Why You Should Avoid the Apple Card Credit Card

The Apple Card: Must Get or Must Pass?

I get it. It’s shiny, you get instantly approved, the physical card is Titanium….

Blah, blah, and BLAH.

I’m a huge Apple fan. But I’m also a huge credit card rewards fan and, to not mince words, the Apple Card by Goldman Sachs misses the mark in nearly every way but convenience and “cool factor.”

Let’s go over how this card actually earns along with all of the reasons why you don’t need it – point by point.

Apple Card Earns 2% cash for Apple Pay spend; but 1% when you can’t use Apple Pay

Cool. How about you just earn straight up 2% back all the time, tap or swipe?

The Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature and Citi Double Cash Card earn straight up 2% all the time.

A credit union called Alliant even offers a 3% card.

And Apple wants you to be excited for 1-2%?

Apple Card Earns 3% back on Apple and at Uber

Cool. You can usually get at least 2% off Uber gift cards at Raise, where you will also earn portal cash back or miles PLUS the 2% + on your credit card. And that’s really a minimum as I regularly see promotions for Uber gift cards for as much as 10% off.

For Apple purchases, it’s 1% better but at the expense of the Extended Warranty program other cards offer. I put all electronics purchases on an an Amex card as I feel they are the easiest to deal with when you need to use the Extended Warranty.

Apple Card Rewards and Benefits

Looking for the Credit Cards with the Best Rewards? That link has them; Apple Card has none.

They have no Priority Pass Lounge access. No primary car rental coverage.

No purchase protection benefits. No benefits.

Should ANYONE use Apple Card?

Maybe. If you carry balances, you should avoid points earning credit cards and focus on lower rates until you are no longer carrying balances. Apple Card does promise lower rates, however they still start at 12.99%. I do like that they have no fees of any kind. no annual fees, no late fees…. no fees. That’s actually cool.

Still, if you need some short term balances, plenty of cards will offer 0% intro APRs for 12-15 months.

Will you get an Apple Card?

Let me know here, on Twitter, or in the private MilesTalk Facebook group.

You can find credit cards that best match your spending habits and bonus categories at Your Best Credit Cards. 

New to all of this? The MilesTalk “introduction to miles and points” book, MilesTalk: Live Your Wildest Travel Dreams Using Miles and Points is available on Amazon and at major booksellers.