There are a variety of reasons to pick up credit cards, from big welcome offers , to generous return on spending , to valuable perks . Generally when we talk about the value proposition of credit cards, we do so in the context of the value for the primary cardmember.

However, for some cards there’s a lot of value to be had for authorized users as well , and I think that’s an interesting angle to discuss. Yes, authorized user spending can generally rack up rewards at the same rate as the primary cardmember’s spending, but sometimes it goes beyond that. This could be especially useful if you have a big family and you want them to reap the benefits of your credit cards as well.

In this post, I’d like to share the cards that I tend to think offer the most value for authorized users, starting with the most generous. Unfortunately we’ve seen some significant cuts to authorized user perks on some cards over time, but I’d say there’s still value to be had. Note that I’m only covering cards that are open to applicants.

Before I get into this, let me just make a few points to be aware of regarding adding authorized users:

Below is a consolidated chart with some of my favorite authorized user cards, and then I’ll get into more details below.

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card ( learn more ) has a $595 annual fee for the primary user, and the card offers benefits that can help offset that , including up to $300 in annual hotel credits , up to $200 in annual retailer credits , up to $200 in annual Blacklane credits , and more.

Citi Strata Elite authorized users cost $75 each. Crucially, authorized users receive a Priority Pass membership, with the ability to guest up to two people each into lounges. If you’re looking for the cheapest authorized user Priority Pass membership option nowadays, this would be it, as it’s really hard to argue with that cost.

The Bilt Palladium Card has a $495 annual fee ( Rates & Fees ) for the primary user, and this card is excellent, particularly for the return on spending that it offers . The primary cardmember receives a Priority Pass membership, along with some other perks.