How I Always Earn 3x Points on Groceries With the Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is one of the most well-rounded travel cards in my wallet. Though it carries a $95 annual fee, I earn hundreds of thousands of points every year thanks to its favorable earning rates.

Cardholders earn 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases, 2x on other travel, and 1x on everything else. While I spend the most in the travel and dining categories, there’s one commonly overlooked area where you can rack up serious points: online groceries.

For some context, the 3x bonus categories for online groceries and streaming services were introduced during the pandemic, as consumer habits shifted, and have stuck around ever since. But whereas what counts as, for example, a streaming service is clear-cut, “online groceries” can sound a little vague, if not downright confusing.

In this article, I’ll break down the ways you can earn 3x points on your supermarket spending with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card — even when you’re not technically grocery shopping online.

1. Use the Grocery Store’s App To Pay at Checkout

Whether you’re shopping at a national chain or a local grocery store, there’s likely an app for it. These apps often let you place orders, track rewards, and in some cases, even add a payment method.

Once you add your Chase Sapphire Preferred card details, you can check out through the app by scanning a barcode, which triggers the online groceries category. This way you can earn an unlimited 3x points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card without actually shopping for groceries online.

Here are a few examples of grocery stores that let you pay for your purchases directly through their app:

• Kroger
• Fry’s
• HEB
• Harris Teeter
• Publix
• Smith’s Food and Drug
• Sprout’s
• Whole Foods

As you can see, many national chains (and even some local stores!) now offer in-app payment options. This list isn’t necessarily exhaustive, so it’s worth experimenting with the grocery apps you use regularly to see if they qualify for the 3x points category.

Can You Earn 3x Chase Points at Costco and Trader Joe’s?

Notably absent from the list above are national chains like Costco and Trader Joe’s. That’s because Chase specifically excludes warehouse clubs, such as Costco and Sam’s Club, as well as big-box retailers like Target and Walmart from the online grocery category.

As for Trader Joe’s, the brand still doesn’t offer a payment-enabled app, which means this strategy only works with grocery stores that support online checkout through their app or website.

2. Place a Pickup Order on Instacart

Instacart is best known as a grocery delivery service, but many people don’t realize you can also place pickup orders through the app at dozens of grocery stores. Many locations even offer convenient curbside service — just check in through the app, and they’ll bring your groceries right to your car.

When you pay with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card in the Instacart app, your purchase typically codes as an online grocery transaction, which earns you the 3x points multiplier. I’ve used this method successfully with stores like Harmons, Food Lion, and the Fresh Market, among many others.

3. Order Meal Kit Delivery Services

Finally, the online groceries category also extends to meal kit delivery services like Factor Meals, HelloFresh, Blue Apron, and many others. These kits are convenient for busy households, delivering everything you need to make quick, delicious meals at home.

Plus, if you’re new to a service, you can often score generous introductory offers when signing up. And if you decide to stick with a subscription, paying with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card means you continue earning 3x points on every order.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Overview

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
• 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2 cents for travel, according to our latest valuations. You can transfer Chase points to a variety of useful partners, like Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt, to score incredible deals on award travel.

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card lets you earn unlimited 3x points on online grocery purchases, but there are more ways to take advantage of this category than you might expect. Since groceries make up a significant portion of most household budgets, maximizing this bonus can be a game-changing points-earning opportunity. Maximizing this little-known strategy allows me to earn thousands more points every year.