Choosing the right credit cards is the most critical step for anyone looking to monetize their high credit score by selling tradelines in 2025. To maximize your passive income, you need cards from issuers that allow multiple authorized users (AUs) and report that history quickly to all three major credit bureaus.

Here are the top-tier credit cards for selling tradelines based on 2025 performance data and industry standards.

1. The Powerhouse: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® remains a gold standard because of its high minimum starting limit of $10,000, with many cardholders easily reaching limits of $50,000+.

• Why it’s great: High-limit tradelines (HLTs) command significantly higher fees from buyers.

• Management: Chase allows for easy reallocation of limits between cards, letting you "stack" a single card's limit to make it more attractive to buyers.

2. The Versatile Performer: Chase Sapphire Preferred®

For those who want high limits without the $550 annual fee of the Reserve, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is the top-recommended choice for 2025.

• Why it’s great: It has a minimum $5,000 limit and reports consistently to all bureaus.

• Strategy: It is widely accepted by most tradeline brokerages.

3. The Limit King: American Express® (Platinum & Gold)

Amex is unique because it often offers "no preset spending limit," which can translate into massive "internal" limits based on your usage.

• Why it’s great: It is known for high-income profiles, making these lines premium inventory.

• Caution: Amex typically requires the AU's Social Security Number and may have stricter limits on how many AUs can be added for the purpose of "piggybacking".

4. Best for Slot Volume: Discover it® Cash Back

Discover is a favorite for high-volume sellers because they are generally more lenient with adding and removing authorized users.

• Why it’s great: They report quickly to credit bureaus, ensuring the buyer sees the boost within one billing cycle.

• Strategy: If you have an older Discover card (5+ years), its "age" makes it a high-value tradeline regardless of the limit.

5. The Reliable "Old Guard": Bank of America & Citi

Cards like the Citi® Double Cash or Bank of America's customized rewards cards are excellent secondary options.

• Why they’re great: Both issuers are accepted by major brokers and typically allow for 2-3 AU slots per card.

• Specific Advantage: Citi is particularly efficient at reporting AU data to the bureaus.

Key Strategy: What to Look For in 2025

When selecting a card for your portfolio, prioritize these three factors:

1. Low Utilization: You must keep your balance below 10% (ideally 1%) for the tradeline to be effective for buyers.

2. Seasoning (Age): Tradelines are most valuable when the account is at least 2 years old. Cards over 10 years old are "gold" in the marketplace.

3. Credit Bureau Reporting: Ensure the issuer reports authorized user data to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Note: Always consult the terms of service of your specific card issuer. Some banks have introduced "lifetime limits" on the total number of authorized users you can add.