Which Credit Cards Let You Set Spending Limits for Authorized Users?
Adding an authorized user to one of your credit card accounts can be a great way to help someone else build credit. If the credit card issuer reports the authorized-user account to the consumer credit reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), responsible use can help improve the authorized user's credit score. Because you're liable for the authorized user's charges, you may want to set limits on their spending. But not all consumer credit cards allow account holders to do so; business credit cards are more likely to have this feature.
Best credit cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners with intro bonuses, cash back or points offers, and annual fees as low as $0.
Offers from our partners
Citi Double Cash® Card
Intro APR:0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Rewards:2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Intro bonus:As High As $200 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer.
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 3% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Ongoing APR:17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% Variable APR
Rewards:N/A*
Annual Fee:$0
Revel® Platinum Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.90% Fixed
Rewards:N/A*
Annual Fee:$75 - $125
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Intro APR:0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers and 12 months on Purchases
Ongoing APR:16.49% - 27.24% (Variable)
Rewards:N/A*
Annual Fee:$0
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Intro bonus:$200
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Ongoing APR:18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR
Rewards:2% (Cash Rewards)
Annual Fee:$0
Discover it® Cash Back
Intro bonus:Cashback Match™
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR
Rewards:1% - 5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:29.99%*
Rewards:2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0*
The opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Ongoing APR:23.89% Variable
Rewards:10% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$35
Credit One Bank American Express® Card for Rebuilding Credit
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$75 First year. $99 thereafter, billed monthly at $8.25
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Intro bonus:As High As $300 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer.
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 12 months
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 6% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Avant® Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:N/A*
Annual Fee:$0*
Credit One Bank® Secured Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Intro bonus:60,000 Points
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Rewards:1x - 10x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:$95
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Ongoing APR:18.74% - 26.74% (Variable)
Rewards:1% - 5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$75*
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Rewards:1x - 6x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$350
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:Introductory fee of $75 for the first year. After that, $99 annually.*
Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa® Metal Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% - 5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$95
First Progress Select Secured Mastercard® Cash Back Rewards
Ongoing APR:17.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 10% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$39
Credit One Bank® Premier American Express® Credit Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$39
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% - 10% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$95
Discover it® Miles
Intro bonus:Discover Match®
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR
Rewards:1.5x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$0
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro bonus:As High As 100,000 Bonus Miles. Find Out Your Offer.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1x - 3x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$650
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Intro bonus:As High As 80,000 Bonus Miles. Find Out Your Offer.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1x - 2x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Credit One Bank® Premier American Express® Unlimited Rewards Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Intro bonus:As High As 90,000 Bonus Miles. Find Out Your Offer.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1x - 3x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$350
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Intro bonus:130,000 Points
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:3x - 12x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:$150
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:175,000 Points
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:$250
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard® - With A Higher Credit Limit
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$125*
See all our best credit cards for 2026.
How to Manage Authorized-User Spending
An authorized user is someone you've allowed to make purchases using your credit card account. They receive their own credit card, and their purchases are typically listed separately on your statement. They may be allowed to make their own payments, but you're ultimately the only one responsible for paying the bill.
When you add an authorized user, it's important to consider the risk that they'll overspend and cause your credit card debt to become unmanageable. Setting spending limits is one way to manage an authorized user's spending, protect yourself and help a new credit user stay within their budget.
Few consumer credit cards let you set spending limits. Fortunately, there are other ways to monitor your authorized user's spending:
- Agree on a spending limit together. Discuss why it's important to keep spending within limits that they can pay back, and the consequences if they don't (such as being removed from your account). You should never add an authorized user to your credit card unless you trust them to honor your agreement.
- Regularly review your account. Most credit cards have mobile apps you can download to your phone to keep tabs on your account. Use the app or go online to check your credit card balance and transactions as often as you like.
- Set up alerts. You may be able to receive alerts notifying you when a purchase is made. For example, some Visa cards let you receive text or email alerts for purchases over a certain dollar amount, online purchases or international purchases.
The limitation with this type of monitoring is that it may be too late to undo the charges by the time you notice the overspending. If they can't or won't return the purchases, you'll be liable for paying the tab.
Make sure you know how to remove an authorized user from your account if necessary.
Help Your Authorized User Build Credit
Adding an authorized user to your personal or business credit card account gives them a lot of leeway to view your account details, set up recurring charges, take out cash advances and potentially make big purchases that you'll have to pay for. Before taking such a major step, discuss your expectations with the person to ensure they understand their obligations.
You don't need good credit to become an authorized user, but it's a good idea to have your authorized user check their credit score before getting the card. After using the card for a few months, they should review their credit report to make sure the account is showing up in their credit history, and set up free credit monitoring to watch the account's effect on their credit. By responsibly using your credit account, authorized users can build a credit history, improve their credit score and potentially qualify for a card of their own.
Don’t apply blindly
Apply for credit cards confidently with personalized offers based on your credit profile. Get started with your FICO® Score for free.
See your offers
About the author
Karen Axelton
Karen Axelton is Experian’s in-house senior personal finance writer. She has over 20 years of experience as a journalist and has written or ghostwritten content for a variety of financial services companies.
Read more from Karen