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For many of us, our primary mode of eating at restaurants has transformed. The popularity of delivery platforms like DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats has never been higher — making dining from home more appealing than the hassle and stress of going out.

No matter your favorite haunt, odds are you can have its fare delivered to your home. And if you "eat out" as much as we do, you'll save a lot of money simply by using the right rewards credit card at checkout.

Keep in mind many delivery services offer more than just delivery. Oftentimes you can order through the platform and pick up your order yourself.

Compare the Best Credit Cards for Food Delivery

Best Credit Cards for Food Delivery

Methodology: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards for Food Delivery

There aren't a whole lot of credit cards that focus mainly on food delivery.

However, there are a handful of cards that provide strong dining benefits, such as a healthy return rate for restaurants (including delivery services), monthly statement credits that can be used for hundreds of dollars in free food delivery, temporary memberships to food delivery services, and other perks. These cards have much more to offer than simply food delivery.

We've gathered the best dining credit cards that those who enjoy food delivery will benefit from (including grocery delivery), comparing annual fees, ease of reward redemption, and more.   

Why you should trust our recommendations

Insider keeps its business team separate from its editorial team. No information is shared with us as to which cards pay us and which cards don't. That means one thing to you: We aren't writing about cards to sell them. We analyze each card truthfully, and we'll let you know whether you should or shouldn't consider a card based on your situation.

Food Delivery Credit Cards Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best credit card for food delivery?

The overall best credit card for food delivery is likely the American Express® Gold Card because of its many complementary delivery benefits, such as:

  • Up to $10 per month in food credits with select vendors, including Grubhub and Seamless
  • Up to $10 per month in Uber Cash, which you can use for Uber Eats
  • 4 points per dollar on restaurant spending, including most delivery services

Can you order food delivery without a credit card?

You can order food without a credit card. Delivery services like Grubhub and DoorDash accept cash on delivery — but you may find it more difficult to find a willing delivery driver, as they must be prepared to make change. Select restaurants also may not participate in cash payments for delivery.

Is there a credit card specifically for food delivery?

There is a credit card specifically for food delivery: The DoorDash Rewards Credit Card. However, there is also the no-annual-fee Instacart Mastercard®, ideal for folks who spend big on grocery delivery. Although Instacart doesn't typically deliver meals from restaurants, fans of food convenience will still love this card. It earns 5% cash back on Instacart purchases and 5% back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Center. It also earns 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and on select streaming services (1% back on all other purchases).

Best Beginner Travel Credit Card for Food Delivery

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Product Name Only

Rewards on food delivery: You'll earn 3 points per dollar on all dining, including delivery services.

Other food delivery benefits: Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership which gets you waived delivery fees on DoorDash orders of $15 or more and lower service fees. You must enroll your card by December 31, 2024. Also, you can get a free six months of Instacart+ membership, and up to $15 per quarter in statement credits on Instacart.com purchases (once activated).

Welcome bonus offer: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (worth Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card in travel, based on Insider's points and miles valuations)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top recommendation for those looking to earn travel rewards, because it offers you plenty of opportunities to earn bonus points and offers strong insurance coverage, all for a reasonable $95 annual fee. It just so happens the card is also a solid choice for ordering delivery, as it earns 3x points on all dining purchases, which includes services like Seamless and Grubhub.

Insider estimates Chase points value to be 1.8 cents each, on average. Earning 3 points per dollar is like earning 5.4% back on your restaurant purchases, and the year of DashPass membership is a nice bonus.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review

Best for Food Delivery Statement Credits

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards on food delivery: You'll earn 4 points per dollar on restaurants, which includes most US food delivery services.

Other food delivery benefits: Up to $10 back in statement credits each month** for purchases at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Milk Bar, Wine.com, Goldbelly, and participating Shake Shack locations. Also, $10 monthly Uber Cash can be used for Uber Eats (up to $120 per calendar year ($10 per month), and the Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit).

Welcome bonus offer: American Express® Gold Card (worth American Express® Gold Card in travel, based on Insider's valuations)

The Amex Gold Card is one of the most rewarding options for ordering delivery, both in terms of benefits and rewards. Earning 4 Amex points per dollar is excellent. Insider values Amex points at 1.8 cents each — giving you an effective return of 7.2% for dining.

