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Best credit cards for families 2021

Earn rewards on groceries, gas, streaming services, travel and more.

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Kliment Dukovski
Updated . What changed?
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Some of the best rewards credit cards currently on the market are great for families. Some of these cards are straightforward and let you earn rewards on popular categories such as groceries and gas. Others come with a more subtle — yet valuable — rewards structure where you get to choose which category earns the highest rewards during a quarter.

What are the best family credit cards?

Best card for gas and big-box purchases
Sam's Club® Mastercard®

Sam's Club® Mastercard® logo
Finder Rating: 3.8 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
See offer
on Synchrony Bank's secure site
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to 5%
Cash back
$30
Welcome offer
The Sam's Club® Mastercard® offers one of the highest cashback rates on gas purchases you can get with a credit card. It also rewards your dining and takeout purchases, as well as your Sam's Club purchases. If you have Sam's Club Plus membership, you can boost your cashback rate at the store by 2% more.
  • Cash back. Earn 5% cash back on gas purchases on up to $6,000 annually, and 1% after that. Earn 3% back on dining and takeout, and 1% back on all other purchases. Purchases at Sam's Club earn 3% back with this card, and if you have a Plus membership, you earn an additional 2% back for a 5% back total on Sam's Club purchases.
  • Signup bonus. Earn a $30 statement credit after you spend at least $30 in the first 30 days of card membership.
  • No annual fee. The card doesn't cost any extra beyond your Sam's Club membership fee, which is either $45 for Basic membership or $100 for Plus membership.
  • Rewards redeemable once per year. The rewards you accumulate with this card over a year are paid out in February of the next year.
  • Plus membership required. To earn 5% back at Sam's Club, you need to be a Plus member.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 14.9% to 22.9% variable
Balance transfer APR 14.9% to 22.9% variable
Welcome offer Get a $30 statement credit when you open a new account and make $30 in Sam's Club purchases
within 30 days.
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards Up to 5% at Sam's Club with Plus membership, 5% cash back on gas (on up to $6,000 annually, then 1%), 3% on dining and 1% on all other purchases

Best credit card for family travel
Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve® logo
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850)
Apply now
on Chase's secure site
Rates & fees
740
Min. credit score
$550
Annual fee
Up to 10x
Points
60,000
Points welcome offer
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with rewards on travel purchases and dining worldwide, and it gives you peace of mind with one of the most extensive complimentary insurances that cover the primary cardholder and their immediate family. With the recent update, you also enjoy the highest rewards rate on Lyft rides.
  • Rewards points. Earn 3x points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide and 1x points on all other purchases. Until March 2022, earn 10x points on Lyft rides.
  • Points worth more on travel. Redeem your points for travel purchases via the Chase Ultimate Rewards program and get 50% more value for your points. This makes the 3x points on travel and dining worth 4.5x and the 10x points on Lyft rides worth 15x.
  • Travel credit. Get $300 in statement credit as reimbursement for your travel purchases every year on your credit card anniversary.
  • Big annual fee. This card requires a $550 annual fee to own.
  • No intro APR. This card lacks an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Annual Fee $550
Purchase APR 16.99% to 23.99% variable
Balance transfer APR 16.99% to 23.99% variable
Welcome offer 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $900 through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Estimated welcome offer value $900 based on Finder's valuation
Rewards 10x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining and travel after earning your $300 travel credit and 1x points on all other purchases

Best credit card for families for grocery shopping
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express logo
Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Apply now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$95 ongoing
Annual fee
Up to 6%
Cash back
$150
Welcome offer
This is the only credit card that offers the highest cashback rate on purchases made at US supermarkets. What's more, you get to earn accelerated cash back on streaming services, transit purchases and gas stations. Plus you get to save money on interest with a long intro APR period on purchases.
  • Cash back. Earn 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 each year, reverting to 1% after reaching the cap. Also, earn 6% cash back on US streaming services, 3% cash back at US gas stations and transit purchases and 1% on all other purchases.
  • Intro APR period. Get 12 months of 0% intro APR period on purchases made in the first 12 months of card membership. Once the intro period expires, your rate reverts to 13.99% to 23.99% variable.
  • Welcome offer. You'll earn a massive 20% back on purchases at Amazon.com in the first 6 months for a total of up to $200 back, plus $150 in statement credit once you spend $3,000 in your first 6 months when you open your account.
  • Not widely accepted abroad. Amex cards are less widely accepted abroad compared to Visa or Mastercard.
Annual Fee $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR N/A
Welcome offer 20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first 6 months for up to $200 back, plus $150 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards 6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases (redeem as statement credit)
Disclaimer
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Best credit card for families for reward flexibility
U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card

