Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.
February 20, 2025: If you frequently visit standalone drugstores like CVS and Walgreens, you could be earning up to 5% cash back with the right credit card. Here’s our list of the best cards to use at pharmacies and drugstores.
The best cards to use at drugstores and pharmacies
 Chase Freedom Unlimited® Annual fee: annual_fees | Rewards: 3% cash back on drugstore purchases. Benefits: Extended Warranty Protection, Purchase Protection. Sign up bonus: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply. |
 Chase Freedom Flex® Annual fee: $0 | Rewards: 3% cash back on drugstore purchases. Benefits: Extended Warranty Protection, Purchase Protection. Sign up bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn how to apply. |
 Citi Custom Cash® Card Annual fee: annual_fees | Rewards: 5% on the first $500 spent in your top eligible category each statement cycle. Eligible categories include drugstores. Benefits: Extended Warranty. Sign up bonus: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply. |
 AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card Annual fee: $0 | Rewards: 3% on pharmacy purchases until you reach $500 of cash back in bonus categories in a calendar year, then 1% Benefits: Extended Warranty. Sign up bonus: Receive a $100 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on your card in the first 90 days of account opening. Learn how to apply. All information about the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com. |
 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Annual fee: annual_fees | Rewards: Up to 3% on on drug store/pharmacy purchases. (Up to 5.25% with Preferred Rewards with Platinum Honors.) Benefits: Extended Warranty. Sign up bonus: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply. |
 U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card Annual fee: $0 | Rewards: Up to 4% cash back everywhere. (2% base cash back, plus up to an additional 2% bonus cash back with a $100k+ banking relationship.) Benefits: None Sign up bonus: The card does not currently have a new cardmember welcome offer. Learn how to apply. All information about the U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com. |
 U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card Annual fee: $400 | Rewards: 3% cash back or 4.5% travel rewards when you use mobile wallet to pay. Benefits: Extended Warranty, Return Protection, Purchase Protection. This card is no longer available to new cardmembers. All information about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com. |
Editor’s pick: Citi Custom Cash® Card
The Citi Custom Cash® Card comes out as a clear winner for rewards on drugstore purchases. If you use the card exclusively at drugstores, you’ll earn 5% cash back on the first $500 you spend at drugstores each statement cycle.
Most people are probably spending less than $500 a month at drugstores, so the card’s cap on increased earnings likely won’t be an issue for you. And the card has plenty of other uses if your drugstore spending decreases—it’s one of the best cards for a wide array of spending.
The card doesn’t offer much in the way of benefits—though Citi did recently add back extended warranty protection to the card. But for the types of things that you’re likely to buy at a drugstore, you’re unlikely to use benefits like purchase protection, extended warranty, and return protection.
Our only reservation about using the Custom Cash for drugstore purchases is that the card is compelling to use in other reward categories. Since you can only get one Citi Custom Cash directly (there are ways to get additional Custom Cash cards indirectly) you might want to use it for another category where you’re spending more.
Honorable mentions: Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Freedom Flex®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Freedom Flex® are worth mentioning alongside our pick because they offer unlimited 3% cash back rewards at drugstores and the rewards are earned as Ultimate Rewards®.
Even if you don’t spend a massive amount at drugstores, getting 3% rewards as Ultimate Rewards® points can be particularly profitable if you have a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card that gives you increased value when booking through Chase Travel℠ and allows transfers to travel partners.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Who it’s best for: Ultimate Rewards® collectors, wallet simplifiers, and people who spend a lot at drugstores. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers 3% cash back at drugstores, plus a handful of other useful categories and 1.5% cash back everywhere else. It’s a great choice for a “use everywhere” card and one of the few cards that earns uncapped bonus rewards at drugstores.
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees.
Rewards:
- 3% on drugstore purchases.
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
- 1.5% on all other purchases.
Rewards are marketed as cash back, but earned as Ultimate Rewards® points.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® at a glance
Annual fee: annual_fees
Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent choice for a use-anywhere card, thanks to its 1.5% cash back rewards and extended warranty benefit.
Sign-up bonus
Online affiliate offer: bonus_miles_full
Learn how to apply.
Direct and referral offer: As of February 14, 2025, referral links and Chase.com are showing the following offer: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Learn more and apply for the referral offer.
All information about direct and referral offers on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
The $200 after $500 offer is probably the better offer, but you’ll earn more points with the “extra 1.5%” offer if you spend more than about $13,333 on the card in your first year.
