reward rates on both grocery and gas purchases throughout the year. All of these cards make it easy to earn rewards on your everyday spending.

But we also wanted to make sure there was something for everyone on our list, which is why we chose some cards with an annual fee and other credit cards without an annual fee. Some of these cards also have more flexible redemption offers than others, some have additional categories with high rewards rates included, and others are focused on specific retailers.

Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets

5.0

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Current Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter

Rewards Rate

6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details

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