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The Apple credit card launches this summer, and it pairs the high-tech, app-based culture of the brand with some favorite credit card user perks. Before you join the flock likely to flood Apple with credit card applications, do your homework to make sure this card will meet your needs. Check out the details about the Apple credit card below, as well as some alternative credit cards you might apply for.
What’s the Apple Credit Card?
The Apple credit card is a payment card offered by Apple and issued by Goldman Sachs. Despite the Apple name on the card, whether or not a consumer is approved and the day-to-day financial management of accounts is handled by Goldman Sachs.
The design of the card and all its cash-back credit card perks, however, are courtesy of Apple and include:
- Integration with Apple Pay and Apple Wallet
- Integration with your iPhone or another iOS mobile device to support phone-based payments and access to accounts
- Apple’s customary security and privacy levels
- Cash back offers that are especially useful to Apple fans
Basic facts to know about the new Apple credit card include:
- It comes with a 49% to 23.49% variable APR (as of 12/19/2019) depending on your creditworthiness.
- You earn 1 to 3% cash back on purchases.
- The Apple credit card doesn’t come with any fees—that includes no annual fee, late payment fees, foreign transaction fee and over-limit fees.
- Though you do receive a physical card whose number you can use in Google Wallet, the Apple credit card also comes as a virtual card number designed to live in your Apple Wallet.
The wide range APRs suggest so some that the card may be available to people with a fair credit score.1 No one will know until the card actually launches though.
Benefits and Perks of the Apple Credit Card
While interest rates and credit limits are important, most consumers also choose a card based on the perks its rewards program affords them. Intelligent use of perk-related cards, such as travel rewards cards, can help you save money or earn extra pennies on cash you already plan to spend. Here’s a look at how Apple credit card perks stack up for users.
Expense and Spending Organization in One Place
Apple is making a big deal out of the user experience element of this credit card, which involves heavy integration with iPhones. The card itself is housed in the Apple Wallet app on your iOS device. Since you can only use the digital version of the card where Apple Pay is accepted, you also get a unique physical card that’s as sleek and high-tech as any Apple device.
The card’s digital component offers specific benefits:
- You can apply for the card and, if approved, it’s immediately in your Wallet app. You can start using it the same day without waiting for a card to arrive in the mail.
- Without using a physical card, you don’t have a card number or other elements that can be stolen, which increases the security of your account.
Apple also provides an app that lets you manage your spending and account in a single location. You can view charges based on a map to figure out where money was spent, get a color-coded breakdown of your expenses to help you budget and view visual and numeric information about how various payment amounts impact the total owed. Log in to the app when you’re ready to make a payment on your account, and you’re also provided with estimates on how much interest you’ll be charged and can see how much interest you’ll pay if you pay your card off sooner than later and vice versa.
Cash Back and Daily Cash Back with Some Purchases
The card gives account holders the chance to earn cash-back rewards too. And you get even more cash back rewards when you spend with Apple.
- You get 3% cash back on all purchases from Apple. That includes purchases at apple.com, Apple stores, iTunes and the Apple app store. You earn cash back on the game, app and in-app purchases, including music, storage plans and books.
- You get 2% cash back on anything else you purchase and pay with using Apple Pay.
- If you have to break out the physical Apple Card to make a payment, you still earn 1% cash back.
Cash back is always a great perk for a credit card, but it’s especially nice when the card doesn’t have an annual fee. The Apple credit card makes cash back even more of a perk by awarding it to you the day after you spend rather than waiting for the statement cycle to close.
To make use of cash back the next day, you do have to have an Apple Cash card, which is how Apple transmits rewards to you. If you don’t have an Apple Cash card, then the cash back rewards are applied as a statement credit on your Apple credit card account.
Who Benefits Most from This Credit Card?
Because of its heavy integration with iOS technology and the Apple Wallet, the Apple credit card is more likely to be useful to Apple customers. Individuals who carry Android or other devices won’t be able to access many of the features available with this card. And if you’re not shopping with Apple or using Apple Pay, you miss the top tier cash-back rewards.
You might benefit from this card if:
- You have an iPhone, especially if you’re prone to or like the idea of handling your finances via a single app on your device.
- You’re an avid user of Apple technology and have already adopted Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
- You make a lot of purchases at Apple’s stores or using Apple subscriptions or the Apple app stores.
Alternatives to the Apple Credit Card
The Apple credit card is obviously not right for everyone. If you don’t have an iPhone, prefer Android or aren’t interested in using any or much technology for your financial management, you may want to opt for a different kind of credit card account.
For those who don’t fit the target audience for the Apple credit card, plenty of other rewards cards are available. Here are a few you might consider.
- The Chase Freedom® Unlimited card comes with 3% cash back on your first $20,000 in purchases your first year as a cardholder. After that, you can earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase.The extra cash back your first year makes this card ideal in order to maximize your rewards. And the 1.5% after that is nothing is nothing to sneeze at.
- The American Express® Gold card, which does require decent credit but offers some spectacular perks for those who love a fine dining experience or are always chasing the next fun foodie adventure. This card is also known as a great travel rewards card.
- The Capital One® Quicksilver® card, which offers unlimited 1.5% cash back without limits. That makes this card an ideal daily swiper. And an APR of 0% intro on purchases for 15 months lets you double your rewards by making a large purchase and paying it off without interest in the first year or so.
- The Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® with Cash Back Rewards is a rewards card option for people with bad, poor or fair credit. It lets cardholders earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible purchase (some terms apply).
Apple isn’t the only—or first—company to enter the market of branded credit cards. If you like the idea of rewards that are brand-based, but you don’t use an iPhone or spend a lot at the Apple store, consider some of the options below.
- The Montgomery Ward credit card that lets you buy now and pay later for hundreds of brands at Montgomery Ward.
- The Kroger REWARDS Prepaid Visa® card that lets you earn rewards to use for free groceries and to save on gas.
- The Official NASCAR® Credit card from Credit One Bank® that pays you double cash back on items purchased from the NASCAR.com Superstore (terms apply) and 1% cashback on all other purchases too.
Ultimately, there’s a credit card option for almost any spending or financial goal. Browse the selection of offers on Credit.com to find a card that works for your needs and preferences, including:
- Cards for building or repairing credit, which usually start with lower limits that grow as you handle the account responsibly.
- Balance transfer cards, which let you move balances from higher-interest accounts and pay them down faster to save money.
- Rewards cards, which let you earn money on expenses you would be paying anyway, including travel, utilities, food and clothing.
- Cards with no annual fee that let you avoid paying the card issuer to use your credit card.
Whether or not you’re approved for the Apple credit card or any of these other card offers depends on your creditworthiness. Review the information about each credit card carefully, ensuring you understand the offers, fees and rewards structures. Then, check your credit score—for free—and apply for a credit card on Credit.com.
1 https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/26/apple-credit-card-read-the-fine-print.html
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.