Families have a lot of expenses, including groceries, clothes, activities, gas, and whenever possible, a nice family vacation.
Families can maximize their spending, earn extra rewards, and enjoy nice benefits like airport lounge access with several credit cards.
By choosing the right credit card, you can make the most of your family’s spending.
Below are our recommended credit cards for families.
Best for Family Trips: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review)
Best for Dining & Groceries: American Express® Gold Card (review)
Best for Family Lounge Access: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review)
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for Family Trips
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
2. American Express® Gold Card
Best for Restaurants & U.S. Supermarkets
The American Express® Gold Card (review) is a great card for earning points at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly with airlines. Cardholders can also enjoy up to $424 in annual credits and nice travel and purchase protections.
Earning Points: 4x points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; 2x points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
Benefits:
- $120 Dining Credit: Enroll and earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys).
- $120 Uber Cash: Get up to $10 monthly Uber Cash for U.S. Uber Eats orders and rides when you add your American Express Gold Card as a payment method. Your Uber Cash can be redeemed using any American Express card.
- $84 Dunkin’ Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with this card at U.S. Dunkin locations).
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $50 semiannually in statement credits after you enroll and pay with this card at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases).
- Other benefits: No foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (trip delay, baggage insurance, and secondary rental car), extended warranty, and return protection.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best for Lounge Access for Families
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) delivers both everyday value with unlimited 2x miles on purchases and premium comfort through comprehensive airport lounge access for you upon enrollment. You’ll also receive $300 in annual travel credits plus 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, creating substantial ongoing value.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Rewards: 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel; 2x miles on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, airport lounge access (Capital One and Priority Pass) upon enrollment, Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit, Hertz President’s Circle elite status, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, and cell phone protection.
Transfer Partners: Accor (2 to 1), Aeromexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, I Prefer Hotels (1 to 2), Japan Airlines(2 to 1.5), JetBlue (5 to 3), Qantas, Qatar, Singapore KrisFlyer, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards.
4. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best for Beginner Travelers
- Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
- 5x Miles on Hotels, Vacation Rentals, and Rental Cars via Capital One Travel
- 2x Miles Everywhere Else
- Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check Credit
- Hertz 5-Star Elite Status
- Rental Car Insurance and Extended Warranty
- $95 Annual Fee
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (review) offers 2x miles on every purchase and flexible redemption options through transfer partners or travel statement credits. This card shines with its straightforward rewards structure and useful travel benefits, making it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced travelers.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Earning Rewards: 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 2x miles on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit, no foreign transaction fees, secondary rental car insurance, extended warranty, and lost luggage reimbursement.
Transfer Partners: Accor (2 to 1), Aeromexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, I Prefer Hotels (1 to 2), Japan Airlines(2 to 1.5), JetBlue (5 to 3), Qantas, Qatar, Singapore KrisFlyer, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards.
5. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for Simplicity
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review) sets itself apart with 1.5% back on non-bonus purchases, plus higher rewards in select categories including dining and travel. This flexible rewards card becomes even more valuable when paired with a premium Chase card, allowing you to transfer your rewards to travel partners.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Cash Back: 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services; 3% back on drugstore purchases; 1.5% back on all other purchases
CaBenefits: Purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary rental car insurance, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, after that reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies;
6. Citi Strata Premier® Card
Best for General Spending
- 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 3x Points for Flights, Hotels, Gas Stations, EV Charging, Supermarkets, and Restaurants. hotels, gas stations, EV charging, supermarkets, and restaurants.
- $100 Annual Hotel Credit
- $95 Annual Fee
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card stands out for its impressive 3x points earning on everyday purchases including restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and travel. While its redemption options might not match competitors like Chase or Amex, you’ll still get solid value through airline transfer partners and travel bookings.
Welcome Bonus: 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Earning Points: 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal; 3x points on airfare, hotels, gas stations, EV charging, supermarkets, and restaurants.
Card Benefits: $100 annual hotel credit on bookings of $500+ through the Citi travel portal, no foreign transaction fees, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, secondary rental car insurance, and Mastercard World Elite benefits.
7. Chase Freedom Flex℠
Best for Flexible Rewards
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ (review) rewards cardholders with 5x points in rotating quarterly categories and includes solid benefits like cell phone protection and purchase coverage. While the rotating categories require activation each quarter, this card offers significant value for those willing to track and maximize the bonus categories.
Welcome Bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Earn Rewards: 5% back in quarterly bonus categories; 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services; 3% back on drugstore purchases; 1% back on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: Cell phone protection, purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary rental car insurance, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