Rewards
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- 5% on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.
- 3% on dining at restaurants, including eligible takeout and delivery services.
- 3% drugstore purchases.
- 1.5% on other purchases.
Rewards are marketed as cash back, but earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
Ultimate Rewards® can be combined across cards you hold. If you hold a premium Ultimate Rewards card, you can transfer your points to Chase’s transfer partners or use your points for increased value when you book travel through Chase Travel℠. For more about using Ultimate Rewards, check out our guide on the Ultimate Rewards program.
Benefits
Consumer insurance benefits
Travel insurance benefits
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance.
- Auto Rental Coverage.
- Roadside Assistance.
- Travel and Emergency Assistance.
Partner benefits and statement credits
- 6 months of complimentary access to DashPass.
Subject to auto-renewal at the current monthly rate. Activate by December 31, 2027.
Chase Freedom Flex®
Who it’s best for: 5% rotating category card fans, Ultimate Rewards® collectors, and people who spend a lot at drugstores. The Chase Freedom Flex® is the lesser-talked-about sibling to the Freedom Unlimited. The Freedom Flex offers 3% cash back at drugstores plus 5% cash back in bonus categories that change quarterly.
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards:
- 3% on drugstore purchases.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in rotating bonus categories.
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
- 1% on all other purchases.
Rewards are marketed as cash back, but earned as Ultimate Rewards® points.
Learn more: Read more about rotating category cards, including the Chase Freedom Flex℠.
Chase Freedom Flex® at a glance
Annual fee: $0
Foreign transaction fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
All information about the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
The Chase Freedom Flex® offers 5% rewards on up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating categories each quarter when you activate.
Sign-up bonus
The Chase Freedom Flex offers different sign-up bonuses based on the channel you’re applying through
Best bonus online: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn how to apply.
The Freedom Flex sometimes offers a better welcome bonus in-branch. We’ll publish any in-branch offers we find in our coverage of the best Chase Freedom Flex sign-up bonuses.
These bonuses are marketed as cash back, but earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
Rewards
- 5% in quarterly rotating categories
on up to $1,500 in total combined purchases each quarter when you activate. - 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 5% on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.
- 3% on dining, including eligible takeout and delivery services.
- 3% on drugstore purchases.
- 1% on other purchases.
Rewards are marketed as cash back, but earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
Ultimate Rewards® can be combined across cards you hold. If you hold a premium Ultimate Rewards card, you can transfer your points to Chase’s transfer partners or use your points for increased value when you book travel through Chase Travel℠. For more about using Ultimate Rewards, check out our guide on the Ultimate Rewards program.
Benefits
Consumer insurance benefits
- Purchase Protection.
- Extended Warranty Protection.
- Cell Phone Protection.
Travel insurance benefits
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance.
- Auto Rental Coverage.
- Travel and Emergency Assistance.
Partner benefits and statement credits
- 6 months of complimentary DashPass.
Requires enrollment and is subject to auto-renewal. Activate by Dec 31, 2027.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Who it’s best for: Those who want maximum cash back at drugstores with a simple, no-annual fee card. The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a flexible category card that earns 5% cash back in the eligible category in which you spend the most each month. If you use the card exclusively at drugstores, you’ll earn 5% on the first $500 you spend on groceries each month.
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category on up to $500 each statement cycle, then 1%.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Rewards are marketed as cash back, but earned as Citi ThankYou Points.
Learn more: The Citi Custom Cash® Card is an incredibly flexible cash back card that earns ThankYou Points. Read our review of the Citi Custom Cash.
All information about the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
Citi Custom Cash® Card at a glance
Annual fee: annual_fees
All information about the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers 5% rewards on up to $500 spent in your highest eligible category each statement cycle.
Welcome offer
Best sign-up bonus: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
This bonus is marketed as cash back, but earned as ThankYou® Points.
Rewards
- 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle on up to $500 spent.
- 5% on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Rewards are marketed as cash back, but earned as Citi ThankYou® points.
5% eligible categories
5% eligible categories include:
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Select travel
- Select transit
- Select streaming services
- Drugstores
- Home improvement stores
- Fitness clubs
- Live entertainment
Benefits
- Extended warranty
AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card
Who it’s best for: People looking for good grocery rewards in addition to cash back on pharmacy purchases. The AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card earns 3% cash back on pharmacy purchases, with a cap of $500 in bonus earnings per year (then 1%). That’s less compelling than the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, but when you add in the Daily Advantage’s grocery rewards, the whole picture may be more compelling for people who want fewer cards in their wallet.
