Credit cards with the greatest value for authorized users

Editor’s notice: This can be a recurring put up, recurrently up to date with new data.

There are lots of benefits to including an authorized user to a bank card account. For one, it could actually assist the first cardholder hit sure spending necessities and earn rewards a lot quicker. In flip, licensed customers can profit from the first cardholder’s credit score rating and size of credit score historical past in lots of situations, thus enhancing their very own credit score scores.

Sure bank cards additionally prolong some advantages to extra cardholders, corresponding to lounge access and assertion credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck functions.

Listed below are some causes you may wish to contemplate including different cardholders to your accounts, the best rewards cards for doing so and the perks given to those licensed customers.

An authorized user is somebody who’s allowed to make use of your bank card. The particular person is issued their very own bodily card, but it surely’s linked to your bank card account. Many playing cards enable licensed customers to reap the benefits of a few of the advantages supplied to the first cardholders.

Contemplating that licensed consumer charges are sometimes inexpensive than annual charges for main (primary) account holders, including relations or spouses as licensed customers in your account is a strategy to share a few of the benefits of a card with out shelling out one other annual charge.

Associated: Points of View: Should my partner get their own card or be added as an authorized user?

Adding your child as an authorized user additionally may help them begin to construct credit score historical past. Word that every financial institution has its personal policy on minimum age requirements.

The Capital One Venture X shook up the premium rewards bank card market with a a lot decrease $395 annual charge — whereas nonetheless providing luxurious advantages akin to these of costlier playing cards. What’s additionally groundbreaking about this card is the flexibility so as to add as much as 4 licensed customers for no value and the perks that licensed customers are entitled to.

Main cardholder advantages

The first account holder can take pleasure in the next perks:

For extra particulars, try our full review of the Venture X card.

Licensed consumer advantages

Licensed customers acquire entry to Capital One lounges when displaying their card and may carry as much as two complimentary visitors and acquire their very own Precedence Go Choose membership for entry to 1,300-plus lounges worldwide — together with all accompanying visitors. Moreover, Hertz’s partnership with Capital One permits the licensed consumer to obtain complimentary Hertz President’s Circle elite standing.

Final however not least, your licensed consumer will obtain essential journey and buy protections when paying with their card, together with trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, cellphone protection, primary rental car insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty and return protection.

Cardholder charges

The Enterprise X has an annual charge of $395. There isn’t any charge so as to add as much as 4 licensed customers on the account.

Associated: Why you should add authorized users on the Capital One Venture X

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Though main cardholders can count on loads of perks, licensed customers can solely depend on a couple of in their very own proper.

Main cardholder advantages

The first account holder can obtain the next:

For extra particulars, try our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Licensed consumer advantages

Licensed customers obtain their very own Priority Pass Select membership, which affords entry to airport lounges and restaurants at select airports. They don’t seem to be eligible for the annual journey credit score or their very own reimbursement for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus. These advantages are shared with the first account holder.

The one accomplice profit that licensed customers will at the moment take pleasure in is a minimum of 12 months of DoorDash DashPass at no cost deliveries of $12 or larger. The final day to activate this profit is Dec. 31, 2024.

Cardholder charges

The annual charge for the first account is $550. Extra playing cards value $75 every per yr.

Associated: How to maximize earning with the Chase Sapphire Reserve

One of many prime all-around premium rewards cards obtainable affords complete perks for the first cardmember and a few nice licensed consumer advantages.

Main cardholder advantages

The first cardmember can obtain the next advantages:

