Best Grocery Credit Cards in Canada
Sara Skodak
Author8 min read
Perhaps we can all agree that one of the most frequent purchases we all make are groceries, arguably making grocery purchases the most important spend category.
If you’re the type of cardholder who wants to optimize the items on your grocery list – checking off each product while simultaneously collecting rewards on them – we rounded up the best grocery credit cards in Canada.
Best Overall Grocery Credit Card
Our choice for: Highest rewards on groceries & dining
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
go to MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 30,000 points ($300 value)††
Annual Fee*
$120
Interest Rates
19.99% / 24.99%
The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.
Pros
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn decent rewards.
- Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
- A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
- Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
- Good value for many of the card's redemption options.
Cons
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
- Not the best card for gas purchases.
Rewards*
- Earn 5 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category.
- 1 point‡ for every $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Insurance*
Coverage*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000
Purchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to a year.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days
Flight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Travel Accident
$1,000,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/personBaggage Delay
$1000/person
Benefits*
Details*
Annual Birthday Bonus
10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
Trip and legal Assistance
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Concierge Services
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per year
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Obviously, the best overall grocery credit card has to be the one that:
- Is accepted at every grocery store (including Costco) without exception
- Earns you the highest rewards on every tap
Since every networks’ qualifying grocery stores differ, for the best overall grocery credit card, we have to consider the card with the best reward rate at the majority of stores.
In that case, allow us to introduce our winner: the MBNA World Elite Mastercard.
You can earn 5 points per $1 spent on eligible grocery purchases at pretty much every retailer that is coded as "Grocery" under Mastercard's merchant category codes, including Walmart Supercenters which are not considered as "Grocery" when you use a Visa or Amex card. MBNA World Elite Reward points are valued at 0.83¢ per point, meaning you're yielding a 4.15% return on your grocery purchases. Plus, the annual spending cap on groceries to earn 5x the points is $50,000, a limit so high compared to most other cards that you don't even have to worry about hitting it.
Best Grocery Credit Cards for Loblaws and Affiliated Stores
The next set of cards optimize purchases made at Loblaws itself, and eligible stores under the Loblaws chain, like the Real Canadian Superstore.
Let’s take a closer look at these options:
Our choice for: High cash back on groceries & gas
Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
4.6
go to Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$125
Interest Rates
19.99% - 26.99% (or 19.99% - 23.99% in Newfoundland and Quebec) / 22.99% - 28.99%
This card offers one of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas (up to 4%), grocery (up to 7%) and recurring purchases (up to 5%) which is pretty hard to beat. While the cash back rates are very high, you need to mind the spend caps set for each category to see if your earning potential is really that high compared to most other credit cards. However, for a typical person who's spending is generally below $12k per year in grocery, $6k per year in recurring bills and $12k per year in gas then you'll be doing pretty well, especially with the great insurance and benefit offers.
Pros
- Highest cash back rates in Canada for highest spending categories like Grocery (up to 7%), especially if you keep at least $5k in a Neo everyday account
- 12 different types of insurance coverage
- Airport lounge access with DragonPass with $32 USD per visit
- Additional cash back earning at over 10,000 Neo partners
Cons
- High income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
- Cash back spend caps can limit your rewards
- Having to keep at least $5k in an everyday account to boost your cash back tier
Rewards
- 5% cash back on grocery purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (6% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 7% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
- 4% cash back on recurring purchases up to $500 spending per month (4.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 5% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
- 3% cash back on gas purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (3.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
- 1% cash back on all other purchases with no spending caps
- 5% average cash back at Neo Partners
Note: our reward calculations use the base cash back rates assuming you do not hold any money in a Neo everyday account to earn the higher tier (boosted) cash back rates, otherwise the reward estimates may be higher.
