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In launching the Apple Card, Apple promised “a new kind of credit card.” Yes, the card is made from titanium and carries the cache of the Apple brand. But the card falls short when it comes to benefits. And practically, there are other cards that offer better value propositions when it comes to cash back rewards. The Apple Card has no annual fee.
When you use your card with Apple Pay, you’ll get 2% back on most purchases and 3% at a handful of partner merchants. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.
Unlike competing cards, the Apple Card doesn’t really offer any additional benefits. You won’t get an extended warranty, purchase protection, or other protections you’re used to with other credit cards.
Apple Card at a glance
Here’s what you need to know about the Apple Card.
Rewards
| 3% | Apple and at select merchants when you use your card to pay with Apple Pay. Select merchants include Duane Reade, Mobil, Panera Bread, Uber, Walgreens, Ace Hardware, Exxon, Nike, T-Mobile, and Uber Eats. | |
| 2% | Purchases made using Apple Pay using your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac. | |
| 1% | All other purchases |
The Apple Card’s daily cash back is deposited into your Apple Cash account or your savings account, based on your election.
Benefits
The Apple Card has no substantive benefits.
Other important terms
| Annual fee: $0 | |
| Foreign transaction fee: None |
My take on the Apple Card
The Apple Card is, frankly, laughable. When a company that sells $1,000+ phones and $3,500+ VR headsets launches a credit card, I’d expect that credit card to be a premium product that rivals the best offerings from Chase and Amex. Instead, the Apple Card looks more like a product I’d expect from a sub-prime credit card issuer.
When it comes to rewards, many, many other cards offer 2% cash back everywhere, without having to jump through the hoop of using Apple Pay. In fact if you’re using Apple Pay everywhere you should be using the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card for 3% cash back or 4.5% travel rewards everywhere. Many, many other card earn better rewards on everyday purchases like gas, groceries, pharmacies and at merchants like Target and Costco.
Perhaps even more surprising is that the card doesn’t even offer basic benefits like extended warranty or purchase protection.
The bottom line is that the Apple Card isn’t a compelling product and isn’t worth your time. Apple can do better.
Welcome bonus
The Apple Card occasionally offers targeted welcome bonuses to new cardmembers, but there is no public welcome offer on this card. If you want a welcome bonus, check our our best cash back welcome offers or the links to various airline and hotel welcome offers at the top of this page.
Apple Card rewards
The Apple Card offers its rewards as “daily cash back.” Your cash back rewards are made available every day and get deposited to your Apple Cash account or your savings account automatically. Here’s what the Apple Card earns:
| 3% | Apple and at select merchants when you use your card to pay with Apple Pay. Select merchants include Duane Reade, Mobil, Panera Bread, Uber, Walgreens, Ace Hardware, Exxon, Nike, T-Mobile, and Uber Eats. | |
| 2% | Purchases made using Apple Pay using your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac. | |
| 1% | All other purchases |
The Apple Card’s daily cash back is deposited into your Apple Cash account or your savings account, based on your election.
Card Benefits
The Apple Card has no notable benefits beyond its cash back. Apple occasionally offers special financing on Apple purchases to Apple Card cardmembers.
How to apply:
You can apply for the Apple Card by logging into your Apple account on Apple’s website.
Better alternatives to the Apple Card
Apple is selling the cache of the Apple brand and the feel of a titanium card, but without much substance. The card doesn’t offer any notable benefits. And if you want to earn 2% cash back “everywhere” or earn 3% cash back with Apple’s limited number of partners, you must use Apple Pay. Android user? You’re out of luck. Merchant doesn’t accept Apple pay? You get 1% cash back.
Here are some better alternatives.
If you want 2% cash back on every purchase, without having to use Apple Pay for everything, look to our best 2% card with no annual fee.
For drugstore purchases, look at the Chase Freedom Flex. You’ll the 3% back on purchases at Duane Reade, Walgreens and any other drugstore, without having to use Apple Pay. And you’ll get 3% back on dining as well. On top of that, if you pay your monthly T-Mobile (or any other carrier) bill with the card, you’ll get cell phone protection, which can cover you if you spider your phone screen or if your phone is stolen. You could also go for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, trading the cell phone protection for 1.5% cash back everywhere, in addition to the other bonus categories.
For Apple purchases, or other purchases that come with a warranty, consider using a card with an extended warranty benefit. The Citi Rewards+ card is the best choice here. On a $1,000 purchase with Apple, you might give up a marginal $20 worth of cash back, but for that $20, you’ll get an additional two years of extended warranty. That’s a good trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an Apple card with an Android phone?
Yes, but Apple Pay is only available on iPhones. So you won’t earn more than 1% rewards on the card without an iPhone. You can manage your account online at card.apple.com.
Do I need to use Apple Pay to get 2% cash back.
With the Apple Card, you must use Apple Pay to get 2% cash back.
Does the Apple Card offer an extended warranty?
The Apple Card offers no extended warranty or other substantive benefits beyond its cash back rewards.
Does the Apple Card offer a sign-up bonus?
The Apple Card does not offer a public sign-up bonus for new cardmembers. AppleInsider, a news website dedicated to Apple rumors and product launches, mentions that some people have gotten targeted welcome offers directly form Apple.
