7 Best Grocery Credit Cards in Canada for 2024
Nov 1, 2024
Grocery credit cards offer competitive rewards on dollars spent in Canadian grocery stores, including Food Basics, FreshCo, Loblaws, Metro, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstores, Safeway, Sobeys and more.
Best grocery credit cards in Canada
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdown
NerdWallet's take
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BACK TO TOPNerdWallet Canada selects the best grocery store credit cards based on their overall consumer value as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers.
Our evaluation methodology is weighted by the following factors: 50% rewards value, 25% intro offer, and 25% fees and interest. Rewards value considers earning rates, rewards structure, promotional rates and spending categories. Other noteworthy features, such as insurance, special perks and extra benefits, may earn unofficial bonus points.
Only cards that earn rewards on grocery store purchases were considered.
Editorial picks: Best grocery credit cards
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Our pick for: Best overall grocery card
Earns up to 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries
Equivalent to $15.17 monthly and $182.08 annually in rewards*
What our Nerd thinks:
“The Scotiabank Gold American Express earns its spot as the best overall grocery card with a highly competitive earn rate on groceries alongside a bevy of enticing perks. Beyond the whopping 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent at eligible grocery stores, which, with the right redemptions, shakes out to a 6% cash-back equivalent, I appreciate this card’s feature lineup, which includes comprehensive insurance coverage, discounted airport lounge access and access to American Express Experiences. Plus, the waived foreign transaction fees — a potential game-changer for international grocery hauls — is a major point in its favour.
PC Financial World Elite Mastercard
Our pick for: Loblaw shoppers
Earns 30 PC Optimum points per $1 spent on groceries
Equivalent to $7.59 monthly and $91.04 annually in rewards*
What our Nerd thinks:
“I like a no-fee card that packs a punch, and the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard delivers. This card offers 30 PC Optimum points per $1 spent at Loblaw banner grocery stores, alongside elevated earn rates for Esso, Mobil and Shoppers Drug Mart purchases. Of course, the caveat is that this card’s beefiest earn rates are restricted to Loblaw-affiliated stores, though this is true of any PC Financial credit card. That said, regular shoppers at Zehrs, No Frills, Fortinos or the Real Canadian Superstore will be well-positioned to take advantage of this card’s grocery rewards. Best of all, there are no limits to the number of points you can earn, making it a top choice for families who spend big at Loblaw stores.”
BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
Our pick for: Cash back
Earns 5% cash back per $1 spent on groceries
Equivalent to $15.17 monthly and $182.08 annually in rewards*
What our Nerd thinks:
“For those who prefer cold, hard cash over points, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is a standout choice. I'm particularly impressed by its 5% cash-back rate on groceries, one of the highest in Canada. What I appreciate about this card is its simplicity — there's no need to calculate point values or navigate tricky redemption options. You spend money on groceries, and you get cash back, period. It's perfect for pragmatic shoppers who want to see tangible savings on their credit card statements. While the annual fee isn't insignificant, I think it can be easily justified if you're spending a good chunk of change on groceries each month. Plus, with additional perks like travel insurance and car rental discounts, it offers solid value beyond your grocery runs. For those who prefer a no-fee credit card, the BMO CashBack Mastercard may be a practical fit."
American Express Cobalt Card
Our pick for: Rewards points
Earns 5 American Express Membership points per $1 spent on groceries
Equivalent to $36.42 monthly and $436.99 annually in rewards*
What our Nerd thinks:
“American Express cards tend to be less popular among Canadian consumers, which makes the Amex Cobalt something of a dark horse in the grocery credit card race. But don’t be fooled: this hidden gem is a reward-earning powerhouse. In fact, of the cards on this list, the Amex Cobalt reigns supreme as the best bang for your buck as far as grocery rewards are concerned. This card has rewards redemption potential of up to 14 cents per dollar spent on groceries — more than double that of the Scotiabank Gold American Express. So why doesn’t the Amex Cobalt take the best grocery card crown? It lacks a few of the bells and whistles of its competitors, like waived FX fees and discounted airport lounge access. Still, for folks exclusively seeking to turn grocery spending into discounted travel and hotel stays, especially through partner loyalty programs, you’d be hard-pressed to outdo the Amex Cobalt."
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Our pick for: Aeroplan points
Earns 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on groceries
Equivalent to $5.82 monthly and $69.80 annually in rewards*
What our Nerd thinks:
"For Aeroplan loyalists, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite offers the highest earn rate on grocery dollars spent available among Aeroplan cards. Plus, cardholders get free first checked bags on Air Canada flights, adding extra value. While 1.5 Aeroplan points per grocery dollar spent may not seem like much to write home about, the real advantage lies in the value of Aeroplan points, which offer outsized value when redeemed for flights. On top of that, this card is loaded with travel benefits, like airport perks and ways to fast-track your Aeroplan status. This means that savvy Air Canada travellers can turn their grocery bills into travel rewards, so long as they spend and redeem strategically."
BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard
Our pick for: Air Miles
Earns 2 Air Miles per $25 spent on groceries
Equivalent to $6.50 monthly and $77.99 annually in rewards*
What our Nerd thinks:
"If you’re an AIR MILES collector who’s serious about maximizing the value of your grocery spending, the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard deserves a spot on your radar. With 2x AIR MILES for every $12 spent at eligible grocery stores, it offers the most competitive grocery earn rate among AIR MILES cards. The flexibility of the AIR MILES redemption program is a plus, too — allowing you to select between Dream Miles for travel and merchandise redemptions or Cash Miles for cash-back rewards."