Insurance
Coverage
Emergency Out of province Medical
Up to $1,000,000
Trip Cancellation
$1,000
Trip Interruption
$1,000Flight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$1,000Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Car Rental Accident
$100,000 for cardholder, up to $10,000 per Spouse or Dependent ChildCar Rental Damage & Theft
Yes.svg)
Car Rental Personal Effects
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only - pay $32 USD per visit
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
The Neo World Elite Mastercard already earns you competitive cashback on grocery purchases, but this rate can actually be boosted up to 2% higher when you save a specified amount of money inside of a Neo everyday account.
Additionally, when you shop for groceries at Neo partnered retailers like Loblaws and the Real Canadian Superstore, you’ll earn extra cashback on top of the initial and boosted rate.
The card comes with an annual fee and some steep income requirements, but if you want top rates on groceries – especially if you save enough in a Neo everyday account and shop at Loblaws or the Real Canadian Superstore – then the annual investment might be worth it.
Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
go to Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus*
10% Cash Back (up to $200 value)
Annual Fee*
120 $0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
The 4% cashback offered on groceries and recurring purchases is the highest among all other credit cards. With the first year's annual fee waived, and with the right transactions used on this credit card, a high amount of cashback could be earned.
Pros
- Highest Cashback rates on Groceries and Recurring purchases compared to other cashback credit cards.
- High insurance coverage.
- First year annual fee waived.
Cons
- The base cashback rate (1%) is low for most high spent categories, especially after the first year when the card's annual fee kicks in.
Rewards*
- 4% cashback on groceries, recurring payments (maximum $1000 cashback per year)
- 2% cashback on gas, daily transit (maximum $500 cashback per year)
- 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases (unlimited).
Insurance*
Coverage*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000Travel Accident
$500,000Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysTrip Interruption
$2,000Trip Cancellation
$1,500Flight Delay
$500Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Baggage Delay
$500Car Rental Damage & Theft
48 daysPurchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits*
Details*
Car Rental Discount
25% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Yes
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$60,000 personal or $100,000 household
For a slightly lower annual fee (one that’s waived in the first year of membership), you can swap the Neo World Elite Mastercard for the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card.
Conveniently, Visa recognizes Loblaws and affiliated stores like the Real Canadian Superstore as eligible grocery merchants, so the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card earns its place in this category. In fact, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card’s cashback rate on groceries is almost as high as the initial grocery rate provided by the Neo World Elite Mastercard – but unfortunately there aren’t any savings or partnered grocer boosts.
The income requirements for the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card are also lower, making it a bit more accessible to some applicants.
Overall, if you can meet the high income requirements, the Neo World Elite Mastercard will earn you more on your Loblaws-affiliated grocery purchases – especially if you take advantage of the boosted-rate opptotunities. That said, if you can’t meet these high income requirements, you can still earn nearly as much money back on Loblaws-affiliated groceries with the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card.
PC World Elite Mastercard
PC World Elite Mastercard
2.3
go to PC Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
20,000 PC points ($20 value)
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 22.97%
This is a great card to have in your arsenal if you frequently shop at Shoppers Drug Mart®, Loblaw's owned chains, and ESSO and Mobil gas stations, as you will earn significant rewards in these categories. The additional benefits, such as out-of-province medical insurance, car rental damage insurance, and concierge service, are impressive and typically only come with cards that have annual fees; however, you can access these benefits for free with this card. We do not recommend using this as your primary credit card but as a supplement to another primary card, especially because there are no fees. This is because the rewards on purchases outside the mentioned shops are very average, and many other cards offer much more substantial rewards for general use.
Pros
- Out-of-province medical insurance, concierge service, and car rental damage insurance—benefits that are usually included with cards that have fees—are included with this card.
- Decent rewards on purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart®, Loblaw's owned chains, and ESSO and Mobil gas stations.
Cons
- Many other high-spend categories don't earn as many rewards. Shopping at any other grocery chains, gas stations, or pharmacies will only give the base reward rate, and restaurant purchases and purchases in other categories don't earn much either.
