A supplementary card is an additional card linked to your primary credit card account. You can give it to a family member (or whoever you like) to make purchases. The supplementary cardholder shares your credit limit, and their spending appears on your statement, but you are the one responsible for paying the bill.
Depending on the card issuer, you may have to pay a slight fee to add a supplemental user, though it's still cheaper than paying an additional annual fee. Most types of credit cards offer supplementary cards, and quite a few even offer them for free.
This article further explains the details of supplementary cards, including how they work, who issues them, which cards offer them for free, and more.
Key Takeaways
- Adding a supplementary cardholder allows two people to share a single credit card account and save on annual fees.
- With a supplementary cardholder, you’ll maximize the rewards you earn.
- Some credit cards provide a free supplementary card, while others require you to have a specific bank account with the card issuer.
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What is a supplementary card?
A supplementary card simply allows 2 people to share a single credit card account. Each card gets the full benefits offered, and it's typically cheaper (or even free) to add a supplemental user. This way, you can potentially save on credit card fees while getting the full range of benefits a premium credit card can provide.
There are limits as to how many extra cards you can add to an account, but for most households, this won't be a concern.
What are the fees for supplementary cards?
The fees you pay for supplementary cards can vary. For instance, no-fee credit cards don't charge a supplementary card fee. Many low annual fee cards don't charge one either, but this depends on the credit card.
But once you get to premium cards with annual fees of $99 or higher, you'll start to see that issuers charge a fee to add a user. The most common fee is $50, but it can vary by card and issuer.
We should also point out that some cards allow you to add 1 additional user for free and only charge supplementary fees if you continue to add users. We'll highlight the best credit cards that give you 1 free supplementary card.
Most of the big banks in Canada don't have free supplementary cards. But a few of them do if you have premium bank accounts. They all include credit card annual fee waivers, and a few also extend this to the first authorized user on the account.
Summary of the best credit cards with free supplementary cards
Here, you'll find a summary of the best credit cards with free supplementary cards. We primarily focused on credit cards with an annual fee of $99 or more, since no-fee or low-fee cards usually offer supplementary cards for free.
| Credit Card | Welcome Bonus | Earn Rates | Annual Fee, Income Requirements | Apply Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt Card |  $100 GeniusCash + Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) | * 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up to $2,500 spent per month) * 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services * 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | * $191.88 * None | Apply Now |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card | $150 GeniusCash + 50,000 bonus points (terms) | * 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more * 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, restaurants, entertainment, and daily transit * 1 Scene+ point per $1 on all other purchases | * $150 * None | Apply Now |
| RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard | None | * 1.5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually * 1% cash back after $25,000 spent annually | * $99 * None | Apply Now |
| Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Card | None | * 10 points per $1 spent at select local businesses * 5 points per $1 spent on public transit and ferries◊ * 2.5 points per $1 spent on groceries.◊ * 1.25 points per $1 spent on all other purchases * 2x the points when booking travel through Vancity Rewards | * $120 * None | Apply Now |
Issuers with free supplementary credit cards
Here's a rundown of issuers that offer free supplementary cards:
1. American Express
Before we launch into some of your best Amex options, note that all Amex cards offer at least 1 free supplementary card per account. Several allow you to add more than this.
Best Amex supplementary card
The best credit card in Canada, the American Express Cobalt Card, offers 1 free extra card. This means you can get even more rewards on top of what this terrific card already earns:
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up to $2,500 spent per month)
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services
- 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
These Membership Rewards points can be redeemed 9 different ways, but transferring them to Aeroplan provides the best value.
The annual fee for this card is $191.88, which gets charged out as $15.99 per month.
×9 Award winner 
GC: $100
9x Award winner Other Amex cards with free supplementary cards
There are plenty of other cards that offer 1 additional user at no cost. They are:
- American Express Gold Rewards Card
- SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
- Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
The big drawback of the following supplementary Amex Aeroplan cards is that they don't have access to the card's benefits, such as insurance or Air Canada perks. The supplementary user only earns reward points.
These cards are:
If you want the user to receive all the card's benefits, they'll need to pay an annual fee and be a primary cardholder.
2. Scotiabank
Scotiabank issues 1 credit card that comes with a free supplementary card: the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card.
