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Apple Card review: Daily cash back and no fees

Updated 3 min read

Apple is one of the largest companies in the world. From television to tablets, its products are everywhere, so it's no surprise that Apple created its own credit card, too. In partnership with Goldman Sachs, a leading financial services company, Apple launched the Apple Card in 2019.

Since its launch, the Apple Card has become quite popular. In fact, it was the highest-ranked card for customer satisfaction among co-branded credit cards with no annual fee. But if you aren't an Apple devotee, the Apple Card may not be as useful for you, and you may be better off with another credit card with broader rewards categories.

  • APR: 19.24% to 29.49%

  • Annual fee: The Apple Card has no annual fee.

  • Fees: Unlike many credit cards, the Apple Card is a true fee-free card. It doesn't charge annual fees, foreign transaction fees, late fees, or authorized user fees.

  • Rewards

    • 3% cash back at Apple and select merchants

    • As of January 2024, eligible merchants include Ace Hardware, DuaneReade, Exxon, Mobile, Nike, Panera Bread, Uber, T-Mobile, Uber Eats and Walgreens.)

    • 2% cash back when you use the Apple Card with Apple Pay

    • 1% cash back on all other purchases

The Apple Card's rewards are awarded daily, so you don't have to wait until the end of the billing cycle to use your rewards; you can redeem your daily cash-back rewards as soon as the same day.

Your Apple Card rewards are issued as daily cash back, and you can redeem your rewards in the following ways:

  • Statement credit: As you build your daily cash-back rewards, you can redeem them for a statement credit. You can apply the rewards to pay some or all of your outstanding Apple Card balance.

  • Account deposit: You can set up a savings account and deposit your Apple Card daily cash to the account and earn interest to grow your money.

  • Transfer to Apple Cash: Apple Card daily cash accumulates, and you can send the money to Apple Cash to use for purchases you make through Apple Pay.

  • No balance transfers or cash advances: The Apple Card can only be used for purchases; it doesn't allow cardmembers to transfer balances from other cards or take out cash advances.

  • No promotional APR: While some cards offer introductory APR promotions — such as 0% APR for 18 months on new purchases — the Apple Card does not. The regular APR applies to all purchases.

  • No physical cards for authorized users: The Apple Card is a titanium card rather than plastic. However, not everyone will get one; you must request a physical card and, if you have authorized users, they aren't eligible for a physical card.

  • Limited benefits: The Apple Card is a Mastercard, and it only provides limited benefits like ShopRunner membership and identity theft protection. Other cards have more robust benefits, such as travel insurance and extended warranty protection.

The Apple Card is part of the Mastercard network, one of the largest networks in the world. It can be used at most retail locations in the U.S. and internationally.

To have an Apple Card, you must have an Apple iCloud account. You can make payments through the Apple mobile app or over the phone:

  • Phone: 877-255-5923

  • Mobile app: To make a payment, open the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap the Apple Card and tap "pay." Choose a payment amount and follow the instructions to submit the payment.

Customer support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can reach customer service through the following methods:

Here are a few more of our picks for great rewards cards that can offer a lot of value back on your spending.

  • Annual fee
    $0
  • Welcome offer
    Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Cash-back, Rewards
  • Purchase APR
    19.99% - 29.99% variable
  • Introductory APR
    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable 19.99% - 29.99% APR
  • Recommended credit score
    Good, Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
    • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
    • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • Get a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
    • Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024

Why we like it: The SavorOne card from Capital One is another no annual fee cash-back card with a number of rewards categories that can easily fit your regular spending. Cash-back rewards include 3% back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores (not including Target or Walmart) and 1% on all other purchases. You can also earn a boosted 8% back on Capital One Entertainment spending and 5% back on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel. 

  • Annual fee
    $0
  • Welcome offer
    Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months
  • Card type(s)
    Cash-back
  • Ongoing Balance Transfer APR
    19.24% - 29.99% Variable
  • Introductory Purchases APR
    0% on purchases for 15 months
  • Introductory Balance Transfer APR
    0% on balance transfers for 15 months
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    19.24% - 29.99% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent, Good
  • Rewards rate
    • 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
    • 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
    • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
    • 1% cash back on all other purchases
    • Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout
  • Benefits
    • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
    • Get a $7 monthly statement credit after spending $9.99 or more on a streaming subscription to the Disney Bundle, plus earn up to $15 in monthly statement credits after purchasing a Home Chef subscription

Why we like it: American Express offers a solid no annual fee cash-back option, too, with the Blue Cash Everyday. Along with a generous welcome bonus, you can earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on U.S. online retail purchases, and at U.S. gas stations (each up to $6,000 spent each year, then 1%) and 1% on everything else. (Terms apply; cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.)

This card also offers a generous introductory APR on new purchases and balance transfers. And you’ll get a few added benefits, including $7 in statement credits back each month you spend at least $9.99 on the Disney Bundle (with subscription subject to auto-renewal; enrollment required), and $15 back each month when you pay for an auto-renewing Home Chef subscription with your card (enrollment required).

  • Annual fee
    $95
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (that's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel?)
  • Card type(s)
    Travel
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    21.49% - 28.49% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel
    • 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
    • 2x points on all other travel purchases
    • 1x points on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel
    • Earn up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
    • On every account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year

Why we like it: If you’re open to earning points instead of cash back, the Chase Sapphire Preferred can be an incredibly valuable option for travel rewards. This card has a $95 annual fee and a generous welcome bonus, along with a 25% boost when you redeem points for travel through Chase.

Each year, you’ll get a $50 hotel credit for stays you book through Chase Travel. Ongoing rewards include 5x points on travel through Chase (not including purchases that qualify for the hotel credit), 3x on dining, 3x on select streaming services, 3x on online grocery spending (not including wholesale clubs, Target, or Walmart), 2x points on all other travel, and 1x on everything else. In addition to the hotel credit, you’ll get a points boost on your account anniversary worth 10% of your overall purchases from the past year.

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the author(s) and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.