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students
Our pick for: Students
Earns 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on groceries
Equivalent to $2.53 monthly and $30.35 annually in rewards*
What our Nerd thinks:
"As someone who remembers the financial juggling act of student life firsthand, I thought the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students deserved a spot on this list. With no annual fee or minimum income requirements, it’s a practical fit for those seeking a budget-friendly card that earns rewards. Beyond grocery purchases, cardholders earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging and Air Canada purchases, too. There are also useful benefits, such as car rental coverage and a few card insurance standards, like purchase security and extended protection. All in all, this is a well-rounded card with plenty of value for a student seeking travel rewards without added costs."
*Estimated rewards are based on NerdWallet’s point valuation and an average per capita grocery spend of $252.89 per month ($3,034.68 annually), according to Canada’s Food Price Report 2024.
What to know about grocery credit cards in Canada
Credit cards that earn points or cash back on dollars spent in grocery stores are an ideal fit for frequent food shoppers. Whether a grocery credit card is suitable for a shopper’s wallet largely depends on their spending habits.
Which credit cards offer the most valuable rewards on groceries?
Canadian credit card rewards programs are plentiful, and reward point values differ drastically. For this reason, a credit card’s earn rate alone doesn’t provide much insight into the monetary worth of the reward unless you can identify the redemption value of each point.
Some reward programs, like PC Optimum, publish the monetary value of their rewards points. Other programs, like Aeroplan and Air Miles, don’t. To develop point valuations for programs like these, NerdWallet Canada compared hundreds of reward redemption data points. We looked at some of the most popular grocery cards in Canada to get a sense of the kind of value food shoppers could get out of their rewards.
To calculate each credit card’s cash redemption equivalent on grocery spending, we multiplied each card’s reward rate per $1 spent on groceries by its NerdWallet Canada point valuation — the estimated maximum value you could get when redeeming your rewards. For example, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earns 6 Scene points per $1 spent on groceries. Based on NerdWallet Canada point valuation, Scene points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed optimally. So, the card’s cash back equivalent per $1 spent on groceries is 6 cents.
Which grocery stores in Canada accept American Express?
Many grocery stores in Canada accept American Express credit cards with a few notable exceptions. Costco and Loblaw-affiliated stores do not accept Amex cards as a payment method.
How to choose a grocery credit card
Finding the right grocery credit card for your lifestyle has the potential to significantly enhance your savings and rewards on everyday purchases.
Spending habits. Assessing your spending habits — specifically, how much and how often you spend in grocery stores — will help you determine the potential value of adding a grocery credit card to your wallet.
Rewards programs. There’s a lot to consider when comparing credit card rewards programs, including earn rates and redemption options.
Annual fees. Cards with annual fees tend to offer more robust perks and benefits. Whether the annual fee is worthwhile will depend on your financial situation.
Introductory offers. A credit card welcome bonus can offer additional value, though you may be required to complete one or more card-related actions to unlock the offer.
Card acceptance. If you prefer to shop at a specific grocery store or supermarket chain, consider checking whether the card you’re interested in is an accepted payment method at that establishment.
Spending caps. Some credit cards impose reward-earning caps on spending categories, limiting the rewards you can earn based on your total spend in that category over a set period of time.
A grocery credit card doesn’t need to be the only credit card in your wallet. A multi-card approach may be practical if your grocery card is missing certain features, like travel perks, or causes you to bump into spending caps that limit your reward-earning potential. Just be sure you’re comfortable managing multiple credit accounts responsibly before you apply for an additional card.
Grocery credit card alternatives
While grocery store credit cards offer enticing rewards for food shoppers, they won’t be ideal for everyone. If you frequently order take-out or shop at a supermarket that isn’t coded as a grocery store for rewards purposes, a grocery credit card may not make sense. Grocery credit cards may also be missing some perks preferred by travellers, like free checked bags and airport lounge access. The good news is that there are numerous other credit card options worth considering:
Rewards credit cards. Any card that earns points or cash back could be considered a rewards card. However, reward programs, redemption options and earn rates vary widely.
Travel credit cards. Those who frequently take to the roads, seas or skies may benefit from perks typically offered by travel credit cards, like travel insurance, car rental discounts, free checked bags and more.
Store credit cards. Brand loyalists may be interested in exploring their store credit card options, which offer accelerated rewards on dollars spent with co-branded retailers.
Checking out different card benefits and reward programs can increase the likelihood of finding a credit card that is well-suited to your spending habits and financial goals.
What Reddit has to say
To find the best grocery cards in Canada, NerdWallet’s credit card experts review hundreds of cards available on the market. But our Nerds know it can also be helpful to hear what everyday cardholders think. We took to Reddit to find out what users are saying across multiple threads.
As of this writing, Redditors suggest that some of the best grocery cards are the Amex Cobalt, Scotiabank Amex Gold and PC World Elite Mastercard, all of which made our list. They also suggest some store-branded cards, like the Triangle World Elite Mastercard, that NerdWallet recommends as alternatives. However, some Redditors favor cards that didn’t make our list, such as the National Bank World Elite Mastercard.
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Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell