4 Best Credit Cards for Couples

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When couples use credit cards strategically for a common goal, they can earn valuable rewards, such as extra cash or free flights and hotel stays, all without deviating from their normal spending routine. Couples who want to earn cash back or valuable travel rewards can work on these goals together by applying for separate cards or adding each other as authorized users on individual credit card accounts to earn double the rewards at double the rate.

Before developing a credit card strategy with your partner, make sure you both have a clear understanding of each other's spending habits, budgeting needs and other financial obligations. If you and your partner are on the same page with your credit card habits and goals, here are the best credit cards that can help couples maximize rewards and perks.

Credit Card	Welcome Offer	Rewards Rate	Annual Fee	Best For	Learn More
Citi Custom Cash® Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	$200Cash Bonus More Info Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.	1% - 5%Cashback More Info Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.	$0	5% Back in Eligible Spending Categories	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	$200Cash Bonus More Info Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.	2%Cashback More Info Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.	$0	No-Hassle Flat-Rate Rewards	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Apply Now	60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)	1x- 5xPoints More Info The card offers 5x points per dollar on Chase Travel℠, 3x points on dining (including eligible takeout and delivery services), as well as 3x points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). This card earns 2x points on all other travel spending and 1x point per dollar everywhere else. Chase broadly defines travel to include not just airfare, hotels and rental cars, but expenses like parking, tolls and public transit too.	$95	Travel Rewards	Apply Now
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply Now	1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.	1.5% - 5%Cashback More Info Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.	$0	Couples with Children	Apply Now

Citi Custom Cash® Card

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Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

  Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

The Citi Custom Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, has a novel approach to rewarding spending. It offers impressive cash back on purchases made in your top eligible spending category each month, up to a monthly spend cap—no activation required.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

If you want a card that doesn’t require constant category activation and monitoring to make sure you’re getting the highest cash back percentage, this is a great option. Whatever spending category that has the highest spend (up to $500) in one billing cycle gets 5% cash back. That’s up to $300 per year, and if you get the sign-up bonus you can get up to $500 in cash back your first year.

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Pros

• Relatively easy to maximize the 5% cash back reward and earn $300 per year
• No annual fee
• The cash back comes in the form of Citi ThankYou points, which can be redeemed for things like travel

Cons

• 5% cash back tier is capped at $25 in earnings per month

Best for: Households that want to access 5% back in multiple spending categories.

Rewards: 

• 5% cash back on the top spending category each billing cycle, up to $500
  • Eligible categories include: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases

Why We Like It:

The Citi Custom Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, generously rewards 5% back—up to $500 spent each billing cycle—on your top eligible spending category, and 1% back on all other purchases. There are no rotating categories or activation required because you can simply adjust your spending in any of the categories. The 5% bonus categories are also quite broad and practical for most households, making it a great choice for those with fixed category expenses or even those who want flexibility on their bonus category throughout the year. Even though this is a cash-back card, the Citi Custom Cash Card earns ThankYou Points.

My spouse and I opened separate accounts, which was a strategic move to access 5% back in two separate eligible categories for our household spending. We use my Citi Custom Cash Card for groceries and hers to fuel up at gas stations. Additionally, with two new credit cards, we each received a nice sign-up bonus.

My wife generally pools the ThankYou Points earned from her Citi Custom Cash Card with her Citi Double Cash® Card, which earns a flat 2% back on all eligible purchases. Plus, if you or your partner have the Citi Premier® Card, you can combine your points and transfer them to a variety of domestic and international airline frequent flyer programs and hotel loyalty programs. This is a great way to access travel partners, as neither the Citi Custom Cash nor the Citi Double Cash allow it.

Related Article

The Best 5% Back Credit Cards

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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Welcome Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

  Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

If you’re a fan of earning cash rewards for your everyday spending, you need a credit card that rewards you for purchases outside of popular bonus categories like travel, grocery stores and gas stations. With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (Rates and Fees), you earn 2% back for every dollar spent without the fuss of tracking specific bonus categories.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

While many rewards credit cards tempt you with bonus rewards for specific purchases, these cards invariably offer a mere 1% rewards rate on the vast majority of charges that don’t qualify for a bonus. And with many of these cards, the amount of purchases that are eligible for your bonus is capped, restricting the overall potential value.

But with the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card, you simply receive a high level of cash rewards on purchases. There’s no need to register for anything, and there are no limits on the amount of cash rewards you can earn.

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Pros

• Earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every single purchase
• No annual fee
• Automatic cellphone protection when you pay your monthly bill with the card

Cons

• Points don't transfer to travel partners unlike other card currencies
• No bonus earning categories

Best for: Couples looking for no-fuss, flat-rate rewards on everyday purchases.

