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If you’re brand loyal to Apple or Amazon, it makes sense to get a credit card that offers you the best cash back rewards for your purchases.
The Apple Credit Card has no annual fee and allows you to split the cost of your eligible Apple purchases in monthly installments with no interest.. The Amazon Prime Visa card also has no annual fee and a tiered rewards structure, and mainly relevant for those who have good credit. Let's explore them.
General Comparison
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Apple Credit Card | Prime Visa | |
Annual Fee | $0 | $0 ($139 Amazon Prime subscription required) |
Rewards | 3% cash back at Apple and select Apple pay partners. 3% Daily Cash back at Ace Hardware, Duane Reade, Exxon, Mobil, Nike, Panera Bread, T-Mobile, Uber, Uber Eats, and Walgreens. 2% on other Apple pay purchases, and 1% on all other purchases | 5% back on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel purchases. Plus, you’ll get 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit, and 1% on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus | N/A | Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card
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Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0
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Purchase APR | 15.99% – 26.99% Variable | 19.99% – 28.74% Variable |
Apply pay purchases include:
• Apple Pay purchases made directly with Apple (including Apple stores, within the App Store and for Apple services).
• Uber and Uber Eats purchases via Apple Pay.
• Walgreens and Duane Reade purchases via Apple Pay.
• In-store T-Mobile purchases via Apple Pay.
• Nike purchases via Apple Pay (in U.S. stores, on Nike.com and on Nike apps).
• Exxon and Mobil gas station purchases via Apple Pay. This includes fuel, car washes and convenience store purchases.
• Panera purchases via Apple Pay.
Simulation: Which Card Gives More Rewards?
Without a scenario comparison, it's difficult to understand the actual reward potential.
However, keep in mind that the numbers should be adjusted to your regular spending categories, which may differ – so the exact calculation is dependent on your personal habits.
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|---|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Apple Credit Card | Prime Visa |
$5,000 – Apple/Amazon | $150 | $250 |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | $100 | $100 |
$4,000 – Restaurants
| $40 | $80 |
$5,000 – Hotels/Airline | $50 | $50 |
$4,000 – Gas | $80 | $80 |
Estimated Annual Value | $420 | $560 |
Compare The Perks
Hilton Honors American Express
- Impressive List of Partner Merchants Offering 3% Cash Back: While this is primarily an Apple credit card, there is a list of merchants which also offer 3% cash back. This list includes Mobil, Exxon, Nike, T-Mobile, Panera, Uber Eats, Uber, Walgreens and Duane Reade.
- Interest Free Financing: When you use your Apple Card for eligible purchases, you can not only earn 3% cash back, but also enjoy interest free financing. You can split the cost of your purchase with monthly payments and no interest.
- Access to Apple Savings Account: cardholders can open an Apple savings account and direct Daily Cash to a Savings account.
- Mastercard Benefits: As a Mastercard, the Apple Credit Card also offers a number of Mastercard benefits including ID theft protection, Mastercard Priceless experiences and a 24 hour hotline.
- Virtual Card Numbers: You can enjoy a further layer of privacy when you make online purchases with virtual card numbers.
- Account Sharing: Two partners can merge their credit lines to form an Apple Family Account. Your account can have up to four participants above the age of 13.
- Titanium Construction: Your card will be made of sleek metal for a unique appearance and feel in your wallet.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: You can use your card abroad without incurring any foreign transaction fees.
Prime Visa
- 0% APR Promo: You can choose to receive 3% cash back or 0% APR for 6 to 18 months on purchases over $50.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll not incur any foreign transaction fees if you use your card outside the U.S.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If you or one of your immediate family members have carry on or checked luggage damaged or lost by the carrier, you’ll benefit from up to $3,000 coverage per passenger.
- Baggage Delay Coverage: If your baggage is delayed by your passenger carrier for over six hours, you will get reimbursement for essential purchases up to $100 per day for three days.
- Travel Accident Insurance: If you pay for your train, bus, cruise or air transportation with your card, you will have up to $500,000 of accidental death or dismemberment insurance.
- Travel and Emergency Assistance: If you’re away from home, you can use the Benefit Administrator to access travel and emergency assistance.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: If you charge the full rental cost to your car and decline the rental company collision insurance, you’ll receive theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles in the U.S and covered territories.
- Roadside Dispatch: If you experience a roadside emergency, you can call a toll free number to access assistance. This varies from a tire change or jump start to gas delivery or lockout service. Any roadside service fees will be billed to your card.