You'll earn Scene+ points everywhere at these rates:
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more
- 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, restaurants, entertainment, and daily transit
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 on all other purchases
You can use them toward movie tickets at Cineplex, groceries at Sobeys and Safeway, travel, hardware supplies at Home Hardware, or meals at Recipe Unlimited restaurants.
This card also includes several special features. It doesn't charge foreign exchange fees, which saves you 2.5% on every purchase that isn't made in Canadian dollars.
You'll also receive a Visa Airport Companion membership along with 6 free passes to airport lounges all over the world. The annual fee is $150.
×1 Award winner GC: $150
1x Award winner 3. RBC
RBC has 1 credit card that offers a free supplementary card – the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard. This cash back card offers the following earn rates:
- 1.5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually
- 1% cash back after $25,000 spent annually
Even with the $99 annual fee, these earn rates make it an excellent Costco credit card.
VIP banking customers
You can also get free supplementary cards if you have the RBC VIP Banking Plan. You get a credit card fee waiver of up to $120 and another $50 toward a supplementary card.
That $50 waiver for the supplementary card fee means these cards come with a free supplementary card:
And here are the other credit cards that qualify for the waiver but would still cost you some money:
- RBC British Airways Visa Infinite
- WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
4. Vancity
For those of you who live in BC, the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Card is a card that offers 1 free supplementary card.
Here's what you earn in terms of Vancity Rewards:
- 10 points per $1 spent at select local businesses
- 5 points per $1 spent on public transit and ferries◊
- 2.5 points per $1 spent on groceries.◊
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 2x the points when booking travel through Vancity Rewards
Vancity Rewards points are worth 1 cent each and can be redeemed for cash back, travel, charity, or gift cards.
The annual fee for this card is $120, and you have to be a resident of British Columbia to qualify.
5. TD
None of TD's credit cards comes with a free supplementary card.
However, if you have the TD All Inclusive package, it comes with an annual fee waiver for the primary cardholder and $75 toward a supplementary cardholder for these premium TD credit cards:
- TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
- TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card
6. CIBC
CIBC recently changed its Smart Account. Now, with the CIBC Smart Account, you'll earn a redemption waiver toward your annual fee, but the amount of the waiver depends on what program tier you're in.
Tier 2 clients receive a $50 annual fee waiver for the primary cardholder only. Tier 3 clients receive up to $139 for the primary cardholder and $50 for a supplementary cardholder. That means the following cards could include a free supplementary user if you're a tier 3 client:
There's also a $50 reduction in extra card fees for these Visa Infinite Privilege cards:
FAQ
What is a supplementary card?
Essentially, a supplementary card is an extra credit card linked to your account. You can give it to your spouse, partner, parent, child, or anyone you trust, and they'll have access to your credit card account. It's important to remember, though, that you are still the one responsible for paying the monthly credit card bill.
What is the difference between primary and supplementary cards?
Primary and supplementary credit cards usually offer the same perks, benefits, and rewards, but the primary card may have an annual fee that's higher than the supplementary card's. While the supplementary cardholder has access to the account, the primary cardholder is also the primary account holder and is, therefore, responsible for making payments.
Does a supplementary card affect a credit score in Canada?
Even though the supplementary card typically has the same benefits and rewards, using it doesn't affect the supplementary cardholder's credit score. Instead, it can negatively impact the primary cardholder's credit score if payments are missed or the supplementary cardholder maxes out the card.
What are the risks of giving a supplementary card?
Since your finances are intricately linked (it's a single account after all), you have to trust that the supplementary cardholder won't overspend and will help repay what they charge to the card. You should always discuss the financial expectations before adding someone to your credit card account.
Are American Express supplementary cards available?
Yes, all American Express credit cards come with at least 1 supplementary card, and it's usually free. However, be aware that supplementary American Express Aeroplan cards don't give the same travel benefits, like insurance and free bags, that come with the primary cards, even though they still earn rewards.
Who pays the bills for a supplementary card?
The primary cardholder is the person ultimately responsible for credit card repayments. Even if the supplementary cardholder uses their card, but the primary doesn't, the bill must be paid by the primary cardholder, or their credit score may take a hit. It's important to have a conversation with your supplementary users about payment expectations.
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