Best Credit Cards for Apple Products
At a Glance
Thinking about getting a new Macbook Pro or iPhone? Then you should think strategically about which card to use! Multiple credit cards can extend Apple’s warranty (with or without Apple Care) and get you some massive rewards for your spending that include cashback or thousands of reward points. Let’s take a look at our top picks for credit cards to use on Apple purchases.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Comparing the top credit cards to use for Apple purchases
| Credit Card | Rewards Rate | Signup Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Card | 3% back on Apple Pay purchases made directly with Apple or select retailers, 2% on all other Apple Pay purchases, 1% back on purchases made with the physical Apple Card | N/A |
| The Platinum Card from American Express | 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels, 1x points on everything else | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points for $8,000 in spending during the first 6 months of card ownership |
| Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | 3% cashback on online purchases and at US supermarkets and gas stations up to $6,000/year, 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000/year, 1% cashback on everything else | Earn $200 back after spending $2,000 during the first 6 months of card ownership |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 5x points on hotels and car rentals paid via Chase’s portal, 2x points on travel purchases, 3x points on dining, 10% points boost on card anniversary, 3x points on streaming services, 1x points on all other purchases | 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 during the first 3 months of card ownership |
A closer look at the best credit cards for buying apple products
Apple Card
Rewards rate: 3% daily cashback on purchases made at Apple or via Apple Pay at select merchants, 2% daily cashback for all other purchases made with Apple Pay, and 1% daily cashback for purchases made with the physical card. Up to 24 months of interest-free financing on an iPhone or Apple Watch. Up to 12 months of interest-free financing on iPads, eligible Macs, and select accessories. Up to 6 months of interest-free financing on Apple TVs and AirPods.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.24% – 29.49% variable
Signup bonus: N/A
Our verdict: Apple’s credit card comes with a rarely-seen daily cash back rate that’s an impressive perk to get. Plus, its automatic interest-free financing options are a welcomed option when it comes to paying for premium-priced products from Apple. However, it may not be the best option as a daily card due to its limited benefits outside of the Apple ecosystem.
Pros:
- 0% financing for up to 24 months on Apple products.
- No annual fee.
- Daily cash back feature.
Cons:
- Limited perks outside of Apple.
- No sign-up bonuses.
Apply now: Apple Card
The Platinum Card from American Express
Rewards rate: 5x points on flights and hotels paid via amextravel.com, 1x points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $695
Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 21.24% – 29.24% variable
Signup bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership.
Our verdict: Don’t let the shocking annual fee fool you; this card is a useful tool in your financial arsenal. The Platinum Card is an ideal pick for large, expensive products (like Apple gear) because it comes with an automatic one-year extension of the manufacturer’s warranty. It also includes cellphone insurance protection as long as your monthly bill is paid with the card. Add on the premium travel benefits, annual credits to Uber and Saks, and access to its exclusive Fine Hotels and Resorts collection, and you’ll never balk at the annual fee again.
Pros:
- Automatic 1-year warranty extension on purchases made with the card, access to multiple airport lounges, premium travel benefits, annual credits to Uber and Saks.
Cons:
- $695 annual fee, $195 annual fee for authorized users, benefits can be hard to redeem.
Apply now: American Express Platinum Card
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Rewards rate: 3% back at U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases, and U.S. gas stations, up to $6,000/year. 1% back on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $0 first year, then $95 after
Intro APR: 0% for 12 months
Regular APR: 19.24% – 29.99% variable
Signup bonus: Earn $200 back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first six months of Card Membership.
Our verdict: If you want something that earns a little more back with fewer hoops to jump through than the Apple Card, Blue Cash Everyday is your best bet. Its $0 annual fee and bonus categories on popular purchases make this a powerful card that earns more than it costs. Plus, it carries an extended 90-day purchase protection period allowing you to have extended coverage against theft or damage of your new Apple product.
Pros:
- No annual fee, bonus categories, 90 days purchase protection.
Cons:
- Spending caps on all bonus categories.
Apply now: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Rewards rate: 5x points on hotels and car rentals paid via Chase’s portal, 2x points on travel purchases, 3x points on dining, 10% points boost on card anniversary, 3x points on streaming services, 1x points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $95
Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 21.49%–28.49% variable
Signup bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Our verdict: If you’re someone who dabbles in traveling but isn’t serious enough about it to warrant Amex’s Platinum annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred is an excellent replacement for a significantly cheaper yearly cost. Purchases made with the Sapphire Preferred card instantly come with 120 days of purchase protection and an additional year of warranty coverage.
Pros:
- 10% anniversary point bonus.
- 120-day purchase protection.
- 1-year automatic warranty extension.
Cons:
- $95 annual fee.
Apply now: Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
How to choose the best credit card for Apple purchases
Deciding on the best card to shop with at Apple depends on a few factors:
1. Is this a new card? If so, you may want to use it for large purchases (like a new iPhone or Mac) to help you hit the spending requirement that gets you the sign-up bonus.
2. Do you want cashback or reward points? Cashback is a great option for those who prefer seeing a no-fuss way to get rewarded for their purchases, while rewards points can be strategically used to get discounted travel or free gift cards.
3. What sort of protection do you want? Both Chase Sapphire Preferred and The Platinum Card from American Express include purchase protection and warranty extensions on new purchases, making them excellent cards to use at Apple. However, they both come with annual fees that might end up costing you more than an extended Apple Care warranty would. Also, you’d need to go through their insurance underwriters for claims, whereas Apple Care lets you deal directly with the manufacturer.
Methodology
The methodology used to calculate the best cards for fair credit relied on several factors, with the most prominent of those being:
- The required credit score to apply successfully for the card.
- The additional benefits offered by the card beyond rewards.
- The rewards rate of the card, if applicable.
- Overall difficulty in securing a credit card with fair credit.
- The history of the card issuer itself.
- Any potential costs associated with owning the credit card.
The product information provided here is based on research conducted up to a specific date and may have changed. For the latest and most accurate information, we recommend you visit the respective card’s website before proceeding.
FAQs
Apple Card does not give discounts on Apple purchases but does offer 0% financing for up to 24 months (depending on the product) and a daily cashback rate of 3%.
Sometimes Chase will run a promotion that lets you use your Ultimate Rewards to pay for Apple products via their Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal. The good part of this is that Chase automatically gives you a 50% bump in value for your points used in the portal, making it a tempting way to get the latest gear from Apple. However, the deal for Apple isn’t evergreen and only pops up occasionally, so it’s best to check first to see what’s active in the portal. Also, depending on how many points you have, you may not receive the Sapphire Preferred benefits of warranty extension and purchase protection unless you pay a portion of your order with the card.
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