- Extended Warranty: You can enjoy an additional year on your manufacturer’s warranty for eligible products when you purchase them with your card.
- Purchase Protection: When you pay for items with your card, your purchases will be covered against theft or damage for up to 120 days. There is a cap of $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Visa Signature Benefits: You can also access Visa Signature benefits which include the Luxury Hotel collection that provides access to over 900 locations around the world. You’ll receive the best rates, complimentary in room Wi-Fi and automatic room upgrades when available. There is also a 24/7 concierge service, which can help you to find tickets, make dinner reservations or even help purchasing a gift.
- Zero Fraud Liability: This policy ensures that you won’t be held responsible for any unauthorized purchases.
Compare The Drawbacks
As with all credit cards, there are both positives and negatives to these cards. It is important to be aware of the potential cons, before you make a decision about which card is best for you.
So, to help you make a smart decision, we'll highlight potential drawbacks here.
Apple Credit Card
- No Insurance Perks
Unlike the Prime Visa card, you don’t get any insurance perks with this card. So, if you’re looking for these types of benefits, this is not the right card for you.
- Low Cash Back for Outside Purchases
The Apple Card is designed with Apple enthusiasts in mind, but its rewards for non-Apple or non-Apple Pay purchases are quite limited, offering just 1%.
Requires Apple Pay and Apple Hardware: To fully utilize this card, you'll need both Apple Pay and compatible Apple devices, which might not suit everyone.
Prime Visa
- You Must be an Amazon Prime Member
While this card does not charge an annual fee, you do need to be an Amazon Prime member to use this card.
This currently costs $139 per year, unless you’re a student, when it costs $69 per year. Although Amazon Prime offers other benefits, you may want to offset the cost with the card benefits.
- No Interest free financing
After the initial promo, there is no interest free financing, as you get with eligible Apple products and the Apple Credit Card.
Top Offers
Top Offers
Top Offers From Our Partners
Compare Redemption Options
Here are the main things each card offers for cardholders:
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Apple Credit Card
You can access all the redemption options for the Apple Credit Card via the “Daily Cash” feature. This does require that you set up an Apple Cash account, but each day, any rewards you earn will be added to your account.
You can use the balance in your Apple Cash account at any time to make a purchase with Apple Pay, use it as statement credit towards your Apple credit card bill or transfer money via SMS to a friend or family member who also has Apple Cash.
If you prefer not to set up an Apple Cash account, your daily rewards will simply accumulate and then can be applied as statement credit towards your card balance.
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Amazon Prime Visa
You can redeem your rewards towards eligible Amazon.com purchases and there are no minimum redemption requirements.
The card is considered as one of the best Chase credit cards and you can also redeem your rewards as statement credit, gift cards or travel purchases.
How to Maximize Cards Benefits?
Like any other card, there are some things that can help you to get more rewards with the same use, here are some:
- Make Your Apple Card Your Default Payment Method: You can set your Apple card as your default payment method via the wallet settings. This will ensure that each time you use Apple Pay, you’ll use this card and earn 2% cash back.
- Move Your Subscriptions to the App Store: When you shop through the Apple App Store, you’ll earn the maximum cash back. So, instead of paying for your subscriptions such as HBO, Hulu, Showtime directly, move them to an in app purchase via the App Store.
- Use Virtual Card Numbers: If you shop online and have concerns about internet security, make use of the Virtual card numbers feature with this card. You can get a new card number at any time, you just need to tap “Request new card number” and one will be generated instantly.
- Book your travel with your card: Although this card is primarily for Amazon, it offers some excellent travel benefits if you pay for your fare with your card. This includes baggage insurance, trip delay and travel accident insurance.
- Check the Visa Signature Benefits catalog: Before you book a hotel stay or trip, check the Visa Signature Benefits catalog. You may be able to get a preferential rate on your hotel or room upgrades for free.
Customer Reviews: Which Card Wins?
Apple Credit Card
Satisfied customers report that this card is an excellent option for frequent Apple customers. There are also some great partner deals.
Negative reviews seem to relate to approval difficulty. You will need excellent credit to qualify for this card, and there are complaints from people with high credit scores that appear to struggle to get approved.
Prime Visa
Satisfied customers report that while this is primarily an Amazon card, there are lots of opportunities to earn good rewards with other retailers.
Negative reviews highlight that there are no real options to transfer your rewards. While there are multiple redemption options, there are limited partner options.