• Welcome provide of 80,000 Membership Rewards Factors after you spend $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Some candidates may be eligible for a targeted offer by way of CardMatch of 125,000 factors or 150,000 factors after making $6,000 in purchases within the first six months (the focused provide is topic to alter anytime).
• Earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on flights booked instantly with airways or with Amex Travel (capped at $500,000 of those purchases yearly, then 1 level per greenback) and prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel and thru Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, together with advantages corresponding to room upgrades and on-property credits.
• As much as $300 in Equinox statement credits per year.*
• As much as $189 in Clear statement credits annually to reimburse your membership charge.
• As much as $200 in prepaid hotel credits for pay as you go bookings with Superb Motels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection. Word that Resort Assortment bookings require a minimal keep of two nights.
• As much as $240 in digital entertainment credits annually, obtainable as as much as $20 per 30 days. This is applicable to eligible purchases with the Platinum Card at your selection of a number of of the next suppliers: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, the Disney Bundle, New York Instances, Sirius XM, Audible and Peacock.*
• As much as $200 in airline fee statement credits every calendar yr for incidental charges charged by the airline you choose for things like checked baggage or seating assignments.*
• As much as $200 in Uber Cash to make use of for rides or Uber Eats orders within the U.S. annually, obtainable as $15 per 30 days and $35 in December. Add your card as a cost technique in your Uber account to obtain this profit.
• As much as $100 refunded within the type of a press release credit score for a Global Entry software charge as soon as each 4 years or as much as $85 refunded for one TSA PreCheck software charge as soon as each 4.5 years.
• As much as $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits annually, obtainable as as much as $50 for purchases from January to June and one other $50 from July to December.*
• As much as $300 in an annual SoulCycle statement credit towards an at-home SoulCycle bike, obtainable on as much as 15 bikes per calendar yr.*
• As much as $155 in annual Walmart+ membership credits to reimburse your month-to-month membership charge. Plus Ups are excluded.*
• Entry to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, together with Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta on same-day flights.
• Cardmembers can enroll for complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.*
• Register for complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred Club and National Car Rental Emerald Membership Government memberships.*
• No international transaction charges (see rates and fees).

* Enrollment is required for choose advantages.

Do not forget that Delta SkyClub entry doesn’t enable any complimentary visitors. Additionally, beginning Feb. 1, 2023, you will want to fulfill the annual spending threshold of $75,000 to bring complimentary guests into the Centurion Lounge.

For extra particulars, try our full review of the Amex Platinum Card.

Licensed consumer advantages

First, the unhealthy information. Licensed customers on Platinum Card accounts don’t get their very own airline, Saks or Uber credit, though their spending will rely towards the airline and Saks credit for the first cardholder. They gained’t obtain their very own Uber Money, both. Nevertheless, their playing cards nonetheless earn the bonuses on airline and lodge purchases for the first cardholder and have entry to reserving by way of Fine Hotels + Resorts, together with all of the extra benefits that conveys.

Extra importantly, licensed customers are entitled to their very own World Entry or TSA PreCheck software reimbursement, can register for lodge and rental automobile elite standing and get entry to the American Express Global Lounge Collection with the identical entry privileges as the first cardmember.

Associated: Amex to start charging $50 for most Centurion Lounge guests, $30 for children

Cardholder charges

You’ll be able to obtain as much as three extra playing cards for $175 whole, then the cost is $175 per card after that (see rates and fees). You can also add complimentary Amex Gold cards to your account, that are totally different from the American Express® Gold Card. The complimentary Gold card earns 5 factors per greenback on flights booked by way of Amex Journey or instantly with airways (on as much as $500,000 of those purchases per yr, then 1 level per greenback) and on pay as you go accommodations on Amex Travel and 1 level per greenback on all different spending. Every extra card is eligible for one assertion credit score towards the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee (as much as $100), which is accessible each 4 years for World Entry or each 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck. Incidental air journey charges charged by each extra Platinum and complimentary Gold cardmembers with the first cardmember’s chosen airline rely towards the first cardmember’s up-to-$200 annual assertion credit. These playing cards can also obtain Amex Offers.

Nevertheless, these complimentary Gold cardholders are usually not eligible for Precedence Go Choose membership or entry to Centurion Lounges. Additionally, they don’t qualify for different perks corresponding to annual Uber Money and elite standing at sure accommodations and rental automobile businesses. Licensed customers with a Platinum card do have entry to most of those advantages however to not the month-to-month Uber Money profit.

Cardmembers nonetheless could desire the free model because the common American Express Gold Card comes with a $250 annual charge (see rates and fees).

Associated: How to maximize your earning with the Amex Platinum

Like the non-public Platinum card, the Amex Business Platinum affords some excellent perks to main cardmembers and licensed customers, together with some the non-public model doesn’t embody.

