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Best Credit Card for Food Delivery for 2026
July 1, 2025
Earn meaningful rewards on every meal from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub with the right card combination.
Food delivery and takeout have become a regular part of everyday spending for many Americans. What often goes unnoticed is how recurring delivery-related charges compound over time. The best credit cards for food delivery can turn that same spending into cash back, travel rewards, or statement credits that meaningfully reduce overall costs.
If you order from DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub with any regularity, the right credit card strategy can significantly improve the return you get from those purchases.
Understanding which cards align with your delivery habits—and how to layer rewards effectively—turns everyday orders into ongoing benefits. We reviewed the top credit cards for food delivery in 2025, focusing on how rewards structures, delivery-related perks, and issuer benefits interact for real-world use.
This guide also highlights how issuer perks such as statement credits, app-linked benefits, and dining multipliers vary by card tier, and how new applicants can evaluate introductory incentives before applying.
Whether you primarily use DoorDash or rely more heavily on Uber Eats, this guide explains how to earn elevated rewards on each order while unlocking extras like complimentary memberships and dining credits. We also explain how the Kudos Explore tool can preview your expected rewards before you apply.
How We Evaluated Food Delivery Credit Cards
We evaluated food delivery credit cards using several criteria specific to delivery and takeout spending. Our methodology also considers factors that indirectly affect delivery purchases throughout the year. The analysis reflects card offerings available as of late 2025 and accounts for issuer-specific enrollment requirements and platform partnerships:
- Earning potential on delivery purchases: How cards reward orders placed through major delivery platforms
- Delivery-related perks: Complimentary memberships, statement credits, and platform-specific benefits
- Overall value balance: How benefits and credits compare to the ongoing cost of holding the card
- Introductory offer accessibility: How achievable welcome incentives are relative to typical delivery spending
- Stacking and compatibility: Ability to combine card rewards with merchant programs and external tools
Our analysis assumes consistent delivery usage and reflects current partnerships between card issuers and food delivery platforms.
Understanding Merchant Category Codes
Credit card rewards depend heavily on how purchases are categorized by the merchant. Most transactions from services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Seamless, and similar platforms are classified as dining or restaurant purchases, making them eligible for dining-focused rewards.
Notable exceptions include:
- Grocery-focused delivery services that may code as grocery rather than dining
- Big-box retailer delivery services that code under retail categories
- Some virtual or shared kitchens that process transactions differently
Major delivery platforms generally code consistently as dining across leading issuers.
Check how a merchant codes in your Kudos Wallet before ordering to ensure you’re using the card that earns the strongest rewards for that purchase.
Results: Top Credit Cards for Food Delivery Ranked
Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® stands out for food delivery users due to its strong dining rewards, flexible points, and delivery-focused perks.
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Key Highlights:
- Elevated rewards on dining, including eligible delivery
- Access to valuable point redemptions
- Included benefits tied to major delivery platforms
For users who also travel, higher-tier Sapphire cards can unlock additional redemption flexibility and premium travel perks, making them especially attractive for cardholders who combine dining, delivery, and travel spending.
Best No-Annual-Fee Option: Chase Freedom Flex®
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ pairs ongoing dining rewards with rotating bonus categories that frequently include food delivery services.
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Key Highlights:
- Consistent rewards on dining purchases
- Periodic bonus categories that can amplify delivery rewards
- No ongoing cost to hold the card
When combined with another Chase card that earns transferable points, rewards earned on the Freedom Flex can be converted into more flexible redemption options, increasing their overall value.
Best for Premium Benefits: American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) is frequently recommended for food delivery and dining due to its elevated earning structure and recurring dining-related credits.
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Key Highlights:
- Strong rewards on restaurant spending worldwide
- Monthly app-linked benefits usable on food delivery
- Additional dining credits at select partners
Cardholders who regularly use delivery services tied to these benefits can offset much of the card’s ongoing cost while earning flexible points that transfer to travel partners or can be redeemed in other ways.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Best Simple Cash Back: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (See Rates & Fees) offers straightforward value for dining, entertainment, and delivery spending with no requirement to manage rotating categories.
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "18233", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "4", "bestForText": "Food & Entertainment", "headerHint" : "Great for Foodies" } ]]
Key Highlights:
- Consistent cash back on dining and related categories
- No annual cost to maintain the card
- Included delivery-related perks and platform credits
This card is especially appealing for users who prefer simplicity and predictable rewards without enrollment steps or tracking requirements.
Best for Uber Eats Users: American Express® Green Card
The American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) is well-suited for users who frequently rely on Uber Eats and value travel-related benefits alongside dining rewards.
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Key Highlights:
- Solid rewards on dining and delivery purchases
- Automatic app-linked benefits when accounts are connected
- Travel-focused credits that complement food delivery usage
For cardholders who already use these services regularly, the combined benefits can significantly reduce the effective cost of holding the card.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Strategic Card Combinations
Pairing complementary cards can maximize delivery rewards while keeping credit health in check. Spacing out applications and monitoring your credit profile helps maintain long-term flexibility.
High-Value Pairing Example:
- One card optimized for rotating delivery bonuses
- One card covering all other dining purchases
- Ability to consolidate rewards into a single ecosystem
No-Fee Strategy:
- One card for consistent dining rewards
- One card for rotating categories that often include digital payments
These combinations provide broad coverage across dining, delivery, groceries, and everyday spending throughout the year.
Implementation Guide: Maximizing Food Delivery Rewards
Step One: Optimize Card Selection
- Review your typical delivery habits
- Use Kudos tools to preview reward outcomes
- Apply for cards aligned with your usage patterns
Step Two: Activate Available Offers
- Enable rotating bonus categories
- Add issuer-specific offers
- Link cards to delivery apps
Step Three: Layer Additional Rewards
Maximize value by stacking:
- Base credit card rewards
- Platform loyalty programs
- External cash-back tools
- Promotional portal bonuses
Step Four: Track and Optimize
Monitor:
- Delivery spending patterns
- Rewards earned by card
- Utilization of credits and perks
Kudos Premium automates this process and highlights optimization opportunities.
Common Questions and Considerations
Do delivery subscriptions qualify for dining rewards?
In most cases, yes. These charges typically code the same way as delivery orders.
Which delivery apps reliably earn dining rewards?
Major platforms consistently qualify, though it’s always best to confirm with an initial transaction.
Can rewards stack with delivery promotions?
Yes. Card rewards, platform offers, and external tools generally apply independently.
Do grocery delivery services count as dining?
Typically no. These usually fall under grocery categories instead.
What if I only order occasionally?
No-annual-fee cards with dining rewards are usually the best fit.
How do I choose the right card at checkout?
The Kudos extension automatically recommends the highest-earning option for supported merchants.
Conclusions
The best credit card for food delivery depends on how often you order, which platforms you use, and whether you prefer cash back or flexible rewards.
- Frequent users benefit most from cards with elevated dining rewards and recurring credits
- Moderate users often prefer cards that balance rewards with manageable costs
- Occasional users are best served by no-fee options with steady returns
Matching your actual spending behavior to the right card benefits can produce a meaningful difference over time. Strategic selection consistently outperforms random card usage for regular delivery users.
Join over 400,000 members simplifying their finances
Before applying, you can test drive credit cards with the Kudos Explore tool to see how different cards would perform based on your actual spending—without impacting your credit. This makes it easier to choose the right card for food delivery and everyday purchases.
Credit card approval, welcome offers, and interest rates depend on your credit score and issuer’s underwriting standards at the time of account opening.
Use code GET20 to earn $20 back after your first eligible Kudos Boost purchase of $30 or more. Create a free account: Join Kudos
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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