Rewards
- 45 points per $1 dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart® stores
- 30 points per $1 dollar spent at Atlantic Superstore, Extra Foods, Fortinos, Loblaws, Maxi, Maxi & cie, no frills, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore, SaveEasy, SuperValu, valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs
- 20 points per $1 spent in PC travel
- 19 points per $1 dollar spent at ESSO and Mobil (it's 30 points per liter and the assumption of average gas price of $1.6 was made)
- 10 points per $1 dollar spent for everything else
Insurance
Coverage
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 10 daysCar Rental Damage & Theft
Up to 31 daysPurchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Doubled up to a year
Benefits
Details
Concierge Services
Identity Theft Assistance
Eligibility
Credit Score
Very GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
If you prefer points over cashback, with this no-fee grocery card, you can earn PC Financial points at some of the following grocers:
- Atlantic Superstore
- Extra Foods
- Fortinos
- Loblaws
- No Frills
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Value Mart and more
Besides groceries, you can also collect PC points at Shoppers Drug Mart, on PC Travel, and at ESSO and Mobil – offering a nice blend of everyday and travel earning potential. All PC Financial points can also be redeemed towards both groceries and gas.
Compared to the previous two cashback alternatives, the PC World Elite Mastercard is a much more budget-friendly grocery credit card option, but it comes with similarly high annual income requirements as the Neo World Elite Mastercard.
So, if you want a no-fee points alternative to use at Loblaws-owned stores, and you meet the card's high income requirements, the PC World Elite Mastercard is a great alternative to both the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card and the Neo World Elite Mastercard.
Best Grocery Credit Cards for Sobeys and Affiliated Stores
Say you like to shop for groceries at Sobeys chains instead of Loblaws chains. If so, this next section is packed with top contenders in the Sobeys-affiliated category.
Our choice for: Overall Best Credit Card in Canada, great at earning points to be used for travelling
American Express Cobalt® Card
American Express Cobalt® Card
go to American Express' website
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 15,000 points
Annual Fee*
$155.88
$12.99 Paid Monthly
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.
Pros
- Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
- Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
- 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
- 10 different types of insurance, including travel
- Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada
Cons
- Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
- Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Rewards*
- 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
- 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysFlight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$500Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Travel Accident
$250,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
yesMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Benefits*
Details*
Amex Experiences™
Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™.svg)
Travel Credit
Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.
Eligibility*
Credit Score
FairAnnual Income
N/A
Considering its reputation as the best credit card in Canada, it’s no surprise that the American Express Cobalt Card found its way onto this list.
This well-rounded card earns you tons of points per dollar spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (capped each month). Luckily, these rates are applied to grocery purchases made at eligible Sobeys chains. To complement these grocery-oriented earnings, you can also earn more American Express Membership Rewards points on other everyday spend categories like streaming, gas, and transit. That means that technically, you could earn points on your entire grocery run – collecting points on the gas you need to reach your favourite grocer, or the bus you catch to make the trip, before earning even more on the actual grocery purchases themselves.
With these grocery rates, this card could have been considered as the top overall contender, but considering it isn’t accepted at Loblaws chains or Costco, and it doesn’t classify Walmart as a grocery store, the Cobalt will have to settle for first place for Sobeys shoppers (and any other retailer recognized as a grocery store as per Amex’s regulations).
All in all, the American Express Cobalt Card tops the charts for the best grocery credit card at participating grocers like Sobeys chains firstly on account of its high earning potential in the grocery purchase category, but also because it provides a great balance of rewards, coverage, perks, and overall value.
Our choice for: Great rewards and travel benefits
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
4.9
go to Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 40,000 Scene+ points ($400 value)
Annual Fee*
$120
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
- Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
- Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.
Cons
- The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
- Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.
Rewards*
- Earn 6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 daysTrip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/tripTrip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/tripLost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/tripBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hoursFlight Delay
$500/personTravel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrenceCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrenceMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Benefits*
Details*
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CADAmerican Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$12,000 personal or $12,000 household
For a lower annual fee, you can also try out the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card if you tend to shop for groceries at Sobeys.