Main cardholder advantages

Main cardmembers can obtain the next advantages:

• New cardmembers can earn 120,000 Membership Rewards factors after they spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Enterprise Platinum Card throughout the first three months of card membership.
• Earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on flights and pay as you go lodge bookings by way of Amex Travel.
• Earn 1.5 factors per greenback on purchases of $5,000 or extra or on U.S. purchases from the next varieties of retailers: building materials and {hardware} suppliers, digital items retailers and software program and cloud system suppliers and transport suppliers — on as much as $2 million of those purchases per yr, then 1 level per greenback.
• Get 35% of your points back when redeeming them as Pay with Factors by way of amextravel.com for business- or first-class tickets from any airline or for any class of journey out of your preselected most well-liked airline. There’s a most of 1 million factors again every calendar yr.
• Entry to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection.
• As much as $100 refunded within the type of a press release credit score for a Global Entry software charge as soon as each 4 years or as much as $85 refunded for one TSA PreCheck software charge as soon as each 4.5 years.
• As much as $400 per calendar yr in assertion credit toward U.S. Dell purchases, obtainable as as much as $200 semiannually.
• As much as $360 in assertion credit for Certainly purchases, obtainable as as much as $90 in credit every quarter.*
• As much as $189 in annual Clear membership statement credit to reimburse your membership prices.*
• As much as $150 in assertion credit for choose Adobe purchases annually.*
• As much as $120 in U.S. wi-fi phone providers assertion credit score (distributed in $10 increments every month).*
• Entry to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, together with Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace and Escape lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta on a same-day flight.*
• Cardmembers can enroll for complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.*
• Register for complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Most popular Membership and Nationwide Automobile Rental Emerald Membership Government memberships.*
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

* Enrollment is required for choose advantages.

Do not forget that Delta SkyClub entry doesn’t enable any complimentary visitors. Additionally, beginning Feb. 1, 2023, you will want to fulfill the annual spending threshold of $75,000 to bring complimentary guests into the Centurion Lounge.

For extra particulars, try our full review of the Amex Business Platinum Card.

Licensed consumer advantages

Like the non-public model, solely sure perks can be found to extra cardholders. As an illustration, licensed customers is not going to get their very own airline charge or Dell credit. Like extra private cardholders, although, they’re eligible for World Entry/TSA PreCheck assertion credit and obtain entry to Centurion, Precedence Go and Delta Sky Membership lounges — amongst different advantages — so long as they obtain a Platinum licensed consumer card.

Cardholder charges

Enterprise Platinum cardmembers can tack on extra playing cards for $350 every (see rates and fees), so it’s not almost pretty much as good a deal as with the non-public card however remains to be price contemplating. It’s potential so as to add a Gold Card with an annual charge of $45 or Inexperienced Card with no annual charge (see rates and fees), however these is not going to provide lounge entry.

Associated: How to maximize your earning with the Amex Business Platinum

The advantages supplied by each the non-public and enterprise variations of this card are extraordinarily related, so let’s contemplate them collectively. Each of those playing cards carry annual charges of $550 (see rates and fees of the non-public card and rates and fees of the enterprise card).

Main cardholder advantages

The first cardmember can reap the benefits of the next advantages:

• New candidates for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card can earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• New candidates for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card can earn 60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership.
• Each playing cards earn 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible Delta purchases and 1 mile per greenback on all different eligible purchases. The enterprise model additionally earns 1.5 miles per greenback spent on all purchases after you make $150,000 or extra in purchases in a calendar yr.
• Cardholders are eligible for an software charge waiver for TSA PreCheck (each 4.5 years) or Global Entry (each 4 years).
• Cardmembers obtain Delta Sky Club access when touring on same-day Delta flights and can buy extra visitor passes for $50.
• Cardmembers have entry to American Categorical Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket bought on the cardboard (as much as two visitors may enter for a charge of $50 every).
• Different journey advantages embody precedence boarding, a free checked bag for the cardholder and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation and 20% financial savings on inflight meals, beverage and headset purchases on Delta flights.
• Cardholders can earn 15,000 extra MQMs towards Delta Medallion status after every $30,000 of purchases on the cardboard — as much as $120,000 of spending in a calendar yr for a most of 60,000 MQMs.
• Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve Enterprise cardholders obtain a companion certificate every cardmember yr redeemable for one round-trip itinerary throughout the 48 contiguous United States (cardholders in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can originate there) in primary cabin, Delta Consolation+ or top notch. Taxes and costs are capped at $80.
• Means to earn a Medallion Qualification Greenback (MQDs) waiver as much as Platinum standing by making $25,000 in purchases on eligible Delta bank cards annually; the spending requirement for an MQD waiver to Diamond Medallion status is $250,000 of bank card spending.

