Kat Tretina
May 15, 2019
Apple has a cult following; their phones and tablets have a devoted fanbase. Every new release is greeted by long lines and record sales. But now Apple is entering a whole new space: credit cards.
On March 25, 2019, Apple announced that they were launching a new credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard. The announcement created tons of buzz in the finance communities, and the card is expected to be available in the summer. But before you submit your application, it’s important to understand what the Apple Card offers.
What makes the Apple Card different
The Apple Card will be linked to the Apple Wallet app on iPhones, streamlining your experience with Apple Pay. You can sign up for the Apple Card and start using it right away in stores, online, or through the app.
In addition, it gives you real-time views of your latest transactions. And, if you need help, you can contact customer support via text message directly through the app.
Apple will offer users a titanium card for shopping at retailers that don’t accept Apple Pay, yet. The titanium card has no credit card number, security code, or expiration date, making it more secure than other cards.
Rewards
The Apple Card’s approach to rewards is different than that of other credit cards. Rather than earning points, you’ll get a percentage of every Apple Card purchase back as Daily Cash. Unlike cash back reward programs on other cards, Daily Cash is added to your account each day, and can be used right away. You can use it to complete purchases, get a statement credit, or even send it to friends and family.
Purchases made directly through Apple — such as the App Store — will give you 3% Daily Cash. When you use the Apple Card through Apple Pay, you’ll get 2% Daily Cash. If you use the titanium version at brick-and-mortar stores, you’ll earn 1% Daily Cash on your purchases.
Benefits
The Apple Card is putting its focus on user experience. Through the app, you’ll get weekly and monthly summaries of your spending so you can spot trends and adjust your budget accordingly. It’s also one of the first apps that will encourage you to pay as little interest as possible; it will show you how much interest you’d pay at different payment levels, motivating you to pay more than the minimum payment.
Terms and Fees
Unlike many credit cards, the Apple Card boasts no fees. There are no annual fees, late, international, or over-the-limit fees. The company said in a press release that they plan to offer interest rates that are among the lowest in the industry. And, if you miss a payment, you won’t be charged a penalty rate.
How to apply for the Apple Card
Expected to launch this summer, you can’t apply for the Apple Card just yet. However, you can sign up for notifications and get an alert when the application is available on Apple.com/apple-card.
Alternatives to the Apple Card
The Apple Card’s concept is interesting. However, it appeals to a very niche audience: users who are Apple devotees who use their iPhones and Apple Pay. If you don’t use Apple Pay often, or if you’re an Android user, signing up for the Apple Card doesn’t make sense. And, another rewards credit card could offer more value.
For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card allows you to earn a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. You’ll earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. There’s no minimum to redeem for cash back and your Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open.
- Credit Recommended (660-850):
- Good/Excellent
- Intro (Purchases)
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
- Intro (Transfers)
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
- Annual Fee
- $0
- Regular APR
- 16.49% - 25.24% Variable
- Credit Recommended
- Good/Excellent
- Intro Rewards Bonus
- $150 Cash Back
Highlights
- Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.49 - 25.24%.
- 3% intro balance transfer fee when you transfer a balance during the first 60 days your account is open, with a minimum of $5
- No annual fee
- No minimum to redeem for cash back
- Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
Or, consider the Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards card. Offering unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, the card has no annual fee. If you spend $500 on new purchases within the first three months of opening an account, you’ll get a $150 signup bonus, a 30% return on spend.
- Credit Recommended:
- Excellent, Good
- Intro (Purchases)
- 0% for 15 months
- Intro (Transfers)
- 0% for 15 months
- Annual Fee
- $0
- Foreign Trans Fee
- None
- Regular APR
- 15.74% - 25.74% (Variable)
- Credit Recommended
- Excellent, Good
Highlights
- One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 15.74%-25.74% variable APR after that
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months; 15.74%-25.74% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
- Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Check out the
best rewards credit cards of 2019 to find the perfect addition to your wallet.
Editorial Disclaimer: Information in these articles is brought to you by CreditSoup. Banks, issuers, and credit card companies mentioned in the articles do not endorse or guarantee, and are not responsible for, the contents of the articles. The information is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted; however, all credit card information is presented without warranty. Please check the issuer’s website for the most current information.