How does SwipeCaddy pick the best card at Trader Joe's?

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

Do grocery cards have spending caps at Trader Joe's?

The top earners do. The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pays 6% on up to $6,000 per year, and the American Express Gold Card's 4x applies up to $25,000 per year. The Blue Cash Everyday Card is also capped, with a lower rate afterward. Estimate your annual Trader Joe's spending before choosing, since the cap decides your real return.

Is a no-annual-fee card enough at Trader Joe's?

It can be. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards earns 3% here with no annual fee and no listed caveats, and the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express also pays 3% before its spending cap. You give up the 6% of the $95-a-year Blue Cash Preferred, so run your own grocery numbers before paying a fee.

Best cards at Trader Joe's

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns the most at Trader Joe's right now at 6%.

Rankings use issuer rates verified as of August 16, 2026.

In store

1
#16%
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · ≈5.17% after the cap · $95/yr · up to $6,000/yr
6%
2
#25%
AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature Card
Bread Financial · Visa · No annual fee · up to $10,000/yr (combined)
5%
3
#34x
American Express Gold Card
American Express · Amex · $325/yr · up to $25,000/yr
4x
4
#43x
Aeroplan Card
Chase · Mastercard · $95/yr
3x
5
#54x
Verizon Visa Card
Synchrony · Visa · No annual fee
4x
6
#63%
AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature Card
Bread Financial · Visa · No annual fee
3%
7
#73%
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards (formerly SavorOne)
Capital One · Mastercard · No annual fee
3%
8
#83x
Huntington Voice Rewards Credit Card
Huntington · Mastercard · No annual fee · Choose this category · up to $2,000/qtr (combined)
3x
9
#93x
Navy Federal More Rewards American Express Card
Navy Federal · Amex · No annual fee
3x
10
#105x
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
Wells Fargo · Mastercard · $95/yr
5x

Online

Good to know at Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's takes cards on every major network, so the question is purely which card earns the most on groceries. The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express leads at 6% back on up to $6,000 a year, for a $95 annual fee. The American Express Gold Card earns 4x with a far higher $25,000 yearly cap, but its $325 fee only makes sense for heavy grocery spending.

The in-store and online rankings mostly match, with one swap: the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on groceries only for online orders, so it makes the online list while the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card falls off. Also watch multipliers versus value: the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard's 5x is worth roughly 3% in cash terms, while the Aeroplan Card's 3x works out near 3.9%.

If neither Amex fits your wallet, two no-annual-fee cards hold a solid 3% floor: the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards with no listed caveats, and the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, which carries a spending cap and a lower rate after it. Households that outspend the Blue Cash Preferred's $6,000 cap can look to the American Express Gold Card's $25,000 ceiling.

The math

Spend $600 a month at Trader Joe's and Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express returns about $372 a year at our valuations — a flat 2% card returns $144.

Common questions

What is the best credit card at Trader Joe's?: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns the most at Trader Joe's right now at 6%.
How does SwipeCaddy pick the best card at Trader Joe's?: We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and apply Trader Joe's's card-acceptance rules, so the "best" card is one you can actually use at the register.
Do grocery cards have spending caps at Trader Joe's?: The top earners do. The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pays 6% on up to $6,000 per year, and the American Express Gold Card's 4x applies up to $25,000 per year. The Blue Cash Everyday Card is also capped, with a lower rate afterward. Estimate your annual Trader Joe's spending before choosing, since the cap decides your real return.
Is a no-annual-fee card enough at Trader Joe's?: It can be. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards earns 3% here with no annual fee and no listed caveats, and the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express also pays 3% before its spending cap. You give up the 6% of the $95-a-year Blue Cash Preferred, so run your own grocery numbers before paying a fee.

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

In store

Online

Good to know at Trader Joe's

The math

Common questions

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