It's easy to get up to $10 back each month through Seamless or Grubhub, as well. And the card earns 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 spent each calendar year, then 1x), so it's also a great choice when you want to prepare food yourself.

Amex Gold Card Review

Best for Grocery Delivery

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Rewards on food delivery: You'll earn 3 points per dollar on all dining.

Other food delivery benefits: Receive a free year of DoorDash DashPass membership (activation required by December 31, 2024). One year of free Instacart+ membership and up to $15 per month in statement credits on Instacart.com purchases (once activated)

Welcome bonus offer: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (worth Chase Sapphire Reserve® in travel, based on Insider's valuations)

This card offers the same return for food delivery as its sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 3 points per dollar, equivalent to a 5.4% return on purchases (per Insider's valuations).

Given this card's Chase Sapphire Reserve® annual fee, it's unlikely that you'll sign up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® just for its dining earnings alone. The card is a great pick if you travel frequently, thanks to an annual statement credit of up to $300 for travel purchases, 10x points on Lyft rides through March 2025, strong travel insurance, airport lounge access courtesy of Priority Pass, and a complimentary two years of Lyft Pink All Access membership.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Review

Best for Uber Eats Deliveries

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rewards on food delivery: You'll receive 4% cash back (except on Uber Eats orders, which earn 10% cash back through November 14, 2024)

Welcome bonus offer: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great option for food delivery if you prefer to earn cash back. Along with earning 4% cash back on dining, it earns 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats orders through November 14, 2024. Plus, cardholders can activate a complimentary Uber One membership, which comes with $0 delivery fees on eligible Uber Eats orders, up to 5% back on Uber rides, up to 10% back with Uber Eats, and more.

If you've also got a Capital One travel credit card, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, or Capital One Spark Miles for Business, you can turn the cash back you earn with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card into Capital One miles. You can transfer Capital One miles to valuable airline and hotel partners to get free flights and stays.

Insider estimates that Capital One miles are worth 1.7 cents each, on average. Earning 4 points per dollar equates to a 6.8% return.

Capital One Savor Card Review

Best for DoorDash Deliveries

DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® - Product Name Only

Rewards on food delivery: You'll earn 4% back on DoorDash and Caviar orders

Welcome bonus offer: DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® - Intro Bonus

The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® - Annual Fee annual fee DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® - Product Name Only comes with a handful of benefits exclusively tailored for DoorDash customers. You'll get:

  • A free 12-month DoorDash membership upon opening the card
  • Free DashPass membership each anniversary year you spend at least $10,000 on the card
  • $25 off the first two Nationwide Shipping orders of $100 or more (ends 12/31/23)
  • 10% off first order of $35 or more each month (up to $15 per order) on convenience, grocery, alcohol, and DashMart purchases (ends 8/31/23)

The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® - Product Name Only also comes with waived foreign transaction fees, a few travel insurances, and Mastercard World Elite benefits — one of which is a $5 monthly credit for your first DoorDash order each month as a DashPass member.

Best Premium Travel Card for Food Delivery

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Food delivery benefits: The Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $15 in Uber Cash each month (and $35 in December), and you can use these monthly credits with Uber Eats as well as for rides.

Welcome bonus offer: The Platinum Card® from American Express (worth The Platinum Card® from American Express in travel, based on Insider's valuations)

Again, the food delivery benefit is not the main draw of this premium card, but it's nice to know that you can get reimbursed for ordering through Uber Eats with the The Platinum Card® from American Express. Other top perks include airport lounge access, complimentary Gold elite status with Hilton and Marriott**, an annual hotel credit up to $200, and an annual credit worth up to $200 for airline incidentals**.

American Express Platinum Card Review

Best Return Rate for Those Not Loyal to One Delivery Service

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

Rewards on food delivery: You'll earn 4 points per dollar on takeout, food delivery, and dining.

Welcome bonus offer: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

This card doesn't offer any delivery-specific benefits other than a fantastic return on spending. Altitude points are worth 1 cent each, so you'll get a 4% return on your deliveries. Even more impressive is that this card has a U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card annual fee.

Also worth noting is that this card offers an annual credit of up to $15 for streaming service purchases.

US Bank Altitude Go Card Review

 

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