Best Credit Cards for Couples of December 2024
Updated: Dec 10, 2024
+ 2 more+ 2 more
Whether couples share finances or keep them separate, some credit cards are ideal for twosomes — those who like to travel together, just stay home or anything in between. Most popular credit cards don’t offer joint accounts anymore. (More on that below.) But couples can use a two-player strategy with their cards by making each other authorized users.
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NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Whether couples share finances or keep them separate, some credit cards are ideal for twosomes — those who like to travel together, just stay home or anything in between. Most popular credit cards don’t offer joint accounts anymore. (More on that below.) But couples can use a two-player strategy with their cards by making each other authorized users.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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Whether couples share finances or keep them separate, some credit cards are ideal for twosomes — those who like to travel together, just stay home or anything in between. Most popular credit cards don’t offer joint accounts anymore. (More on that below.) But couples can use a two-player strategy with their cards by making each other authorized users.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Whether couples share finances or keep them separate, some credit cards are ideal for twosomes — those who like to travel together, just stay home or anything in between. Most popular credit cards don’t offer joint accounts anymore. (More on that below.) But couples can use a two-player strategy with their cards by making each other authorized users.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best Credit Cards for Couples of December 2024
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for Everyday spending
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for Homebodies
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Socializers
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for Parents
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Traveling couples
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best for Travel companion benefits
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for Home improvement
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card: Best for Tackling debt
Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card: Best for Renters
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card: Best for Big shoppers
Show SummaryHide Summary
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Everyday spending
Homebodies
Traveling couples
Big shoppers
Home improvement
Parents
Tackling debt
Travel companion benefits
Socializers
Renters
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR COUPLES
Confirm details on issuer's website when applying.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Our pick for: Everyday spending
Among flat-rate cash-back cards, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases, which is excellent. But in addition, the card offers a rich sign-up bonus and a decent intro APR period on both purchases and balance transfers. That's an impressive, hard-to-find combination of features on a card with a $0 annual fee. Read our review.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Homebodies
If your household spends a lot on groceries, gas, transit and streaming, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is for you. The rewards it pays in those categories — particularly at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions — are among the richest of any card. There's a nice welcome offer for new cardholders and an introductory APR period, too. The generous benefits come at a cost, though: Unlike most cash-back cards, this one charges an annual fee. Terms apply. Read our review.
Honorable mention: The Prime Visa is great for couples who share an Amazon Prime account. It offers 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership, 2% back at restaurants and gas stations, plus local transit and commuting costs, including rideshare. All other purchases earn 1% back. It carries an annual fee of $0, but requires a paid Amazon Prime membership. Set it and forget it as your payment method on Amazon.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Socializers
Some credit cards reward you well for going out, others for staying in. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the rare card that does both. It offers a terrific cash-back rate not only on dining and entertainment but also at grocery stores and on popular streaming services. Toss in a good bonus offer and intro APR period, and this card is a winner. (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Honorable mention: If your idea of socializing often involves double-dating at a dinner out, also consider the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card. It offers similar rewards.
Chase Freedom Flex®
Our pick for: Parents
The Chase Freedom Flex® offers bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate, as well as on travel booked through Chase, at restaurants and at drugstores. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending matches the categories — and for a lot of people, it will — you can rack up hundreds of dollars a year. There's a fantastic bonus offer for new cardholders and an intro APR offer, too. Read our review.
Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex® bonus rewards categories for 2024 | |
|---|---|
Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31) |
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Q2 (April 1-June 30) |
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Q3 (July 1-Sept. 30) |
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Q4 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31) |
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*Includes bookings made directly with the hotel and prepaid bookings through Chase's travel portal. | |
Honorable mention: If you really want to optimize, one partner can also get the Discover it® Cash Back. It also earns 5% back on up to $1,500 in spending on rotating quarterly categories (activation required; 1% back on all other purchases). Bonus categories historically have included restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and more. With the two cards together, you’ll have more 5% categories each quarter.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: Traveling couples
For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review.
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
Our pick for: Big shoppers
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card is tailor-made for consumers who spend a lot of money at retailers that don't fit into (or are specifically excluded from) the bonus categories offered by other credit cards. The card also offers a higher-than-usual rate on spending outside its bonus categories. The downside: There's an annual fee. Read our review.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Our pick for: Travel companion benefits
Every airline has a premium card that gets you into its airport lounges, but the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card also gets you into American Express's Centurion Lounges when flying Delta, and it comes with an annual companion certificate that's good even in first class. Read our review.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Our pick for: Home improvement
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card gives you a little more control over your credit card rewards by letting you choose which category earns the highest cash-back rate, from a list that includes gas stations, restaurants, travel, home improvement and more. You also get bonus rewards at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, plus a great new-cardholder bonus offer. Read our review.
Honorable mention: The Citi Custom Cash® Card can earn 5% cash back on up to $500 spent in your highest spending category for the billing cycle — and "home-improvement stores" is an eligible category. The $500 monthly cap makes this card better for lower-cost, and perhaps more frequent, home-improvement projects.
Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card
Our pick for: Renters
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out by offering credit card rewards on rent payments without incurring an additional transaction fee. The ability to earn rewards on what for many people is their single biggest monthly expense makes this card worth a look for any renter. You also get bonus points on dining and travel when you make at least five transactions on the card each statement period, and redemption options include point transfers to partner hotel and loyalty programs. Read our review.
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Our pick for: Tackling debt
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has one of the longest intro APR periods on the market — approaching almost two years. You'll be hard-pressed to find a longer interest-free promotion, and it applies to both purchases and balance transfers. Read our review.
• • •
What about joint credit card accounts?
Joint credit card accounts aren’t offered widely anymore. Issuers prefer to approve credit cards for individuals, largely based on their personal credit history (although, sometimes partially based on joint income.)
So now, the common strategy to optimize credit cards is for each partner to get complementary cards as primary users, then add the other as an authorized user. That way, each person can use the best card for earning points or taking advantage of perks. It works best when both partners have excellent credit. And to optimize, it works best when both partners agree to use the right card for certain purchases. Learn more about the two-player strategy.
A notable exception is the Apple Card, which allows "co-owners" who equally share the responsibility of paying bills.
• • •
NerdWallet's Gregory Karp contributed to this article.
Last updated on December 10, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
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