For a lot of families, credit cards have become critical for managing expenses and sorting out finances.
If you’re a parent juggling the costs of food, school, soccer practice, and many more activities, a credit card is perfect to stretch out your budget and make it work.
However, with so many credit cards out there, which should you choose?
Well, whether you’re looking for a card that offers cashback on groceries or one that provides travel rewards, we’ve got you covered.
10 Best Credit Cards For Families
Here are the best credit cards for families you can apply for today:
- Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card – Best for Online Shopping
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured – Best for Families with Less-Than-Perfect Credit
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express – Best for Groceries and Gas
- Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card – Best for Dining and Entertainment
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best for Credit Card Miles
- Chase Freedom Flex℠ – Best for Seasonal Spending
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Best for Travel Lovers
- Citi® Double Cash Card – Best for Cash Back
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi – Best for Families with a Costco Membership
- Wells Fargo Reflect® Card – Best Balance Transfer Card for Families
1. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
- Best for Online Shopping
You cannot beat the Amazon Prime Visa Rewards Signature credit card if you have a big family and a Prime membership.
You’ll earn 5% back on Amazon purchases (unlimited) and 5% back on Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and Chase Travel℠ purchases.
This card can certainly be your only card, too, as it pays 2% back on gas, restaurants, and local transit, plus 1% back on everything else.
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- $100 Amazon gift card upon approval
Cons
- No 0% intro APR
- Must be an Amazon Prime member
2. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured
- Best for Families with Less-Than-Perfect Credit
If your family has had some credit mishaps, you may think you’re out of luck in getting a rewards credit card, but BofA has your back. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card requires a deposit, but you can earn rewards even with bad credit.
So not only can you build your credit, but you’ll earn 3% back in a category of your choice, including gas, EV, online shopping, dining, streaming, internet, drug stores, or home improvement stores. You also automatically earn 2% back at grocery and wholesale clubs and 1% on everything else.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Many opportunities to earn cash back
- May upgrade to an unsecured card with improved credit
Cons
- Requires a security deposit
- Charges a foreign transaction fee
3. Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- Best for Groceries and Gas
Let’s face it – groceries and gas are two of most families’ largest expenses, so you should take advantage of them when you can earn money back on them. The Blue Cash Preferred from American Express pays 6% back on groceries up to $6,000 each year and 3% back on gas.
You also earn 6% back on streaming and 3% on transit, including rideshare, parking, and tolls. The card also offers a 0% intro APY on purchases for the first 12 months and a $250 bonus if you spend $3,000 in the first six months.
Pros
- No annual fee for the first year
- Earns 1% back on all other purchases
- Access to Buy Now Pay Later plans that split purchases into fixed installments (no fees in the first year)
Cons
- $95 annual fee after first year
- Low limit on grocery spending
4. Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card
- Best for Dining and Entertainment
Families that love dining out or entertainment can enjoy incredible benefits with the Capital One SavorOne Rewards credit card. With an unlimited 3% back on dining, entertainment, streaming, and grocery purchases, it’s the perfect card for families.
You can also enjoy a 0% APR on purchases for 15 months and get a $200 bonus after spending at least $500 within three months. The low spending threshold makes it easy to earn this great bonus!
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn up to 8% back on entertainment booked through Capital One
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- High APR after intro period
5. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Best for Credit Card Miles
Use the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card if your family loves traveling. You can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months and earn 10,000 points on each anniversary date.
Plus, if you book through Capital One Travel, you’ll get a $300 annual credit and a $100 TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit.
Pros
- It’s easy to use your miles
- Can earn double miles on travel booked through Capital One
- The anniversary bonus miles and annual credit cover the annual fee
Cons
- High annual fee of $395
- Requires excellent credit
6. Chase Freedom Flex℠
- Best for Seasonal Spending
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ card allows you to change your bonus category quarterly to earn maximum rewards on your highest expenses. You can choose from gas, grocery stores, and online merchants each quarter to earn 5% back on combined $1,500 spending.
The card also pays 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on everything else year-round.
New cardholders also get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months and a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first three months. They also earn 5% back on gas and grocery store purchases on up to $12,000 in the first year.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Offers many ways to earn cash back
- Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your card is active
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Only travel booked through Chase earns 5% back
7. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best for Travel Lovers
Frequent travelers should maximize their ways to earn cashback, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card offers many opportunities. You can earn 5x miles on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ and 2x points on travel booked elsewhere.
In addition, you can earn 3x points back on dining and takeout, giving you plenty of opportunities to earn cashback while traveling, as well as 3x points on online grocery and select streaming services.
Chase also currently offers new cardholders 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in three months.
Pros
- Many ways to earn points
- Can transfer points to partners for a 1:1 value
- Offers $50 statement credit annually for hotels booked through Chase
Cons
- No intro APR
- Charges an annual fee
8. Citi® Double Cash Card
- Best for Cash Back
If you don’t like tracking where you spend money to earn cash back, you’ll enjoy the simplicity of the Citi® Double Cash Card. You don’t have to track categories; you earn 1% back on most purchases and then another 1% back when you make a payment for a total of 2% back.
New cardholders also get a 0% APR for 18 months, one of the longest intro APRs we’ve seen, and a $200 bonus if you spend $1,500 in the first six months.
Pros
- No annual fee
- No categories to track
- Has a limited-time offer that pays 5% back on hotels and cars booked through Citi Travel
Cons
- High regular APR
- Minimal bonus categories
9. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Best for Families with a Costco Membership
If your family loves Costco, a Costco Anywhere Visa® may make your membership even better. Cardholders earn 4% back on gas and EV purchases up to $7,000/year, 3% at restaurants and travel booked through Costco, 2% on all Costco purchases, and 1% on everything else.