Instead of American Express Membership Rewards points, you’ll earn generous Scene+ points on every dollar spent at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more. You’ll also earn a point value comparable to the Cobalt card when you shop at other groceries stores not partnered with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. You can even redeem your Scene+ points towards future grocery purchases at Sobeys – or other top redemption categories like entertainment. If you happen to shop at one of the partnered grocers, like Sobeys, your grocery reward rate will top the grocery rate offered by the Cobalt card. Redemption-wise, keep in mind that overall, American Express Membership Rewards points (what the Cobalt collects) are typically worth more, especially towards future eligible travel.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also comes with small income requirements, unlike the Cobalt Card (which has no income requirements).
Ultimately, if you want to collect Scene+ points while you shop at Sobeys and use those points later for more Sobeys purchases and entertainment, then the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card might be your top pick. Alternatively, if you prefer to accumulate American Express Membership Rewards points on your Sobeys purchases to use towards your next trip, then the American Express Cobalt Card might be the better option.
Our choice for: High cash back on groceries & gas
Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
4.6
go to Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$125
Interest Rates
19.99% - 26.99% (or 19.99% - 23.99% in Newfoundland and Quebec) / 22.99% - 28.99%
This card offers one of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas (up to 4%), grocery (up to 7%) and recurring purchases (up to 5%) which is pretty hard to beat. While the cash back rates are very high, you need to mind the spend caps set for each category to see if your earning potential is really that high compared to most other credit cards. However, for a typical person who's spending is generally below $12k per year in grocery, $6k per year in recurring bills and $12k per year in gas then you'll be doing pretty well, especially with the great insurance and benefit offers.
Pros
- Highest cash back rates in Canada for highest spending categories like Grocery (up to 7%), especially if you keep at least $5k in a Neo everyday account
- 12 different types of insurance coverage
- Airport lounge access with DragonPass with $32 USD per visit
- Additional cash back earning at over 10,000 Neo partners
Cons
- High income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
- Cash back spend caps can limit your rewards
- Having to keep at least $5k in an everyday account to boost your cash back tier
Rewards
- 5% cash back on grocery purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (6% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 7% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
- 4% cash back on recurring purchases up to $500 spending per month (4.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 5% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
- 3% cash back on gas purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (3.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
- 1% cash back on all other purchases with no spending caps
- 5% average cash back at Neo Partners
Note: our reward calculations use the base cash back rates assuming you do not hold any money in a Neo everyday account to earn the higher tier (boosted) cash back rates, otherwise the reward estimates may be higher.
Insurance
Coverage
Emergency Out of province Medical
Up to $1,000,000Trip Cancellation
$1,000Trip Interruption
$1,000Flight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$1,000Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Car Rental Accident
$100,000 for cardholder, up to $10,000 per Spouse or Dependent ChildCar Rental Damage & Theft
YesCar Rental Personal Effects
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only - pay $32 USD per visit
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Next up is the familiar Neo World Elite Mastercard.
While Sobeys isn’t a Neo partner, Sobeys shoppers can still earn the impressive initial grocery cashback rate offered by the Neo World Elite Mastercard – not to mention the boosted rate if they keep enough money in a Neo everyday savings account.
When comparing the Neo World Elite Mastercard to the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, note that the Neo World Elite Mastercard comes with a higher annual fee and higher income requirements, plus of course, it will earn you cashback instead of points (which can be less complex).
Therefore, you’ll likely opt for the Neo World Elite Mastercard over the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card if you meet its stricter requirements, if you prefer cashback instead of points, and if you want the opportunity to earn a boosted reward rate on your Sobeys purchases.
Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
go to Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus*
10% Cash Back (up to $200 value)
Annual Fee*
120 $0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
The 4% cashback offered on groceries and recurring purchases is the highest among all other credit cards. With the first year's annual fee waived, and with the right transactions used on this credit card, a high amount of cashback could be earned.
Pros
- Highest Cashback rates on Groceries and Recurring purchases compared to other cashback credit cards.
- High insurance coverage.
- First year annual fee waived.
Cons
- The base cashback rate (1%) is low for most high spent categories, especially after the first year when the card's annual fee kicks in.
