Is the Apple Card Worth It?

Apple often does a fantastic job of marketing its products. Who doesn't remember those mid-2000s iPod commercials? The Apple Card is no exception. The tech giant claims to have "completely reinvented the credit card," and it had 6.7 million cardholders as of 2022.

The Apple Card is a rewards card available exclusively to iPhone users that earns Daily Cash, which is cash back you receive the same day you make a purchase. Last month, Apple added another big perk for cardholders with its Savings account, a high-yield savings account offering a 4.15% APY.

However, it's a crowded credit card marketplace with a lot of great options available. If you're thinking about signing up for this Apple credit card, you should know what it offers and how it stacks up to the competition.

Key features of the Apple Card

The Apple Card has several cool features that make it stand out from other cards. For one, there are no fees. That means no annual fee, no late fees, and no foreign transaction fees.

The only potential extra cost is interest. But when you're ready to make a payment, Apple Card shows you an estimate of how much interest you'll pay over time based on the payment amount you enter. That's helpful, as you get to see exactly how much credit card interest can cost you.

The most valuable perk of the Apple Card is Daily Cash. Most cash back credit cards send you your cash back once per month after the billing cycle closes. Apple does it every day. Here are the Apple Card's cash back rates:

• 3% Daily Cash back at Apple and at select merchant partners when you use Apple Pay (current partners include Uber, Walgreens, and T-Mobile)
• 2% Daily Cash back on purchases made using Apple Pay
• 1% Daily Cash back on other eligible purchases

What makes this Daily Cash even better is that you can now pair your Apple Card with a Savings account from Goldman Sachs. The account has no fees, no minimum deposits, and no minimum balance requirements. And its 4.15% APY is comparable to the best savings account rates.

Once you set up a Savings account, you can have your Daily Cash deposited into it automatically. This makes it easy and convenient to earn a high interest rate on your cash back.

Another perk of the Apple Card is that it lets you pay for new Apple products over time, interest-free. You can pay off purchases in monthly installments for six to 24 months, depending on the product.

Why the Apple Card isn't quite a slam dunk

The Apple Card doesn't have any glaring flaws, but it does fall short of the top credit cards in a few areas.

Its biggest drawback is that it doesn't have a sign-up bonus. Many rewards cards have sign-up bonuses you earn if you reach a spending minimum. For example, some cash back cards offer a $200 bonus to new cardholders who spend $500 in the first three months.

Depending on your spending habits, you may also be able to earn more back with a different card. The Apple Card is pretty limited in terms of bonus categories, earning 3% Daily Cash on purchases with Apple and its merchant partners. Other cash back cards earn 3% to as high as 6% in broader bonus categories, such as gas and groceries, dining, or entertainment.

Is the Apple Card worth it?

The Apple Card is a good choice if you like Apple products and you want to keep your finances as simple as possible.

If you use Apple Pay for most purchases, then you'll earn 2% Daily Cash on that spending, which is a competitive rate. And Apple takes practically all the work out of managing your credit card rewards since you can have your Daily Cash automatically transferred to a Savings account.

I'd recommend checking out other options before you apply for an Apple Card, though. You might find that there are cash back cards that better fit your spending habits. For example, if you spend a lot on groceries, one of the best grocery credit cards could offer more value. It's always worth comparing multiple cards before picking one to ensure you're making the right choice.