Rewards: 

• Unlimited 2% cash rewards on every purchase (no activation or categories to track)

Why We Like It:

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is ideal for straightforward, unlimited 2% cash rewards on all eligible purchases. This simplicity makes it the perfect card for couples who prefer a no-fuss approach to cash rewards. It also includes a 0% intro APR for 15 months on new purchases and qualifying balance transfers (a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% (Variable) APR applies afterward), which can be handy for big-ticket home improvement purchases like a new washer and dryer.

Years ago, my wife and I opened this joint credit card account as new Wells Fargo customers, enticed by the attractive welcome offer. We've kept it over the years, not just because there's no annual fee but also for its practical benefits, including up to $600 in cell phone protection on eligible damage or theft. This benefit has helped us cover the cost of screen replacements for our family phones on more than one occasion.

Overall, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has been our go-to card for handling non-bonus category and miscellaneous expenses. Its flat rewards rate means we don't have to juggle categories or remember specific rules.

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

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Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR21.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$95
• Sign Up Bonus 60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. It has a generous sign-up bonus and you can earn points on travel and dining expenses. The card does have an annual fee, but you can continue earning points through bonus categories and an anniversary points boost.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is pretty flexible as it lets you transfer rewards points into miles or points several airlines and hotel programs. You can take advantage of strong transfer partners such as United, Southwest, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Hyatt. Similarly, you can book any reservation you want through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Although the card might not be ideal for the most frequent travelers, it has a built-in upgrade path, so when it’s time to level up your travel rewards game, you won’t have to start from scratch.

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Pros

• Points are easily transferable to airlines and hotel partners
• Accelerated earnings on dining, travel & household purchases
• Excellent travel and purchase protections
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Not ideal for the highest spenders
• $95 annual fee

Best for: Spouses who love traveling together (and pooling rewards).

Rewards: 

• 5x points per dollar on Chase travel
• 3x points on dining, including eligible takeout and delivery services
• 3x points on select streaming services
• 3x points on online grocery purchases, excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs
• 2x points per dollar spent on other travel purchases
• 1x point per dollar on all other spending

Why We Like It:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a standout card for couples with shared travel goals. In addition to the substantial sign-up bonus, the card includes a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, travel and purchase protections, as well as access to a long list of airline and hotel transfer partners. This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which is considered to be among the best travel rewards programs today.

Adopting the "two-player model," my wife and I each applied for our own Chase Sapphire Preferred cards. Keeping our credit card accounts separate was a strategic decision that allowed us to double our sign-up bonuses and receive two annual hotel credits each year. Although my wife downgraded to the Chase Freedom Flex℠ after a year, we can transfer cash back from the Freedom Flex to the Sapphire Preferred, where points are 25% more valuable when redeemed for Chase travel.

We're generally budget travelers, but couples who prefer more luxurious travel experiences can consider premium travel credit cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Platinum Card by American Express (enrollment is required for select benefits and terms apply). These popular options offer high-end perks like complimentary airport lounge access, tons of annual credits and other premium benefits.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR20.49% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign Up Bonus 1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info

  Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

We like that the card offers a high flat rewards rate but also provides accelerated rewards on some common everyday spending categories. You’ll also get access to the Chase Travel portal, which allows you to use your cash-back earnings for travel rewards, gift cards and more. If you make this your primary card for most purchases you can quickly rack up a lot of rewards.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is unique for a couple of reasons. First, it comes with purchase protection and extended warranty protection you don’t see with some other cash-back cards. Second, you earn cash back in the form of points (Chase Ultimate Rewards) and when paired with another annual-fee earning Chase product, you can get even more value if you love to travel by transferring to partners.

That’s because while the Freedom cards are marketed as cash-back credit cards, they actually offer points. You can use those points to book travel through Chase at a rate of 1 cent per point. But if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll get 25% and 50% more value on those travel redemptions, respectively. (Plus, the ability to transfer your points, too.)

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Pros

• No category bonuses to remember; earn at least 1.5% back on everything
• No annual fee
• Generous travel and purchase protection benefits

Cons

• Can't transfer Chase points unless paired with another annual-fee Chase product

Best for: Parents and everyday spending with kids.

Rewards: 

• 5% cash back on Chase Travel℠
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Why We Like It:

Couples with kids will appreciate the Chase Freedom Unlimited®'s high earning rates on dining, drugstore purchases and overall everyday spending. The generous rewards rate on travel also makes this an easy go-to card for family vacations.

If a couple spends $1,500 on travel, for example, they will earn $75 cash back or 7,500 points (when transferring cash back to an Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve^®). 

The card also comes with a 15-month introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers (after which the card's regular APR of 20.49% - 29.24% (Variable) applies), which might be handy for couples who need some wiggle room when making a significant purchase (like back-to-school shopping) or require help paying off credit card debt.