Rewards*
- 4% cashback on groceries, recurring payments (maximum $1000 cashback per year)
- 2% cashback on gas, daily transit (maximum $500 cashback per year)
- 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases (unlimited).
Insurance*
Coverage*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000Travel Accident
$500,000Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysTrip Interruption
$2,000Trip Cancellation
$1,500Flight Delay
$500Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Baggage Delay
$500Car Rental Damage & Theft
48 daysPurchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits*
Details*
Car Rental Discount
25% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A CarVisa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Yes
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$60,000 personal or $100,000 household
Also familiar, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card recognizes Sobeys as an eligible grocer for earning grocery points. That means that the competitive cashback rate will also apply for Sobeys shoppers.
This further makes the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card a good grocery alternative to the Neo World Elite Mastercard in the event that you don’t meet Neo’s income requirements – and if you want a discount on your first year as a cardholder.
Best Grocery Credit Cards for Walmart
We’re about to enter trickier territory when it comes to retailers that qualify as grocery stores.
For many credit cards, particularly those outside of the Mastercard network, Walmart isn’t considered a grocery store, but rather a department store. So, any purchases made at Walmart on cards in the Visa and Amex networks don’t earn grocery rewards.
If you plan on purchasing groceries at Walmart, your best bet is to opt for a Mastercard. Still, you might want to check with your local Walmart to confirm whether or not your grocery rewards will be applicable on eligible purchases, and you’ll want to keep in mind that grocery cashback rates may only be applied to grocery purchases.
Our choice for: Highest rewards on groceries & dining
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
go to MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 30,000 points ($300 value)††
Annual Fee*
$120
Interest Rates
19.99% / 24.99%
The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.
Pros
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn decent rewards.
- Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
- A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
- Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
- Good value for many of the card's redemption options.
Cons
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
- Not the best card for gas purchases.
Rewards*
- Earn 5 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category.
- 1 point‡ for every $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Insurance*
Coverage*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000Purchase Protection
Up to 90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a yearCar Rental Damage & Theft
31 daysFlight Delay
$500/person after 4 hoursTravel Accident
$1,000,000Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/personBaggage Delay
$1000/person
Benefits*
Details*
Annual Birthday Bonus
10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationallyTrip and legal Assistance
Concierge Services
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per year
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Another category, another MBNA World Elite Mastercard shout out simply because the rewards are too good and the limits are too high. As an alternative though, it's worth mentioning it's close competitor.
Our choice for: High cash back on groceries & gas
Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
4.6
go to Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$125
Interest Rates
19.99% - 26.99% (or 19.99% - 23.99% in Newfoundland and Quebec) / 22.99% - 28.99%
This card offers one of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas (up to 4%), grocery (up to 7%) and recurring purchases (up to 5%) which is pretty hard to beat. While the cash back rates are very high, you need to mind the spend caps set for each category to see if your earning potential is really that high compared to most other credit cards. However, for a typical person who's spending is generally below $12k per year in grocery, $6k per year in recurring bills and $12k per year in gas then you'll be doing pretty well, especially with the great insurance and benefit offers.
Pros
- Highest cash back rates in Canada for highest spending categories like Grocery (up to 7%), especially if you keep at least $5k in a Neo everyday account
- 12 different types of insurance coverage
- Airport lounge access with DragonPass with $32 USD per visit
- Additional cash back earning at over 10,000 Neo partners
Cons
- High income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
- Cash back spend caps can limit your rewards
- Having to keep at least $5k in an everyday account to boost your cash back tier
Rewards
- 5% cash back on grocery purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (6% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 7% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
- 4% cash back on recurring purchases up to $500 spending per month (4.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 5% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
- 3% cash back on gas purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (3.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
- 1% cash back on all other purchases with no spending caps
- 5% average cash back at Neo Partners
Note: our reward calculations use the base cash back rates assuming you do not hold any money in a Neo everyday account to earn the higher tier (boosted) cash back rates, otherwise the reward estimates may be higher.