For extra particulars, try our full review of the Amex Delta Reserve and Amex Delta Reserve Business.

Licensed consumer advantages

Extra cardholders don’t reap most of those advantages. Nevertheless, their spending does rely towards these MQM thresholds they usually get entry to Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges after they journey on flights marketed and operated by Delta and current a same-day Delta boarding cross.

Cardholder charges

Extra playing cards value $175 per yr every for the Reserve (see rates and fees) and Reserve Enterprise (see rates and fees).

Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard

Citi’s top-tier American Airways cobranded card has an annual charge of $450 per yr. For that hefty charge, nevertheless, cardholders can count on a number of value-added advantages.

Main cardholder advantages

Main account holders can obtain the next advantages:

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Full Admirals Club membership, together with entry to accomplice lounges. The cardholder can carry rapid relations or as much as two visitors at no cost with a same-day boarding cross on American Airways or accomplice airways.
• Earn 2 miles per greenback spent on eligible American Airways purchases. Earn 1 mile per greenback spent on different purchases, plus earn 1 Loyalty Point per greenback spent. These assist you earn American Airlines elite status.
• First checked bag free and priority boarding for the cardholder and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation on home flights marketed and operated by American Airways.
• 25% off inflight purchases of meals and drinks.
• Obtain a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck software charge reimbursement as soon as each 5 years (as much as $100).
• 10,000 bonus Loyalty Factors after spending $40,000 on purchases in the course of the AA qualifying yr (which runs from the start of March to the top of February annually).
• No foreign transaction fees.

For extra particulars, try our full review of the Citi AAdvantage Executive card.

Licensed consumer advantages

Let’s minimize to the chase: One of the best characteristic of this bank card is that extra cardholders may entry American Airways’ Admirals Golf equipment and convey both rapid relations or as much as two visitors into the lounge with them at no cost. That alone is price paying the principle card’s annual charge, particularly since a person annual Admirals Club membership prices as much as $650 a yr.

Licensed customers obtain the inflight low cost, and their spending counts towards incomes the bonus Loyalty Factors annually. Nevertheless, they don’t obtain day-of-travel advantages corresponding to free checked baggage or precedence boarding when touring with out the first cardmember. They don’t seem to be eligible for their very own World Entry or TSA PreCheck software charge reimbursement, both.

Cardholder charges

Right here’s the place this card actually proves its worth: You’ll be able to add as much as 10 complimentary authorized users, every of whom has Admirals Membership entry and may herald visitors. Primarily, you will get 10 memberships for lower than the worth of 1 by opening this card as an alternative of shopping for an Admirals Membership membership from AA.

Including a licensed consumer gained’t have an effect on your credit score instantly. Nevertheless, keep in mind that you’re accountable for that particular person’s spending. If the consumer overspends on the cardboard, you’ll be accountable for the steadiness, related charges and curiosity prices — and any affect in your credit score rating associated to this spending. As a result of cost historical past and credit score utilization each play important roles in the calculation of your credit score, the habits of your licensed customers can find yourself negatively affecting your rating.

Associated: Adding your kids as authorized users

Some bank cards provide bonus points for adding authorized users.

American Categorical has despatched out focused affords to cardmembers of assorted merchandise, together with the American Express Gold Card and Amex Platinum Card. In every case, you could possibly earn 5,000 Membership Rewards factors for each licensed consumer you added, assuming the consumer spent a required sum of money on purchases (sometimes starting from $500 to $2,000) within the first three months on their card. Bonuses have been capped at 20,000 factors (equal to 4 extra customers) on every card (although focused affords are topic to alter at any time).

Rack up rewards quicker

Among the best issues about having extra playing cards in your account is that each one the rewards factors or miles they earn by way of everyday spending are credited to the first cardholder. In fact, the first cardholder can be accountable for guaranteeing all these purchases are paid off. This shouldn’t be an issue in case your licensed customers are these you belief or should you can place monitoring alerts or spending controls in your extra playing cards.