U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to 5%
Cash back
$150
Welcome offer
Similar cards rotate the categories with the highest cashback rate each quarter and you usually don't know what these categories are until you reach the quarter. But this family card lets you choose which categories earn the highest cashback rate each quarter based on your expenses. You can choose select clothing stores, department stores, furniture stores, electronics stores, cell phones and more.
  • Cash back. Earn 5% cash back on two categories you choose on up to $2,000 each quarter, after reaching the cap you earn 1% cash back. Earn 2% cash back either on gas or groceries, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Intro APR period on balance transfers. Use 12 months to pay for balance transfers with an intro APR. But you have to make the transfers within the first 60 days when you open your account. After that, your rate reverts to 13.99% to 23.99% variable.
  • Signup bonus. Earn $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 in your first 90 days of card membership.
  • Reward enrollment required. You'll need to enroll in that quarter's bonus categories every 3 months. If you don't, you'll earn just 1% back on those purchases.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 13.99% to 23.99% variable
Balance transfer APR 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer $150 after spending $500 in the first 90 days
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards 5% on up to $2,000 each activated quarter on two categories combined (1% after), 2% on one everyday category and 1% on all other purchases

Best credit card for families who dine out
Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$95 ongoing
Annual fee
Up to 8%
Cash back
$300
Welcome offer
The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card a great cash back rate on dining without paying an annual fee - in fact, the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card credit card is one of the best picks on the market for cash back on dining. Plus, the built in security features and travel insurance makes this a great choice for travelers.
  • Cash back. Earn an unlimited 4 cash back on dining and entertainment purchases, 2% cash back at grocery stores and 1% cash back on everything else.
  • Signup bonus. Earn $300 cash back after you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • Annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
  • Potentially high APR. Depending on your credit score, you could end up with an APR of up to 24.99%% variable, which is higher than the average of 16%.
Annual Fee $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Purchase APR 15.99% or 24.99% variable
Balance transfer APR 15.99% or 24.99% variable
Welcome offer $300 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards 8% cash back with Vivid Seats, 5% on Uber Eats, 4% on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases

How we picked our best cards

We compared all credit cards with perks and benefits for the family budget, and we weighed in features such as rewards categories, annual fee, intro APR period and additional features. And then we chose the cards that were best suited for certain types of family spending.

How to choose the best credit cards for families

When looking for the best family card, these are the three main points to consider:

  • Spending habits. Where does your family budget go? There are cards with accelerated rewards on groceries, transit and gas, streaming services and travel. Make sure you pick the card that will get you the highest value.
  • Annual fee. Most family cards have no annual fee. But if you’re looking for the ultimate perks, expect to pay up to $450 for the top-of-the-line cards.
  • The size of your family. Not all families will be able to take advantage of each family card. For example, there are some cards best suited for couples.

How much can I save with a family credit card?

How much cash back or rewards you can earn depends on your spending habits and card.
We ran the math using average spending on categories that reward you the most using the Sam’s Club Mastercard as an example.

CategoriesAnnual spendingCash back earned with the Sam's Club® Mastercard®
Groceries$3,250$162.50
Gas and transfer$3,000$150
Dining and takeout$2,600$78
Travel$3,250$32.50
Other purchases$3,000 + $2,000 at Sam’s Club$130
Total spent$17,100
Total cash back earned$553

With the exact same spending, you would earn $298 back as a statement credit with the Blue Cash Preferred after you pay the $95 annual fee (Terms apply, see rates & fees) from the second year. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the latter is a bad card, it just means that the Sam's Club® Mastercard® would earn more cash back on in the categories in our example. If the categories were different, the Blue Cash Preferred would likely come out on top.

Because of that, consider combining more than one card — and use each card where it earns the most rewards — to maximize your earnings.

Alternatives to credit cards for families

Families may not always need a rewards card for a select category of purchases. Other types of cards may work just as well, such as:

  • Flat rewards cards. Some credit cards, like the Citi® Double Cash Card let you earn 2% cash back on every purchase you make — 1% when you make the purchase and 1% back when you pay it off. Other cards, like the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card reward you with 2x miles on all of your purchases, which you can redeem for a variety of rewards including travel.
  • Balance transfer cards. Families struggling with credit card debt may want to consider a 0% intro APR balance transfer cards. For a limited time, you get to transfer your debt and pay it off without interest.
  • Intro APR period cards. families looking to renovate at home or make a large purchase and pay it for 12 months or more without interest should consider a 0% intro APR credit card. Some cards also offer rewards, which make them valuable even after the intro APR period ends. But the cards with the longest intro APR period typically don’t have rewards.

Bottom line

Families get to enjoy some of the best rewards credit cards. Based on your family spending, you can earn accelerated rewards on groceries, streaming services, gas, travel or even online shopping.

But if none of our picks appeal to your financial situation, compare other credit cards until you find the right card for your wallet.

Frequently asked questions

How can I maximize rewards with family cards?
You need several credit cards and to use each card where you get the highest value. For example, use the:

  • Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express on your US supermarket and US streaming services purchases
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve® for airfare, hotel purchases and Lyft rides.

Can I add family members as authorized users?
Yes, and in most cases, you’ll pay no annual fee for additional cards. What’s more, using your card responsibly can help authorized users build credit.

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