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For partners who want to merge finances or earn rewards together, the best credit cards for couples are a great place to start. You and your spouse could share a credit card account, with one of you as the primary cardholder and the other an authorized user. Or you could open the same card separately. No matter which option you choose, you'll find plenty of value from any of the credit cards on our list.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Great for: Grocery and gas spending
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months
Regular APR
19.24%-29.99% Variable
Rewards 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. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
1%-6% Cash Back
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Welcome Offer Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$250
This card offers market-leading cash back at U.S. Supermarkets. The welcome bonus and intro APR offer just sweeten the deal. Terms apply. If you spend a lot on groceries (excluding wholesale clubs and super-stores like Costco and Walmart), this card is worth considering. Read Full Review
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Great for: Big travel rewards bonuses
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards 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.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
75,000 bonus points
The enormous welcome bonus (worth over $900), bonus points for travel and dining, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the $95 annual fee. What really stands out are the rare travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. It’s one of the only low annual fee cards we’ve seen offer those protections. Read Full Review
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Dining and entertainment cash back for no annual fee
On Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months (Balance Transfer Fee Applies)
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
1%-10% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
$200 Cash Back
Dining and grocery spending will earn premium rewards, but that's not the only showstopper. The sign-up bonus, no annual fee, and a 0% intro APR offer can add a ton of value. Read Full Review
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Dining and entertainment cash back
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.24%, variable
Rewards Earn 10% cash back on purchases on Uber and Uber Eats, plus get your Uber One monthly membership fee covered through through Nov. 14, 2024. Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and for popular streaming services, earn 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.
1% - 10% cash back
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
$300
Unlimited bonus scash back on dining and entertainment makes this the ideal option for spending nights out on the town. Pair that with the big sign-up bonus and bonus back at grocery stores and you’ve got the ingredients for a top-rated rewards card.
Great for: Competitive cash rewards everywhere
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
2% cash rewards
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
$200 cash rewards
This card’s unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases is the highest we’ve seen for a flat-rate rewards card with no annual fee. It also has an incredibly easy-to-earn $200 welcome bonus and a generous intro APR offer. We simply haven’t come across this combination of top perks in one card before. Read Full Review
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Premium benefits for frequent travelers
On Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
2X-10X miles
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer 75000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
Our favorite premium travel card. Yes, there’s a premium annual fee here, but you get what you might expect from a luxury card, like up to 10X miles on spending through Capital One Travel, a $300 travel credit, experience credits, and a huge welcome bonus. Read Full Review
Great for: Rotating bonus categories
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
20.49%-29.24% Variable
Rewards 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
5% cash back offer
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
$200 bonus
This Chase card is one of our favorites, and with good reason. You earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, alongside other standout perks (and at least 1% on all purchases). Plus, this one comes without an annual fee and with a generous welcome bonus. Read Full Review
There are three options for couples who want the same credit card:
All three work differently, and they each have their pros and cons. Here's a closer look at your options, so you can choose the right one for you.
In this method, one person is the primary cardholder. They add their partner as an authorized user, meaning the partner receives their own card tied to the same account. Both of them can make charges using their cards, but the primary cardholder is responsible for paying the bill.
Here's what you should know about adding a partner (or anyone else) as an authorized user to your credit card:
LEARN MORE: How to Add Authorized Users on Credit Cards
Another option is for both partners to get the same credit card on their own. This keeps finances separate, and it's a popular choice for couples who want to maximize credit card rewards.
Here's why:
Keep in mind that each partner will need a high enough credit score to qualify for the card on their own. Also, if the card has an annual fee, you'll both need to pay it. That will likely cost more than the card's authorized user fee.
Each partner will also need sufficient income to qualify for the card, but you're allowed to use total household income on a credit card application. So even if one partner has a much lower income than the other, you could both qualify by using household income.
Pro tip: If you already have a rewards card, see if you can send your partner a referral link for it. They can open the card and earn the welcome offer, and you'll also earn bonus rewards in the process.
A joint credit card account is when two people apply for a credit card together. Both cardholders receive their own cards and are fully responsible for the account.