Hit spending thresholds

Equally, any spending on a licensed consumer’s card will rely towards the first cardholder’s spending exercise and assist them hit the spending requirements for incomes a sign-up bonus. When you’re engaged on a large welcome bonus, having another person assist you meet the spending necessities is helpful.

Exercise on extra playing cards may also go towards attaining any of the spending-based annual advantages sure playing cards provide, corresponding to a free weekend evening with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or incomes extra Medallion Qualification Miles with both the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card.

Assist others construct credit score

Though your purpose may be extra factors and extra rewards for your self, probably the greatest causes so as to add licensed customers to your bank card account is to assist them build their own credit and raise their credit score. This may be particularly helpful for somebody who might need unhealthy or broken credit score or for a teenager who’s simply beginning their credit score journey and won’t be capable of qualify for a bank card on their very own.

When somebody is added as a licensed consumer, the account is added to that particular person’s credit score report. So if the account is dealt with responsibly, all the factors that may enhance your rating with your individual accounts — on-time funds, low quantities owed, and so on. — will ultimately start to lift the licensed consumer’s rating too.

Associated: The 6 best starter cards for building your credit

It is price noting that doesn’t at all times apply to American Categorical bank cards. When including somebody to your Chase or Citi bank card, for instance, the unique account opening date will likely be listed in your licensed consumer’s credit score report. This may add a number of years of credit score historical past to that particular person’s credit score report. Nevertheless, American Categorical playing cards opened up to now few years have stopped reporting the total account historical past for licensed customers. As a substitute, solely the date the licensed consumer was added to the account is listed on the credit score report. This may add constructive exercise however not any longevity to your licensed consumer’s credit score report — and may have an effect on that particular person’s 5/24 status, if that is a priority.

Extra account switch choices

Including a good friend or relative as a licensed consumer can will let you share your factors and miles collectively.

With Chase bank cards, you’ll be able to switch factors between your individual accounts and people of a member of the family residing at your similar handle (or a enterprise worker should you’re utilizing factors from a enterprise bank card) to combine your Ultimate Rewards points. You can also switch these factors to a loyalty program in that particular person’s title.

With American Categorical, you can not instantly transfer Membership Rewards points out of your account to another person’s Amex factors account. Nevertheless, after somebody has been a licensed consumer in your card for a minimum of 90 days, you’ll be able to switch your factors to that particular person’s loyalty account at one in all Amex’s hotel or airline partners.

Caveats

Regardless of all the advantages, there are a couple of drawbacks to including licensed customers to your bank card accounts. First, the first cardholder is accountable for paying off all purchases, so it is best to solely add somebody you belief and put in place any spending controls you deem mandatory. Many issuers will let main cardholders monitor spending and set spending limits on extra accounts.

Second, extra playing cards typically come at a price. Earlier than you open any, ensure you realize whether or not you’ll have to pay annual fees for including customers to your account.

Third, many bank cards don’t confer the identical advantages upon licensed customers that the first cardholder enjoys. For instance, the first cardholder for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® account should be touring with a licensed consumer to activate advantages corresponding to free checked bags and preferred boarding.

If you realize the necessities and limitations of taking up extra playing cards together with your account, it is best to be capable of maximize their worth and advantages.

There are many causes so as to add a licensed consumer to your bank card account. It could actually assist somebody build their credit and improve their score, internet you additional factors on each a sign-up bonus and by way of everyday spending, and it could actually prolong using your factors to extra pals or relations.

Sure high-end credit cards additionally bestow value-added advantages on licensed customers, corresponding to lounge entry, World Entry reimbursements and inflight buy reductions. As at all times, when contemplating a bank card, look at your spending habits and needs after which decide whether or not you’re going to get sufficient worth out of including licensed customers to justify any annual charges you may incur.

Official software hyperlink: Capital One Venture X.
Official software hyperlink: Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Official software hyperlink: Amex Platinum Card.
Official software hyperlink: Amex Business Platinum Card.
Official software hyperlink: Delta SkyMiles Reserve.
Official software hyperlink: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business.
Official software hyperlink: Citi / AAdvantage Executive.

Extra reporting by Stella Shon, Benét J. Wilson, Madison Blancaflor and Ryan Smith.

For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum Card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold Card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Delta Reserve card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Delta Reserve Enterprise card, click on here.