Insurance
Coverage
Emergency Out of province Medical
Up to $1,000,000Trip Cancellation
$1,000Trip Interruption
$1,000Flight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$1,000Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Car Rental Accident
$100,000 for cardholder, up to $10,000 per Spouse or Dependent ChildCar Rental Damage & Theft
YesCar Rental Personal Effects
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only - pay $32 USD per visit
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Not only can shoppers earn the initial Neo cashback rate on grocery purchases at Walmart, but they can also earn boosted rates when they save enough money in a Neo everyday account and extra cashback simply for shopping at a Walmart Supercentre. That’s right, Walmart Supercentres are yet another Neo grocery partner.
With rewards rates this high at plenty of grocery retailers, you might be wondering why the Neo World Elite Mastercard isn’t considered our “best overall” grocery credit card. That’s because Costco, our next category, doesn’t count as a grocery store under the Mastercard network, and thus Costco shoppers would have to resort to the base earn rate on their groceries – which, with the Neo World Elite Mastercard, isn’t anything special.
That said, if you’re a Walmart grocery shopper on top of a Loblaws grocery shopper, you can’t do any better than the cashback you’ll earn with the Neo World Elite Mastercard – especially if you save the right amount of money inside of a Neo everyday account.
BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
go to BMO's website
Welcome Bonus*
10% cash back in your first 3 months up to $200
Annual Fee*
120 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
If you're seeking a cashback credit card, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® stands out for its excellent balance between rewards and benefits. It offers a robust rewards program and a comprehensive benefits list, making it a solid choice. The high first-year value is enhanced by the annual fee waiver, and those with a BMO Premium Chequing Account can enjoy continued fee waivers. While it's highly ranked for rewards alone, it may not be the absolute top choice if benefits are less important to you.
Pros
- Offers one of the highest cashbacks on groceries and gas, two of the most frequently spent categories, compared to other credit cards in Canada.
- Includes roadside assistance, a rare but valuable benefit for people on the road.
- Provides a comprehensive list of insurance coverage and benefits.
- High first-year value.
Cons
- Does not include restaurant purchases as a reward category, which is one of the most important spending categories.
- Monthly limits on cash back could be higher
Rewards*
- 5% cash back on groceries (maximum $25 per statement)
- 4% cash back on daily transit (maximum $12 per statement)
- 3% cash back on gas (maximum $9 per statement)
- 2% cash back on recurring payments (maximum $10 per statement)
- 1% cash back on all other credit card purchases.
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M up to 8 days per covered personTravel Accident
$500,000Flight Delay
$500 After 4 hours delayLost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1,000 maximumBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000 maximum After 6 hoursHotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysPurchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits*
Details*
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. As a member enjoy lounge access for a fee of just US$32 per person, per visit.
Roadside Assistance
Including battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing – a $69/year value.Car Rental Discount
Save up to 20% on National Car Rental® and Alamo Rent A Car® and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car® at locations worldwide using the Car Rental Booking toolHotel Booking Discount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada.
Global Data Roaming plan
With FlexiRoam, stay connected around the world without a SIM card and get up to 15% off a Global Data Roaming plan plus up to 3GB of data, without any additional charges, if apply..svg)
Gas Discount
Get up to 7 cents off per litre on Shell® fuel, only for BMO cardholders.
Eligibility*
Credit Score
ExcellentAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
The next best Mastercard for your Walmart purchases is the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard.
This card earns you the same amount of cashback as the Neo World Elite Mastercard (before boosted or extra partner rates). While the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard doesn’t have any opportunities for cashback boosts at all times, it does provide cardholders with bonus cashback on spend categories like groceries as a sign-up offer within the first few months of membership.
The income requirements between the two cards are the same, but the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard has a slightly lower annual fee that’s completely waived in the first year.
At the end of the day, the Neo World Elite Mastercard is the better grocery credit card for Walmart shoppers with its extra Neo partner cashback rate and the potential to earn even more when you save enough inside of a Neo everyday account. Still, if you’re looking for something with similar initial cashback rates, a grocery cashback-boosting welcome bonus, and an option that’s a little more budget-friendly, the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard will complement you just fine.
