Should my partner get their own card or be added as an authorized user?

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

When it comes to points and miles, you may have heard of the term “two-player mode” before. It refers to couples planning their strategies for credit cards and points and miles together, leading to more rewards.

However, a common question that couples often ask is: Should my partner get their own credit card, or should I add my partner as an authorized user on my credit card?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Before you decide which is better for your situation, you’ll want to consider the benefits of each approach.

Benefits of adding your partner as an authorized user

• No application is involved. Rather than your partner applying for a card, which is never guaranteed to be approved, and having a new inquiry on their credit report, you can avoid this by adding them to your own credit card.
• You can work together to meet a spending bonus on most credit cards since all spending across the account generally contributes toward the requirements for a welcome offer.
• You may receive an offer for bonus points if you add an authorized user to your card.
• Many credit cards offer free authorized user accounts. Thus, you’ll pay just one credit card annual fee instead of two with these cards. This applies to cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

• Some credit cards offer valuable perks to authorized users. For example, you can add up to four free authorized users on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, and with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), you can add up to three authorized users for $175 and additional authorized users for $175 each, each of whom will receive complimentary American Airlines Admirals Club access. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a $75 fee per authorized user but offers access to a Priority Pass Select membership. Likewise, there’s a fee ($195 per card) to add authorized users to The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees), but they’ll enjoy access to Amex Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass lounges, as well as reimbursement for their Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (enrollment required for select benefits, terms apply).
• Adding someone as an authorized user can help them build credit and boost their credit score.
• There’s only one credit card account to keep track of, which is simpler.

Related: The 7 credit cards with the greatest value for authorized users

Benefits of your partner getting their own credit card

• Your partner can earn a welcome offer, adding to your combined stash of points and miles.
• You can earn a referral bonus by referring your partner to apply for a credit card.
• Between the two of you, you can take a combined approach toward travel rewards. For example, one of you can earn miles for flights on an upcoming trip while the other focuses on earning free hotel nights.
• You won’t affect each other’s credit reports, which can be important when applying for new credit cards. Having fewer accounts that appear on your credit report may be a benefit when applying for credit cards with banks that frown on customers with many cards.
• You won’t lose access to your card’s benefits if you separate or the primary account holder dies.

Related: Best credit cards

Questions to ask yourselves

No two couples are the same. When deciding whether it’s better to add your partner as an authorized user or whether they should get their own credit card, consider:

• Can you meet the spending requirements for a sign-up bonus without adding your partner as an authorized user?
• Can you afford another annual fee if your partner gets a card that has one?
• Will your partner get benefits as an authorized user, or do you need separate cards to access those perks?
• What is your long-term credit card strategy? Consider how being an authorized user on someone else’s credit card can impact this positively or negatively.

You may find that your answers to these questions evolve over time.

The answers may even change depending on the bank. A perfect example is American Express. While other banks will report the account opening date (which could be several years ago) on your authorized user’s credit report, newer accounts from American Express will see today’s date (or the date you added the authorized user) listed on your partner’s credit report. This can shorten the user’s average age of accounts and impact their 5/24 status.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Bottom line

After considering the benefits on both sides and analyzing the questions above, you can make an informed decision about whether to add your partner as an authorized user or have them get their own credit card. Luckily, even if you add your partner as an authorized user, you can later remove them if you want. Your partner can still get a sign-up bonus on that same credit card later on after being removed.

Conversely, if your partner gets a separate card, they can later close it and become authorized users on your account. Thus, it is possible to choose one side of the equation today and then change it later.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express, please click here.