Owned the Apple Card for 3 Months: It’s Dismal Compared to Other Credit Cards
From 1997 to 2002, Apple ran a campaign urging its customers to “think different.” But when it comes to adapting to customer feedback, Apple doesn’t always follow its own mantra. A Reddit post from five years ago provides a detailed critique of the Apple Card and highlights its shortcomings compared to other credit cards.
Key Points:
- Apple Card focuses its rewards mainly on Apple Pay users.
- Rewards have remained unchanged for the past five years.
- Many alternatives to the Apple Card offer better benefits.
A Disappointing Customer Experience
According to a Reddit user, Guy, the physical Apple Card—made of titanium—is “absolutely dismal” when compared to other cards. For most purchases, it offers only 1% cash back. To earn better rewards, users must pay via Apple Pay, earning 2% on most purchases, and 3% on Apple product purchases or purchases at select merchants like Ace Hardware, Exxon Mobil, and Uber.
- Apple limits rewards for physical card use to 1% cash back.
- Apple Pay users get better rewards: 2% and 3% for select purchases.
Additionally, Guy highlights several limitations:
- Apple doesn’t issue a second card for authorized users.
- Apple Card data doesn’t integrate with third-party apps like Mint or YNAB.
- Payments can’t be made via a web portal, only by phone or mail.
Given that these complaints are from five years ago, one might expect improvements by now.
Little Has Changed Over the Years
Visiting the Apple Card website today reveals that many issues from five years ago still persist. While the site is visually appealing, information is harder to find compared to competitors like Chase or Capital One.
Here’s what has stayed the same:
- Cashback rewards are still 1% for physical card purchases, and 2% or 3% for Apple Pay transactions.
- Apple still won’t issue a second card for authorized users unless they use Apple Pay.
- Integration with budgeting apps remains unavailable, although users can manually download their transaction data.
One improvement is the ability to pay your bill directly through the Wallet app, although it’s unclear if this was always an option.
Better Alternatives Than the Apple Card
The Apple Card may appeal to Apple fans who are keen on using their iPhones or Apple Watches for payments, but for everyone else, it falls short. Competitors offer much better options in terms of cashback rewards.
- Many cards, such as Capital One Spark, SoFi Unlimited, Fidelity Rewards, and Citi Double Cash, offer 2% cashback on purchases made with Apple Pay.
- Even Apple Card’s top reward, 3% for Apple purchases, can be beaten by other cards offering 5% rotating rewards, like U.S. Bank’s Cash+ or Chase Freedom.
Ultimately, there are plenty of other cashback credit cards that offer better rewards with fewer restrictions. Apple Card may be a niche product, but for those not fully immersed in the Apple ecosystem, it’s hard to justify its drawbacks.
- Apple Card offers limited rewards compared to cards like Chase Freedom and Citi Custom Cash.
- For higher cashback opportunities, consider cards with rotating categories or flat 2% cashback rewards.
In conclusion, while Apple Card might suit a specific segment of Apple loyalists, it’s not the best option for most people looking for high cashback rewards. There are far better cards available that offer more flexibility and better returns.