BMO CashBack® Mastercard®
BMO CashBack® Mastercard®
3.2
go to BMO's website
Welcome Bonus*
5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend*
Annual Fee*
$0
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 23.99%*□
This is a great basic cashback credit card for those that prefer no annual fees while getting one of the highest cashback rates on groceries. You also have the additional benefit of redeeming cashback at any point without needing to wait.
Pros
- No annual fee, making it a cost-effective option.
- Up to 3% cash back on groceries and 1% on recurring bill payments.
- Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell stations when linked with Air Miles.
Cons
- Low base earn rate of 0.5% cash back on non-bonus purchases.
- Limited insurance coverage (extended warranty and purchase protection only).
Rewards*
- 3% cash back on grocery purchases (maximum $15 per statement)
- 1% cash back on recurring payments like bills or subscriptions (maximum $5 per statement)
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits*
Details*
Car Rental Discount
Save up to 20% on National Car Rental® and Alamo Rent A Car® and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car® at locations worldwide using the Car Rental Booking tool.Gas Discount
Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell stations when linked with Air MilesDiscount
Get 20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas.Hotel Booking Discount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada.
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$15,000 personal
A simplified version of the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard, the BMO Cashback Mastercard offers a reduced, yet still decent cashback rate on grocery purchases made at eligible grocers – including Walmart (when following in-store guidelines).
The BMO Cashback Mastercard is also a no-fee alternative to the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard, so while it may have less perks – it comes with no annual cost, income requirements, or complexities.
All things considered, you’ll probably pick the BMO Cashback Mastercard over the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard if you’re a budget-conscious shopper who still wants solid cashback on their Walmart grocery runs.
Best Grocery Credits Card for Costco
According to most grocery credit cards, Costco is perhaps the most complicated grocery retailer of them all and is oftentimes considered a department store, even for those who carry a Mastercard (the only accepted credit card at Costco warehouses).
Still, there are a couple of credit cards that allow you to collect admirable cashback on Costco groceries – simply because their base rate for all purchases (which would include your groceries from Costco) is above-average.
Our choice for: Cashback Credit Card in Canada with some travel perks
Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
4.8
go to Rogers Bank's website
I currently have or may soon have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user
Welcome Bonus*
N/A
Annual Fee*
$0
Interest Rates
20.99% - 25.99%* / 22.99% - 27.99%*
This card is one of the best in Canada, especially if you are a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer. With those services, you can effectively get a 3% cashback rate, which is higher than what almost any other card offers, even those with annual fees! Additionally, for a no-fee card, you gain access to an extensive list of travel benefits, many of which are typically offered only with cards that have annual fees. Therefore, we recommend this card to anyone who meets the income requirements, even if you are not a Rogers customer!
Pros
- Voted the Best Cash Back Card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers by FinlyWealth.
- Voted the Best No Annual Fee Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth.
- There is no annual fee which is a notable benefit for a card with such high rewards. Most cards with slightly lower reward rates typically include yearly fees.
- Many favorable benefits for travelers.
- Many benefits, such as trip cancellation insurance, are only available on credit cards with an annual fee. It is rare to see these benefits on a no-annual-fee card!
- Offers the flexibility to redeem cash towards Rogers, Shaw, or Fido services, potentially increasing your rewards.
- The roam-like benefit is a benefit unique only to this card.
- It is accepted at nearly all locations as it's a Mastercard.
Cons
- Harder to qualify due to the high credit score and income requirements.
- Out of all possible travel insurances, this card is missing Baggage delay and Hotel Burglary insurance. If these two insurances are essential to someone, this card needs to be paired with another travel card to cover them.
