Shopping for groceries is a task that many people have a love-hate relationship with. On one hand, it can be enjoyable to peruse the aisles and people-watch at the grocery store. On the other hand, the convenience of getting groceries delivered to your doorstep is hard to resist. For those who prefer online grocery shopping, it’s important to maximize reward earnings. In this article, we will explore popular online grocery delivery services and which cards will earn rewards at each.
One of the most well-known online grocery delivery services is Amazon Fresh. When using Amazon Fresh, it’s beneficial to use cards that earn extra rewards on Amazon purchases. The Prime Visa Card is a great option, as it earns 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. Additionally, there is a $100 Amazon gift card offered as a welcome bonus upon approval. While Amazon doesn’t code as groceries for cards, you can still earn points by purchasing Amazon gift cards at your local supermarket. However, it is worth noting that some credit card issuers may flag purchases of large amounts of gift cards at grocery stores and not give bonus rewards. To avoid this, it is recommended to buy a gift card or two with your normal grocery shopping to not trigger any flags. Another option is the lower-tier Amazon Visa Card, which earns 3% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.
For those using Instacart, the good news is that purchases made through this platform code as groceries. This means that any standard grocery credit card can be used for these purchases. Some cards to consider for Instacart are the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back. Both of these cards have rotating 5% cash back categories each quarter, and Amazon often appears as a rotating category once per year. By taking advantage of these rotating categories, you can earn even more rewards on your Instacart purchases.
In addition to these popular online grocery delivery services, many local grocery store chains offer their own delivery services. For example, Safeway and Albertsons provide delivery in certain areas. When using these services, it is best to use the same cards you normally would at the grocery store. Additionally, Walmart Neighborhood markets code as grocery purchases, so you can use your preferred grocery credit card for these purchases as well.
In conclusion, while not all cards are optimal for both online delivery services and in-store grocery purchases, there is some overlap between ideal cards for both. It is important to play around with your strategy and consider the cards in your wallet to maximize your rewards when shopping for groceries online. Whether you enjoy perusing the aisles of the grocery store or prefer the convenience of delivery, online grocery shopping can be a rewarding experience.