How does SwipeCaddy pick the best card at Petco?

We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and apply Petco's card-acceptance rules, so the "best" card is one you can actually use at the register.

Is the Petco Pay Mastercard worth getting just for Petco runs?

Not for the rewards. Under Petco Perks the card adds 10 points per dollar at Petco, worth 1% back in Petco credit, while a no-annual-fee 2% card earns twice that in cash — and you collect your base Perks points either way. The card's real draws are 20% off your first purchase and special financing, and purchases placed on promotional financing earn no points at all.

Do I need a different card for Petco.com than in the store?

Possibly. In store our top pick is the myWalgreens Mastercard at about 2.7% in cash terms; online the PayPal Cashback Mastercard leads at 3%, but only when you pay through PayPal at checkout. If you hold neither, any no-annual-fee 2% card is the right answer in both places.

Best cards at Petco

myWalgreens Mastercard earns the most at Petco right now at 3x.

Rankings use issuer rates verified as of October 2, 2026.

In store

1
#13x
myWalgreens Mastercard
Synchrony · Mastercard · No annual fee
3x
2
#23x
Robinhood Gold Card
Coastal Community Bank · Visa · No annual fee
3x
3
#32%
Apple Card
Goldman Sachs · Mastercard · No annual fee · Pay with the mobile wallet
2%
4
#42%
Blue Business Cash Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · Business · No annual fee · up to $50,000/yr
2%
5
#52x
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · Business · No annual fee · up to $50,000/yr
2x
6
#62%
Citi Double Cash Card
Citi · Mastercard · No annual fee
2%
7
#72%
Coinbase One Card
Cardless · Amex · No annual fee
2%
8
#82%
Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card
Elan Financial Services · Visa · No annual fee
2%
9
#92%
Navy Federal cashRewards Plus
Navy Federal · Mastercard · No annual fee
2%
10
#102%
PNC Cash Unlimited Visa Signature Credit Card
Pnc · Visa · No annual fee
2%

Online

Good to know at Petco

Petco takes every major card network in store and online, and PayPal at checkout online, so the question is rate, not acceptance. In store our top pick is the myWalgreens Mastercard: its 3% health-and-wellness group covers pet stores by merchant code, which we value at about 2.7% in cash terms because it pays in Walgreens Cash — and we have flagged that category reading for review. Online, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard leads at a straight 3% when you check out through PayPal on petco.com.

Behind them sits the flat-rate pack. The Robinhood Gold Card earns 3 points per dollar, which we value at about 2.1%, but it requires a paid Robinhood Gold membership. Then come the 2% cards, with their own asterisks: Citi Double Cash and the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature pay 2% with no strings, Apple Card pays 2% only through Apple Pay, and both American Express business cards cap their 2% at $50,000 a year.

What about the Petco Pay Mastercard Credit Card? Since Petco moved its loyalty program to Petco Perks, the card adds 10 points per dollar at Petco — 1% in Petco credit, because 1,000 points redeem for $1. Every Perks member already earns base points at Petco with any card, so a 2% card plus free Perks membership beats the store card at its own register. Join Perks either way; carry the store card for its 20% first-purchase discount or its financing, not for the rate.

The math

Spend $80 a month at Petco and myWalgreens Mastercard returns about $26 a year at our valuations — a flat 2% card returns $19.

Common questions

What is the best credit card at Petco?: myWalgreens Mastercard earns the most at Petco right now at 3x.
How does SwipeCaddy pick the best card at Petco?: We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and apply Petco's card-acceptance rules, so the "best" card is one you can actually use at the register.
Is the Petco Pay Mastercard worth getting just for Petco runs?: Not for the rewards. Under Petco Perks the card adds 10 points per dollar at Petco, worth 1% back in Petco credit, while a no-annual-fee 2% card earns twice that in cash — and you collect your base Perks points either way. The card's real draws are 20% off your first purchase and special financing, and purchases placed on promotional financing earn no points at all.
Do I need a different card for Petco.com than in the store?: Possibly. In store our top pick is the myWalgreens Mastercard at about 2.7% in cash terms; online the PayPal Cashback Mastercard leads at 3%, but only when you pay through PayPal at checkout. If you hold neither, any no-annual-fee 2% card is the right answer in both places.

Rates reflect each card's best case at this merchant and can change; check the issuer's terms before applying.