Tips for Using Credit Cards as a Couple

Here are some tips for managing a joint credit card:

• Make a spending plan before applying. Talk to your spouse about your budget, what type of charges you’re both comfortable making on the card, if you have spending limits, and so on. This can help cut down on confusion, overspending, missed payments and other frustrations.       
• Know who will pay the bill and when. The primary account holder is ultimately responsible for paying the bill, regardless of who racks up the charges. But knowing who is going to log in and pay the bill, set up autopay or otherwise manage the account can lessen confusion.
• Understand the credit impact. In most cases, both people’s credit can be affected by a joint card. This can be great if you pay all the bills on time, because that can help one or both of you improve your credit score. But keep in mind that missed payments could also lower your scores.
• Decide who should apply: If you and your spouse want to apply for a new card, you may want to have the person with the higher credit score apply because that typically improves your approval odds. But also review how many cards you both already have and when you last applied for credit so you can decide who should apply.

Pros and Cons of Having a Joint Credit Card

Pros of Having a Joint Credit Card

• Can improve credit: A joint credit card can improve both users’ credit as long as you regularly pay your bill in full and on time. Make sure you’re both only spending what you can afford to pay back each month and keep an eye on your card’s credit limit.
• Can earn more rewards: Having two people spending on a card can mean you’ll earn twice as many rewards, which can add up fast as long as you use a card with a rewards program that matches your spending habits.
• Helps you share expenses: A joint card makes sense for people who already share costs, and this way you can use one account to pay for communal things like groceries, monthly bills and gas. It also gives you both more transparency as you can check in on the card’s charges to make sure you’re not going over budget.
• Fewer bills to manage: A shared card means one less account to log in to and one less bill to find and pay each month, which can streamline some of your financial tasks and help you save time.

Cons of Having a Joint Credit Card

• Primary account holder is financially responsible: If your joint account is actually a credit card with an authorized user added, know that the primary cardholder is ultimately responsible for paying the bill, regardless of who uses the card. Communicate how you both intend to use the card so you aren’t surprised by a bill you can’t afford.
• Could lower either party’s credit if bills aren’t paid on time: If you end up struggling to cover the bill on your joint account because charges pop up from your spouse you weren’t expecting, both people could find their credit scores decrease. 
• Could max out credit limit without realizing it: It’s also possible to accidentally go over your credit limit if you don’t check your statement regularly or ask your spouse how much they’ve charged, especially if your limit is on the lower end.

Recommended Cash-Back Credit Cards

Credit Card	Rewards Rate	Intro Bonus	Annual Fee	Learn More
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply Now	1.5% - 5%Cashback More Info Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.	1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.	$0	Apply Now
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	2%Cashback More Info Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.	$200Cash Bonus More Info Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.	$0	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Citi Double Cash® Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	2%Cashback More Info Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.	$200Cash Bonus More Info Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.	$0	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply Now	1% - 5%Cashback More Info Earn 5% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. It also offers you 2% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.	$750Cash Bonus More Info Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening	$0	Apply Now

Should Couples Share a Credit Card?

Couples may want to share a credit card if they want to have some of their spending together on one card for easier tracking and bill pay. Sharing a credit card with your spouse can also help you earn more rewards you can use together, whether it’s toward airfare for a family vacation or just cash back for future grocery shopping. And if one person’s credit needs a boost, adding them as an authorized user can help their score increase as long as you pay the bills in full and on time.

Keep in mind that sharing a credit card may not work for people who prefer to keep their expenses separate or aren’t on the same page as their spouse about spending and bill pay—because it could be easy to accidentally go over the card’s spending limit or miss a bill due date.

FAQs

• Does a joint credit card build credit for both users?

  Yes, in most cases a joint credit card can build credit for both users, though some issuers don’t report card activity for the authorized user. Typically, if the card’s bill is regularly paid on time and in full, the card can increase credit scores for the primary cardholder and any associated authorized users. However, late and missed payments can ultimately decrease credit scores for users, too.

• How many credit cards should a couple have?

  A couple should have as many credit cards as they can reasonably keep track of, especially when it comes to managing spending and paying the card bills. Consider factors like whether a card has an annual fee you can offset with rewards and perks, as well as how much having multiple cards could tempt you to overspend or forget to pay the bills on time. As long as you are tracking your spending and payments, having more than one card could help you maximize rewards and take advantage of other credit card perks.

• Can an unmarried couple get a credit card together?

  Yes, an unmarried couple can get a credit card together by having one person add the other as an authorized user. You can add anyone as an authorized user, but make sure they are someone you trust because the primary cardholder is ultimately responsible for the bill, and unpaid charges will affect your credit, even if they are from the authorized user.