The 7 Best Joint Credit Cards for Couples [July 2024]
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The Best “Joint” Credit Card Strategy for Couples
What is the appeal of a joint credit card? A shared ledger? Full transparency? The ability to enable a partner with lesser credit to access a credit line?
Today, joint credit cards, as we knew them, are mostly a thing of the past. Card issuers mostly stick to separate applications.
Rather than jointly apply for a single card, most couples use one of these two strategies:
- One person applies for a credit card and adds their partner as an authorized user
- Have each person apply for his/her own card (to maximize bonuses)
Both of these options have their merits, but the short of it is if you opt for #2, you will be eligible for twice as many bonuses (at the added cost of paying for twice as many annual fees).
On the other hand, if one person is struggling with their credit score, adding them as an authorized user to the other party’s card can (a) allow them to access the credit line and card benefits, such as cash-back, access to airport lounges etc and (b) help them rebuild their credit if the shared card account is used responsibly.
We generally recommend option #2 to maximize rewards.
Top Picks (Quick Summary)
Card | Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee | Benefits for Couples |
American Express® Gold Card  |
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The Platinum Card® from American Express  |
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Chase Sapphire Preferred®  |
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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card  |
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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express  |
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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card  |
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American Express® Gold Card (Best for Earning Travel Points at Restaurants & U.S. Supermarkets)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis 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.
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.
- 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
- $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
- No lounge access
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
- Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
- 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 each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $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 Dunkin' locations.
- $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 to use towards eligible charges, which may include food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Credit use varies by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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 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 (up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year)
- Earn 4x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year)
- Earn 3x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel
- Earn 1x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on all other purchases
On top of that, you will get up to $120 per year in dining statement credits upon enrollment at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.
Also, get up to $120 in Uber Cash every year ($10 per month) usable on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
The Amex Gold card gets you access to the American Express Hotel Collection, access to Amex Offers, and a complimentary ShopRunner membership upon enrollment.
This card has no foreign transaction fees and up to 5 additional cards for no annual fee (rates & fees).
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!
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Best for Airport Lounge Access, Premium Perks)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe 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.
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.
- The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, 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
- $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
- Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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.
You’ll hit a huge welcome bonus and earn 5x Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel.
Now, let’s get into the immense list of travel and lifestyle benefits:
- Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection – that’s 1,300+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass Lounge Access when enrolled, Delta Sky Club Lounges when flying Delta, 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 and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite 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 $200 prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, $189 in CLEAR credits, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, 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, and up to $240 in digital entertainment credits. These credits are available each year you’re a card member.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Best Travel Card for Sub-$100 Annual Fee)
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
- 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
- 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
- 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
- $95 annual fee
- No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- 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.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
- APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the best credit cards available and our favorite beginner rewards credit card.
Indeed, this card earns solid rewards, has fantastic benefits (like the new $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal), and is easy to understand!
To hit the ground running, the magnificent welcome bonus will turbocharge your points earned — you’ll also earn up to 5x points:
- Earn 5 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
- Earn 3 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
- Earn 2 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on all other travel worldwide
- Earn 1 Ultimate Rewards point per $1 everywhere else
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Best for Cash-Back at U.S. Supermarkets, U.S. Gas Stations & U.S. Streaming Services)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis 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.
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!
- 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.)
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee (rates and fees)
- 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.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%.
- 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.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Terms Apply.
- APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
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 — 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 rental car insurance, and return protection.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (Best For Priority Pass Lounges and Authorized User Benefits)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe 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 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.
- 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
- $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
- 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
- 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 booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- 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
- Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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 purchased through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
This credit card comes with an up to $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 the Partner Lounge Network, Hertz President’s Circle status*, a Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee credit, and no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).
If you add your significant other as an authorized user, that individual will get access to Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network, Hertz President’s Circle status, and more.
You’ll get terrific travel coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, baggage delay reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, and auto rental collision damage waiver.
Lastly, make use of the return protection, extended warranty protection, and cell phone insurance.
Final Thoughts
All in all, your focus should be to find the best all-around rewards credit card for your situation. Try to earn the most valuable points by following the points programs of Chase, Amex, and Citi.
Leverage your spending habits (and those of your partner) to rack up points using the right credit card. But if you’re looking for cash-back, there are options for you, 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 above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. 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.