Joint credit card accounts have become much harder to open in recent years. Most of the major credit card companies don't offer them anymore. If you're looking for an easy option, you're likely better off going the authorized user route.
If you and your partner really want a joint account for your credit card, you'll need to contact different card issuers to see which ones allow it. Try smaller banks and credit unions first, since they're more likely to have this option available. One of the most popular options that allows joint accounts is the Apple Card, so that may be worth checking out.
Pretty much any credit card can work for couples, so you have a lot of options. Here are a few quick tips that can help you narrow down the list as you decide on the best credit cards for couples.
Cash back credit cards earn cash rewards. For example, if you have a card that earns 2% back on purchases, then you'd earn $20 back on every $1,000 in purchases. Some cards earn the same rate everywhere, and others have bonus categories where they earn extra.
These are a good choice if you and your partner are looking for an easy way to save money or invest more. All you both need to do is pay with your cash back card. You can usually redeem what you earn as a statement credit on your credit card bill, a direct deposit to your bank account, or as a check in the mail.
Start saving: Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Travel rewards cards earn points or miles you can use to pay for travel purchases. They often have other valuable travel perks, too, such as airport lounge access and elite status at hotels.
The way you can use your travel rewards will depend on the card, so make sure to learn about this before you apply. While travel cards can be more complicated than cash back cards, they can help you save big on travel. My wife and I save $5,000 or more every year thanks to our travel cards.
Get ready for your next trip: Best Travel Credit Cards
Credit cards may have an annual fee and an authorized user fee. If one partner is going to be an authorized user, then you'll pay one annual fee and one authorized user fee. If you're getting the same card separately, then you'll pay two annual fees.
You don't need to pay either of these fees to have a credit card. There are no annual fee credit cards, and these allow you to add an authorized user free of charge.
Cards with annual fees typically offer more perks, which can make them a better deal for some consumers. If you and your partner have high spending or will use a card's benefits often, then that could make an annual fee worth it.
Other credit card fees to consider are:
You have too many credit cards if you're not able to manage all of them or if you're not getting your money's worth on their fees. That rule applies for all consumers, including couples who have credit cards together.
Now, the right number of credit cards is different for everyone. Some couples are better off with one, or at most two, credit cards. Rewards enthusiasts, on the other hand, may successfully manage three, four, or even more cards and get their money's worth from all of them.
There are advantages to combining multiple top credit cards. You can collect more welcome offers, have more card benefits, and earn bonus points in more categories.
The drawback is that it's more complicated. You have more payments to manage, potentially more annual fees, and you need to remember which rewards credit card earns the most bonus points on each type of purchase. That's not always easy, especially if one partner is more interested in credit card rewards than the other.
The best approach is to err on the side of caution. If you want to use multiple credit cards, don't open them all at once. Add them gradually, and make sure both you and your partner are comfortable with your credit card setup.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Grocery and gas spending |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Big travel rewards bonuses |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Dining and entertainment cash back for no annual fee |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Dining and entertainment cash back |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Competitive cash rewards everywhere |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Premium benefits for frequent travelers |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Rotating bonus categories |
Adding a spouse as an authorized user can help their credit. Many, but not all, credit card issuers report card activity on the authorized user's credit history. If there's positive activity on the card, with the most important being on-time payments, that can raise the authorized user's credit score.
Yes, you can get a joint credit card if you're an unmarried couple. Although most credit card companies don't offer joint credit cards anymore, those that do will usually let any two people apply for a card together.
A more common way to get a credit card together is for one person to be the primary cardholder and to add their partner as an authorized user. This is also an option for unmarried couples, as there's no requirement that you must be married to be an authorized user on a credit card.
You may want to consider sharing a credit card with your partner if you two would like to combine or partially combine your finances. Whether it's a good idea depends on how serious the relationship is and the trust you have in each other financially. When you share a credit card with your partner, you're giving them the authority to make purchases with it.
If you do want to share a credit card with your partner, the best option is to add them as an authorized user. They will receive a credit card in their own name tied to your account that they can use for purchases.
Our Credit Cards Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
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