You’ll receive your rewards annually as a reward certificate to use at Costco.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Helps you save even more at Costco
- Earns 1% back on purchases outside of Costco
Cons
- No intro APR
- Rewards are only redeemable at Costco
10. Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
- Best Balance Transfer Card for Families
The Wells Fargo Reflect® card is a great way to help your family get ahead if you have a high credit card balance. It offers a balance transfer APR of 0% APR on balance transfers for 21 months.
If you make large payments in that time, you can knock your balance down without interest. The 0% APR also applies to purchases, which is great if you have a large purchase to make.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Has Zero Liability protection
- Long introductory period for purchase and balance transfers
Cons
- No welcome bonus
- Charges foreign transaction fee
How To Choose The Best Credit Card For Your Family
Every family is unique; different kids, interests, and budgets! So when it comes to credit cards, what works for the family next door might not exactly be the best option for you.
With so many perks and cashback offers (but also fees), how can you know which one is the best credit card for your family?
Each family will have different costs and ambitions. Ask yourself:
- How does your family spend money?
- What is your biggest expense?
- How many kids do you have?
- How often do you travel?
These are all important factors to consider before finding the perfect match for you. Here are some other factors to consider:
Rewards
What do you want to be rewarded for?
For this, it is important to consider your family’s personal situation. If you often find yourself restocking your fridge and pantry, then a credit card that offers good cashback in grocery shopping (such as the Blue Cash Preferred® card from American Express) might be it for you.
However, if you’re a family that loves dining out, then consider one that offers great dining cash back.
Fees
Watch out for credit card fees! Consider if the credit card is worth the potential fees.
Some common credit card fees to watch out for are annual fees, balance transfer fees, late fees, and foreign transaction fees. Fortunately, many fees can be avoided by paying your balance in full each month.
APR
In the credit card world, APR stands for Annual Percentage Rates. A credit card’s APR determines how much interest builds up when using a credit card.
If you don’t want to worry about interest, then we recommend choosing a credit card with a 0% APR offer.
Cash Back
If you’re after a card that can give you a little extra pocket money, then you should consider a credit card that offers a high percentage of cash back.
Different from rewards that are specific to travel, gas, or groceries, cashback can be used for anything!
Credit Limit
How much are you planning to spend on your credit card?
A credit card limit depends on the type of card you choose, your credit score, and your relationship with the bank issuing the card. If you want to stay on the safe side, then consider a card with a smaller credit limit.
While these are some of the most important factors to consider when applying for a credit card, signing up for a credit card is not a decision to be taken lightly.
So don’t rush! Take your time to compare and contrast cards and find the right one for you.
Pros And Cons
A credit card can become your best friend or your worst enemy — it all depends on whether you choose the right card for your family, and on how you use it. We’ve listed some of the pros and cons of credit cards for families:
Pros
- Convenience: Credit cards can be hugely convenient for making any type of purchase, whether it’s a large one or every day, in-person or online – and even overseas! You don’t need to wait months to save up for that new bathtub when you can just purchase it with a credit card. Additionally, a credit card is much easier to carry around and keep safe than a pile of cash.
- Security: Credit cards are easy and secure to use. Unlike debit cards, credit cards offer better fraud protection. If your credit card is stolen, you don’t have to pay for the consequences as you can usually dispute the charges and won’t be held accountable.
- Rewards: Who doesn’t love rewards? Many credit cards offer rewards programs that can earn you points, miles, or cash back on purchases. These rewards can add up quickly and can be a great way to save money on everyday expenses, make those plane tickets affordable, or that large purchase a little more convenient.
- Great way to build credit: If you successfully manage a credit card, that can open up your horizon for future credit cards and loans. Having good credit is key to improving your family’s quality of life and securing your financial future. However, bear in mind that applying for too many credit cards can damage your credit if you cannot keep up with them.
- Essential for emergencies: Did your five-year-old fall off his bike and break his arm? Was that vet fee higher than expected? Credit cards are ideal and, at times, even essential for unexpected costs and emergencies.
Cons
- Fees: Is your credit card worth it if you have to pay constant fees? Before applying for any credit card, consider if there are any annual fees, balance transfer fees, or foreign transaction fees. If fees are too high, then that can impact your experience with credit cards.
- High-interest rates: A lot of credit cards come hand in hand with high-interest rates– that’s simply how they work! If you don’t pay your credit card balance fee every month, you’re at risk of being charged interest and having even more debt. Always be aware if there is any interest to be paid, how much, and when to pay it.
- Overspending: Although a yacht is much easier to buy with a credit card, that doesn’t mean that you should buy it! A big consequence of credit cards is that it can be quite easy to overspend. It’s easier to dig yourself into a hole with a credit card, so make sure that you don’t dig more than you can afford.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best credit card for grocery shopping?
If saving on grocery shopping is your number one priority, then Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is the right fit for you, as it gives you a solid 6% cash back on groceries.
Which is the best credit card for filling up our car?
If you’re after this perk, then the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express should be at the top of your list. The Blue Cash Preferred card gives you a 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and transit.
Which are the best credit cards for families that travel?
If your family loves catching planes and staying at fancy hotels, then consider cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, or the Hilton Honors American Express Card.
These credit cards can make your travel more affordable as they earn you points and miles that can be used for plane tickets or hotel reservations.
For instance, with the Capital One Venture X rewards card, there is a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles that can get you one step closer to affording that five-star hotel.
Which is the best credit card to earn cashback?
If you’re one of those families that are after those rewarding cash backs, consider the Citi® Double Cash Card. This card offers a 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you purchase, and 1% when you pay).
The Citi® Double Cash Card is also ideal as there is no limit on the cash back that you can earn — so go nuts!
