Kroger Rewards Mastercard: What To Know And Alternatives (2023)

The Kroger Rewards World Mastercard®* has several benefits for cardholders. These include no annual fee, fuel discounts and a rewards program.

Kroger Rewards World Mastercard®* Benefits

• No annual or foreign transaction fees: The Kroger Rewards World Mastercard®* has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, however other fees may apply, including balance transfer fees and cash advance fees.
• Rewards program: The Kroger Rewards World Mastercard®* rewards program allows you to earn points on every eligible purchase at a rate of 5% cash back on eligible mobile wallet purchases for the first $3,000, 1% thereafter; earn 2% cash back in in-store Kroger purchases and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Note that to earn the 5% cash-back rate, you must pay with a mobile wallet, such as Google Pay, Apple Pay or Samsung Pay.
• Fuel discounts: For the first year of card membership, you can get up to 55 cents off per gallon at Kroger family of companies fuel centers each time you redeem at least 100 fuel points. Thereafter, you must spend at least $6,000 in a calendar year to earn the discount.
  Kroger’s Fuel Points program allows you to earn one fuel point for every dollar you spend. You also earn two fuel points per dollar on most gift card purchases. Note that Fuel Points expire on the last day of the month after you earn them.
• Rewards outside Kroger stores: Many store credit cards only allow you to earn cash back at stores that are part of their brand. But the Kroger credit card earns 1 point per dollar spent at non-Kroger stores.
• World Elite Mastercard® benefits: The Krogrer credit card is a World Elite Mastercard and has all the benefits of that program. These include a monthly $5 Lyft credit when you take at least three rides a month, free delivery with DoorDash and free two-day shipping with ShopRunner, as well as protections like $0 fraud liability.

While the Kroger credit card won’t be right for everyone, it can generate solid rewards in the hands of the right customer. That customer is one who shops frequently at Kroger stores and usually pays with a mobile wallet like Google Pay or Apple Pay, as that is the only way to earn the 5% cash-back rate. You can still earn cash back at Kroger stores without a mobile wallet but you’ll earn a much lower 2% rate.

The other ideal customer for this card is someone who frequently fills their tank at Kroger stores. For the first year, you can earn an additional 55 cents off per gallon of fuel each time you redeem at least 100 fuel points at Kroger Family of Companies Fuel Centers.

Note that after the first year you must spend at least $6,000 on the card to earn the gas discount. You can still get a discount if you don’t meet that threshold, but it will be a much lower five cents off. Kroger Fuel Points are redeemable in 100-point increments on up to 35 gallons of gas per purchase.

There are a few strong alternatives to the Kroger Rewards World Mastercard®*. These are worth considering if you don’t pay with a mobile wallet or can’t meet the $6,000 spending requirement for the Fuel Points program.

• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: This card earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. This is one of the highest earning rates for groceries on any card, although the rewards are capped. Additionally, the card earns at an increased rate everywhere, not just at Kroger stores. So even with the cap on rewards it may represent a better value. There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (terms apply, see rates & fees).
• Savor Rewards Credit Card*: The Savor Rewards Credit Card* card earns 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) and 1% on all other purchases. While this may not beat the top-end earning rate of the Kroger card, the flexibility of being able to use the Savor card anywhere and not being required to use mobile wallets to earn rewards will likely pan out to better results over time. Note that this card has a $95 annual fee.
• Chase Freedom Flex℠*: The Freedom Flex earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1% on all other purchases. Bonus categories can include things like grocery stores, gas stations and online retailers, so it may be worth looking into this card if you spend at grocery stores but not necessarily at Kroger. This card has a $0 annual fee.

The Kroger Rewards World Mastercard®* has some interesting benefits, but for all but the most loyal Kroger customers, other cards will net better rewards. The 5% rewards rate is limited to $3,000 worth of purchases. In addition, after the first year you must spend at least $6,000 on the card to qualify for 25 cents off on gas. These limitations make the Kroger Rewards World Mastercard®* a poor choice for most consumers. Consider alternatives to maximize your rewards on not just groceries, but all spending.

To view rates and fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please visit this page.