Rewards*
- 3% cash back on all U.S dollar purchases
- 2% cash back on all regular purchases if you have 1 qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the account owner
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases if you do not have 1 qualifying service
- 1.5x redemption bonus on your earned cash back value when used on Rogers, Fido and Shaw purchases – that’s a 3% cash back value
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 10 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximumTrip Interruption
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximumCar Rental Damage & Theft
31 days, $65,000 car MSRPPurchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits*
Details*
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only, complimentary visits not includedNo Cost roaming
5 days
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Recognizable from our “best overall” category, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is a budget-friendly credit card that can be used to optimize those confusing Costco grocery purchases.
This card doesn’t have a specialized category for groceries, but its base cashback rate on all purchases is higher than most cards – a category that would include groceries from Costco.
Technically, you can optimize the base rate even further if you have a qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service, but even if you don’t, you’re still earning the best rate on your Costco grocery bill.
So, if you're looking for a loophole on how to optimize your Costco grocery purchases, look no further than the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard.
Rogers Red Mastercard®
Rogers Red Mastercard®
4.4
go to Rogers Bank's website
I currently have or may soon have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user
Welcome Bonus*
Up to $60 cash back ($90 if redeemed for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases)
Annual Fee*
$0
Interest Rates
20.99% - 25.99%* / 22.99% - 27.99%*
This card is one of our top-ranked options in terms of rewards, especially if you are a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer. With those services, you can effectively get a 3% cashback rate, which is a higher rate than almost any other card offers, even those with annual fees! If you have a high income of $80K or a household income of $150K, you can apply for the World Elite version of this card, which comes with additional insurance and benefits like a lounge pass.
Pros
- Voted as the Best Cash Back Card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw Customers by FinlyWealth.
- There is no annual fee, a notable perk for a card with such high reward multipliers. Most cards with slightly lower reward rates typically have annual fees.
- Offers the flexibility to redeem cash towards Rogers, Shaw, or Fido services, potentially increasing the value of your earned rewards.
- The roam-like benefit is a benefit unique only to this card.
- It is accepted at nearly all locations as it's a Mastercard.
Cons
- No real insurance coverage (only balance protection), not even purchase protection or extended warranty which are pretty standard benefits for almost all credit cards.
- Low rewards multiplier if you don't have an eligible Rogers, Shaw, or Fido service.
Rewards*
- 2% cashback on all purchases if you have 1 qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the account owner
- 2% cashback on all U.S dollar purchases and 1% on all other eligible purchases if you do not have a qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service
- 1.5x redemption bonus on your earned cash back value when used on Rogers, Fido and Shaw purchases – that’s a 3% cash back value
Insurance*
Coverage*
Balance Protection
Minimum payments
Benefits*
Details*
No Cost roaming
5 days
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
Also available for no annual fee and no annual income requirements (unlike the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard), the Rogers Red Mastercard can also earn you a great base rate on all purchases (including your Costco groceries). However, this perk only applies if you also have a qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service to boost the base-rate above average.
In conclusion, this card is a good Costco-grocery-optimizing alternative to the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard if you can’t meet its high income requirements but you have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you buy your groceries with a credit card?
Grocery-optimizing credit cards are a great way to earn money back or rewards towards other expenses simply for purchasing your daily necessities.
Since groceries are one of the most common (and these days some of the most expensive) purchases we make on a day-to-day basis, why wouldn’t we want some extra cash or points in return?
In the long run, using a grocery credit card allows you to earn, save, and optimize money.
Which stores count as grocery stores for most credit cards in Canada?
Many credit cards will either highlight partnered grocers in their rewards program or simply mention “grocery purchases” as a specialized earn category.
Most of the time, you can refer to your credit card network’s merchant category codes to determine which retailers are considered grocery stores under your card. The Canadian merchant code for grocery stores and supermarkets in Canada is 5411.
There are also certain stores where only some credit cards count purchases as grocery purchases. Two popular gray-area-grocery examples are Walmart and Costco. Only Mastercard recognizes Walmart as a grocery store rather than a department store. As for Costco, while Costco warehouses only accept Mastercards, Mastercard likely won’t recognize Costco purchases as grocery purchases. So, you’ll have to use a high base-rate-earning Mastercard to optimize your Costco groceries like the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard.
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