Supplemental cards are an easy way for households to consolidate credit card bills. You each get a credit card with access to all the same features. There is a cost to getting a supplementary card on an account, but it's much less than paying another annual fee.
Some credit cards take things even farther and offer extra cards for free. Most of the time, it's limited to just one extra card, but that's still extra savings for you.
Sadly, the list of these cards is small. Here is our guide to free supplemental cards in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- Supplemental cards are a way to pool expenses together on one account.
- With most supplemental cards, the authorized user gets access to all the benefits.
- With no and low fee credit cards there usually isn't a charge for adding extra cards.
- Most premium credit cards do have a fee with a few exceptions.
Never miss an amazing deal again + get our bonus 250+ page eBook for FREE. Join 50,000 other Canadians who receive our weekly newsletter – learn more.
What is a supplementary card?
A supplemental card simply allows 2 people to share 1 credit card account. Each card gets the full benefits offered, and these extra cards have a much smaller fee than if 2 people each got their own accounts.
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 of concern.
What are the fees for supplemental cards?
The fees you pay for supplemental cards can vary.
It goes without saying, but for no annual fee cards supplemental cards also have no charge.
With low annual fee cards, the vast majority of them also don't charge extra fees for additional cards.
But once you get to premium cards with annual fees of $99 or higher, you'll start to see a charge. The most common fee is $50, but it can be more or less, depending on the card and issuer.
There are some though, that at least give 1 extra card for free. And that's the focus of this page, which premium cards offer at least 1 extra card for free.
Most of the big banks in Canada don't have free supplemental cards. But, a few of them do if you have premium bank accounts. They all come with credit card annual fee waivers, but a few of them also extend this to the first authorized user of an account.
Summary of the best credit cards with free supplementary cards
Here's our summary of the best credit cards with free extra cards.
| Credit Card | Welcome Bonus | Earn Rates | Annual Fee, Income Requirements | Apply Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt Card | Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) | * 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants * 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 | * $155.88 * None | Apply Now |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card |  $30 GeniusCash + 35,000 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 |
To qualify for our listing, a credit card has to have an annual fee of $99 or more. Most credit cards that have an annual fee less than that offer free extra cards.
Issuers with free supplementary credit cards
Here's a rundown with issuers that offer free supplemental cards.
1. American Express
If you want a free supplemental card, Amex has the biggest lineup of them. Most Amex cards offer 1 free extra card with their accounts.
Best Amex supplementary card
The best credit card in Canada offers 1 free extra card with the American Express Cobalt Card. Now you can get even more rewards on top of what this terrific card already earns.
Here's what this card offers:
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants
- 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 4 different ways for travel, with a transfer to Aeroplan having the potential to provide the best value.
The annual fee for this card is $155.88 that gets charged out as $12.99 per month.
×8 Award winner Transfer points to Aeroplan and 7 other travel partners with Canada's #1 credit card.*
8x Award winner Transfer points to Aeroplan and 7 other travel partners with Canada's #1 credit card.*
Other Amex cards with free supplemental cards
There are plenty of other cards that offer 1 free extra user. They are:
- American Express Gold Rewards Card
- SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
- Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
There's a special note when it comes to Amex's Aeroplan cards. They do offer free extra users, however you don't get any of the benefits associated with having these cards. If you choose to add extra users, all those cards can do is earn points. The authorized user will not be able to use the insurance or included Air Canada benefits.
These cards are:
If you want the user to have all the benefits of the card, there is a fee to pay.
2. Scotiabank
Scotiabank issues 1 credit card that comes with a free supplemental 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 towards movie tickets at Cineplex, groceries at Sobeys and Safeway, travel, hardware supplies at Home Hardware, or meals at Recipe Unlimited restaurants, all for the same value of 1 cent per point.
It also comes with some special features. The first is this is a rare credit card that doesn't charge foreign exchange fees, saving 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.
GC: $30
3. RBC
RBC offers 1 credit card that offers a free supplemental 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
Those earn rates make it an excellent credit card for Costco, for a $99 annual fee.
VIP banking customers
You can also get free supplemental cards if you have the RBC VIP Banking Plan. You get a credit card fee waiver of up to $120 and another $50 towards a supplemental card.
That $50 reduction in supplemental card fee will mean these cards can get a free extra card added to their accounts:
And here are the other credits cards that qualify for the waiver but would still cost you some money for extra cards:
- RBC British Airways Visa Infinite
- WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
4. TD
None of TD's credit cards come with a free supplemental card.
However, if you have the TD All Inclusive package, it comes with an annual fee waiver for the primary cardholder and one additional user for these premium TD credit cards:
- TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
- TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card
5. CIBC
CIBC is much like TD. None of CIBC's premium cards come with free supplemental cards. But you can get them for free if you have the CIBC Smart Plus Account.
There's one bonus to CIBC’s offering – the rebate on additional cards applies to 3 authorized users, not just one.
These premium cards will come with 3 free supplemental cards:
There's also a $50 reduction in extra card fees for these Visa Infinite Privilege cards:
6. Vancity
For those of you who live in BC, the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Card is a card that offers 1 free supplemental card.
Here's what you earn for rewards. This credit card collects 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 get it.
Which credit card do you use that comes with a free supplemental card?
Sadly, there aren't many credit cards that come with free supplemental cards.
Do you have a credit card that doesn't charge fees for extra cards?
Which is it? Let us know in the comments below.
FAQ
What is a supplemental card?
A supplemental card can be added to any credit card account. It allows more than 1 person to earn rewards and make use of the benefits a credit card can offer.
Do all credit cards offer supplemental cards for free?
Most credit cards with annual fees of less than $99 don't charge for supplemental cards. However, with a few exceptions, premium credit cards charge a fee for extra cards.
What credit card issuers in Canada offer credit cards with a free supplemental card?
Here are some issuers that have premium cards with at least 1 free extra card:
- American Express,
- Scotiabank,
- RBC, and
- Vancity.
Some banks also have banking packages that come with a credit card annual fee waiver for the primary cardholder and an additional card.
creditcardGenius is the only tool that compares 126+ features of 229 Canadian credit cards using math-based ratings and rankings that respond to your needs, instantly. Take our quiz and see which of Canada's 229 cards is for you.
GC: 
Comments
Leave a comment
Required fields are marked with *. Your email address will not be published.
Showing 1 comments