Welcome offer: Receive a $100 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on your card in the first 90 days of account opening. Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back* on grocery store purchases.
- 3% cash back* on gas and electric vehicle charging, wholesale clubs, streaming services, pharmacy, and AAA purchases.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- * You’ll earn 5% and 3% cash back in bonus categories until you’ve earned $500 of cash back during the calendar year, then 1%.
All information about the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card at a glance
Annual fee: $0
Foreign transaction fee:
All information about the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
The AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card doesn’t get talked about much, but it offers strong cash back rewards in several useful categories, including grocery stores, gas, wholesale clubs, streaming services, and pharmacies.
Sign-up bonus
Receive a $100 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on your card in the first 90 days of account opening. Learn how to apply.
Rewards
After earning $500 cash back in the following categories in a calendar year, you will earn 1% cash back in these categories for the remainder of the calendar year:
- 5% on grocery store purchases.
- 3% at gas stations.
- 3% at wholesale clubs.
These categories are not subject to reward caps:
- 3% on electric vehicle charging.
- 3% on pharmacy purchases.
- 3% on AAA purchases.
- 1% on other purchases.
Rewards are earned as cash back.
Benefits
The AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card does not have any benefits of note.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
Who it’s best for: Bank of America Preferred Rewards customers with at least Gold status or higher. Having at least $20,000 of combined deposits in Bank of America and Merrill accounts will get you a 25% rewards bonus, which brings the 3% category bonus of the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card up to 3.75% cash back. Platinum Honors and higher members earn a total of 5.25% cash back in their selected bonus category.
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees.
Rewards:
- Base 3% cash back on a category you choose.
Choose from gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/streaming/internet/phone plan, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy, or home improvement/furnishings purchases. - Base 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
* 3% and 2% cash back categories earn bonus cash back on the first $2,500 spent each quarter across all bonus categories, then 1%.
Rewards can be multiplied by up to 1.75x if you have Preferred Rewards Platinum Honors or higher status, which requires holding $100,000 or more of deposits and investments with Bank of America and Merrill. With a 1.75x multiplier, the 3% category earns a total of 5.25% cash back.
All information about the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards at a glance
Annual fee: annual_fees
Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee
All information about the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers up to 3% cash back rewards in a category you choose—and up to 5.25% cash back if you’re a Preferred Rewards member with Platinum or higher status.
Sign-up bonus
Best sign-up bonus: bonus_miles_full
Learn how to apply.
This bonus is earned as cash back rewards.
Rewards
- 3% in the category of your choice.
- 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
- 1% on all other purchases.
You’ll earn 3% and 2% rewards on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each calendar quarter in the 3% and 2% bonus categories. Earn 1% cash back on these purchases thereafter.
Rewards are earned as cash back. If you have Bank of America Preferred Rewards, you’ll receive additional rewards based on your rewards multiplier of up to 1.75. Your rewards multiplier is based on your relationship with Bank of America and Merrill.
3% choice categories
Choose one of the following categories to earn 3% cash back:
- Gas and EV charging stations.
- Online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans, and streaming.
- Dining.
- Travel.
- Drug stores and pharmacies.
- Home improvement and furnishings.
You can change your choice category once each calendar month. You’ll earn 3% and 2% rewards on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each calendar quarter in the 3% and 2% bonus categories. Earn 1% cash back on these purchases thereafter.
Benefits
Consumer insurance benefits
- Extended Warranty Protection.
Travel insurance benefits
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services.
- Roadside Dispatch.
U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card
Who it’s best for: Bank of America relationship banking customers with $100,000 or more at the bank. The U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card earn a base 2% cash back everywhere, but you’ll earn up to 4% everywhere based on your qualifying balances with U.S. Bank.
Welcome offer: The card does not currently have a new cardmember welcome offer. Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards:
- Base 2% cash back on every purchase.
- Earn a total of 2.5% cash back with qualifying deposit and investment balances of $5,000 to $49,999.
- Earn a total of 3% cash back with qualifying deposit and investment balances of $50,000 to $99,999.
- Earn a total of 4% cash back with qualifying deposit and investment balances of $100,000 or more.
All information about the U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card at a glance
Annual fee: $0
All information about the U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
The U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card is a new offering that promises up to 4% cash back for customers who hold over $100,000 of assets with U.S. Bank.
