The 7 Best Joint Credit Cards for Couples [September 2025]
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The Best Credit Card Strategy for Couples
Joint credit cards are largely obsolete, with issuers favoring individual applications. Couples typically choose between:
- Authorized User Strategy – One person applies for a card and adds their partner as an authorized user, which can help build credit and provide shared benefits.
- Separate Applications – Each person applies for their own card to double welcome bonus offers but incurs separate annual fees.
Option #2 is recommended for maximum rewards. However, if one partner has a weaker credit score, option #1 can help them rebuild credit while sharing perks.
Top Picks (Quick Summary)
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Card | Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee | Benefits for Couples |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express |
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American Express® Gold Card |
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Platinum Card® from American Express |
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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card |
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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Best for Cash-Back at U.S. Supermarkets, U.S. Gas Stations & U.S. Streaming Services)
HIGHEST CASH BACK

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
19.99%-28.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months
Why We Like This Card
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a stellar cash-back credit card for those looking to maximize every purchase they make.
With bonus categories like U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. streaming services, U.S. gas stations, and transit purchases, this card rewards you for the items you spend the most on in a big way! For those looking to earn up to 6% cash-back on their purchases, this could be the card for you!
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year)
- 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash-back on U.S. gas stations and transit (including rideshares, parking, etc.)
Cons
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee (rates and fees)
Card Highlights
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Low Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.99%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 19.99%-28.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Rewards Center
Redeem cash-back through your American Express account
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is American Express’s flagship cash back credit card. This credit card boasts some of the highest cash-back rewards in the business designed to help you save big on everyday expenses.To start off, this card earns you a solid welcome bonus offer — also, get up to 6% cash-back:
- 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (1% after that) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (includes taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more)
- 1% cash-back on other purchases
What you’ll notice is that this credit card offers amazing cash-back rewards for couples who generally spend most of their money on in-home entertainment (streaming), groceries for eating in (U.S. supermarkets), and commuting (U.S. gas stations and transit). So if you’re a big saver who primarily goes to work, cooks at home, and stays indoors, then this card is a massive boon for you.
In addition, this credit card gets you fraud protection, secondary car rental loss and damage insurance, and return protection.
American Express® Gold Card (Best for Earning Travel Points at Restaurants & U.S. Supermarkets)

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Up to $2,200
$325
See Pay Over Time APR
Why We Like This Card
The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
- 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
- 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
Cons
- $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
- No lounge access
Card Highlights
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
The Amex Gold card is our favorite card for couples due to its second-to-none points multipliers, an enticing welcome offer, and ongoing perks!
Even though the welcome bonus offer you can earn is extremely attractive and pays for many years’ worth of annual fees, the most alluring aspect of the Amex Gold card is the ability to earn big rewards from the bonus categories:
- Earn 4x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x)
- Earn 4x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x)
- Earn 3x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com
- Earn 1x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on all other purchases
In addition, upon enrollment at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys, you will receive up to $120 per year in dining statement credits (up to $10 per month).
Also, get up to $120 in Uber Cash every year (up to $10 per month) usable on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account; however, you can use any Amex card for the transaction.
The Amex Gold card gets you access to the American Express Hotel Collection and to Amex Offers (upon enrollment).
This card has no foreign transaction fees and up to 5 additional cards for no annual fee (rates & fees). Keep in mind that, unlike typical credit cards, the Amex Gold card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all.
Bottom Line: Whether you’re planning a date night, doing the weekly grocery shop or booking a flight, the Amex Gold card is one of our favorite cards for couples to use!
Platinum Card® from American Express (Best for Airport Lounge Access, Premium Perks)

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Up to $3,850
$895
See Pay Over Time APR
Why We Like This Card
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than the Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
- 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
- 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Cons
- $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
- Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Card Highlights
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
The Amex Platinum card is a legendary card, perhaps most associated with prestige and luxury travel. And that’s exactly what you’ll get with this card. Like the Amex Gold card, the Amex Platinum card also allows you to carry a balance for certain charges.
You’ll hit a huge welcome bonus offer and earn 5x Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com.
Now, let’s get into the immense list of travel and lifestyle benefits:
- Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection – that’s 1,550 airport lounges, including Priority Pass Lounge Access when enrolled, 10 visits a year to Delta Sky Club Lounges when flying Delta (plus the ability to unlock unlimited visits), select Virgin Clubhouses, Plaza Premium Lounges, plus the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges
- Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection
- Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, and Leaders Club Sterling status upon enrollment
- Avis Preferred Club, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Emerald Club Executive status
- Amex International Airline Program for flight deals
Statement credits include an up to $200 airline fee credit, up to $600 prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays (up to $300 semi-annually), $209 in CLEAR credits, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, up to $400 in Resy credits, up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits (2 credits of up to $50 semi-annually), up to $300 in Equinox credits, up to $200 in Uber Cash credit, up to $155 in Walmart+ credits, up to $300 in lululemon credits, up to $120 in Uber One credits, up to $200 in Oura Ring credits, and up to $300 in digital entertainment credits. These credits are available each year you’re a card member. Some of these require enrollment.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (Best For Priority Pass Lounges and Authorized User Benefits)

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
$1,350
$395
Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Why We Like This Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
- $395 annual fee
- Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Card Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Financial Snapshot
- APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
The Capital One Venture X card is Capital One’s premium rewards credit card, offering the ability to get cash-back rewards or luxury travel bookings depending on your preference!
Earn up to 10x Capital One miles per dollar spent in the following categories:
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
This credit card comes with a $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel, 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary every year, access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment, Hertz President’s Circle status*, an up to $120 Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee credit, and no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).
You’ll get terrific travel coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, and auto rental collision damage waiver.
Lastly, make use of the return protection, extended warranty protection, and cell phone protection.
Final Thoughts
All in all, your focus should be on finding the best rewards credit card for your situation. Follow Amex and Capital One’s point programs to earn the most valuable points.
Leverage your spending habits (and your partner’s) to rack up points using the right credit card. But if you’re looking for cash-back, there are options, too.
The next step is to go ahead and open that shiny new credit card you’ve been eyeing!
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
For the return protection benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.