Sign-up bonus
U.S. Bank is not offering a sign-up bonus on the Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card at this time.
Rewards
Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase.
Up to an additional 2% cash back if you have a U.S. Bank Smartly® Savings account and hold a significant amount of deposits with U.S. Bank. Qualifying deposits include balances in U.S. Bank deposit, trust, and investment accounts.
- Earn a total of 2.5% with a qualifying balance between $5,000 and $49,999.
- Earn a total of 3% with a qualifying balance between $50,000 and $99,999.
- Earn a total of 4% with a qualifying balance of $100,000 or more.
Rewards are earned as points which must be redeemed as a credit into an eligible U.S. Bank deposit account if you want to get the full amount of cash back.
Benefits
The U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card does not advertise any significant benefits beyond its cash back.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Who it’s best for: Existing Altitude Reserve cardmembers who have the card and use mobile pay. The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card earns 3x rewards when you use your phone’s tap-to-pay feature with the card. And those 3x rewards can be redeemed for an effective 3% cash back or 4.5% travel rewards. Unfortunately, this card isn’t available to new cardmembers.
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is not open to new applications, but may be available via a product change if you have another U.S. Bank credit card.
Annual fee: $400.
Rewards:
- Get 3x at drugstores when you use Apple Pay®, Google Wallet, and Samsung Pay.
- 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.
- 3x points on mobile wallet spending with Apple Pay®, Google Wallet, and Samsung Pay.
- 3x points on eligible travel purchases.
- 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
Altitude Rewards points can be redeemed for cash back at 1 cent per point or used to book travel through the Altitude Rewards center at 1.5 cents per point. You can also redeem your points against travel purchases through Real Time Rewards at 1.5 cents per point.
All information about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card at a glance
Annual fee: $400
Foreign transaction fee: None.
All information about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® card offers some of the best rewards—equivalent to 3% cash back or 4.5% travel rewards—anywhere you can use mobile wallet to pay.
Sign-up bonus
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® card is no longer available to new cardmembers.
Rewards
- 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.
- 3x points on mobile wallet spending with Apple Pay®, Google Wallet, and Samsung Pay.
- 3x points on eligible travel purchases.
- 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as Altitude Rewards points.
Altitude Rewards points can be redeemed for cash back at 1 cent per point or used to book travel through the Altitude Rewards center at 1.5 cents per point. You can also redeem your points against travel purchases through Real Time Rewards at 1.5 cents per point.
Benefits
Consumer insurance benefits
- Extended warranty protection.
- Purchase security.
- Return protection.
- Personal identity theft protection.
Travel insurance benefits
- Auto rental collision damage waiver.
- Lost luggage reimbursement.
- Travel accident insurance.
- Emergency evacuation and transportation.
- Trip cancellation/interruption coverage.
- Trip delay reimbursement.
- Travel and emergency assistance services.
Travel benefits
- Airport lounge access. Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership with 8 free visits annually.
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit.
Partner benefits and statement credits
- $325 annual statement credit for eligible travel and dining purchases.
- Free Shipt membership until 12/31/24 with enrollment. After free membership expires, you are automatically enrolled in an annual Shipt membership at then-current prices until you cancel.
Our perspective: Cards we use at pharmacies and drugstores
While our best card lists are based on our methodology, the members of our team often sometimes have different perspectives.
Although I picked the Citi Custom Cash® Card as our editor’s pick for the best drugstore card, I use my Chase Freedom Flex® for spending at standalone pharmacies. Here’s why.
The Citi Custom Cash has so many other useful bonus categories that can be more profitable for me. Most months, I’m earning more by using the card at Home Depot (home improvement stores) or at my local grocery store, so I end up using my Freedom Flex instead for the occasional CVS or Walgreens purchase.
Why not the Chase Freedom Unlimited®? Well, I don’t actually carry that card—I use the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card as my “everywhere else” Ultimate Rewards® card. The Freedom Flex has all of the bonus categories of the Freedom Unlimited, but earns 1% on all other purchases, so I really only need the 1.5% cash back everywhere, which the Ink Unlimited offers. And the Ink Unlimited has a much bigger sign-up bonus.
Bottom line: Easily get at least 3% cash back at drugstores
If you frequently shop at drugstores and pharmacies, you can easily get 5% cash back with a no-annual-fee credit card. But even if your local CVS is only an occasional stop for you, you can get 3% cash back using a card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® that is broadly useful.
Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.
