The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Looking to buy a new iPhone or newly released Apple products: Which is the best credit card for Apple purchases?
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
October 22, 2024 • 11 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
Several credit cards can offer higher rewards on Apple purchases than Apple's own card, depending on where and how you buy.
Some cards provide strong returns when buying directly from Apple, especially if technology purchases are a top spending category.
Cards with mobile payment bonuses or flexible rewards can also deliver significant value for Apple Store purchases.
Purchase protection and extended warranty benefits are important factors to consider beyond just earning rewards.
What to consider
Some cards only offer top rewards if Apple purchases are among your highest spending categories each billing cycle.
Bonus rewards may have annual or quarterly caps, and new product releases may be excluded from shopping portal bonuses.
Purchase protection and extended warranty coverage vary by card, and not all cards offer these benefits.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of how different cards stack up for Apple purchases, including tips for maximizing rewards and protection.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
If you’re looking to buy the new iPhone, Apple Watch or even the AirPods, you’re probably wondering what credit card to use for your Apple purchases. Should you use the Apple Card? The answer to your question may surprise you.
Let’s look at your options for the best credit cards to use on Apple purchases and see where the Apple Card stands after all things are considered.
What is the best credit card for Apple purchases?
It’s hard to identify the single most rewarding credit card for making Apple purchases because there are so many places to buy Apple products. Thus, if you’re buying from your cellphone provider, you should use the best credit card for mobile phone purchases. If you’re buying from other retailers, check out our guide to the best credit card for each bonus category.
In this guide, we’ll focus on purchases directly from Apple.
PETRI OESCHGER/GETTY IMAGES
The best cards for Apple purchases
American Express Business Gold Card
The American Express® Business Gold Card offers 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases made directly from select U.S. technology providers of computer hardware, software and cloud solutions (Apple counts). Note that the Business Gold Card offers 4 points per dollar on your top two spending categories each billing cycle, so your technology purchases would need to be a top category to qualify; otherwise, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar. Earning 4 points per dollar also applies only to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these two categories each calendar year and 1 point per dollar after that.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
While 4 points per dollar may not sound like much more than 3% cash back with the Apple Card, it is. That’s because each Membership Rewards point is worth 2 cents (according to TPG's October 2024 valuations) if maximized with transfer partners. Thus, you could earn an 8% return on spending rather than 3% cash back with the Apple Card.
The information for the Apple Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you don’t think you qualify for a small-business credit card, there are other strong options. U.S. Bank’s Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is currently the most rewarding personal rewards credit card for Apple purchases on an ongoing basis.
ASIAVISION/GETTY IMAGES
One of its bonus categories is 3 points per dollar on purchases made using mobile payments, and the Apple Store accepts mobile payments. We have also seen mobile payments as a 5% cash-back rotating bonus category on the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) in the past.
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Both the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earn 2 miles per dollar on everyday purchases, including Apple products. According to TPG’s October 2024 valuations, Capital One miles are worth 1.85 cents apiece — providing a 3.7% return on your purchases.
With the Venture X, you’ll have benefits like return protection, and you may get an extended warranty. The card also offers numerous travel-related perks and has a $395 annual fee.
The Venture Rewards card has a lower $95 annual fee and offers fewer frills than the Venture X. However, it earns the same miles at the same rate on Apple purchases. Plus, you may still get purchase assurance when purchasing with this card.
In fairness, the Amex Business Gold and Altitude Reserve cards both have annual fees (see rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold). If you want to stack the Apple Card up against other cards without annual fees, the differences are much smaller.
We previously mentioned the Chase Freedom Flex, which has previously seen mobile wallet and cellphone purchases as rotating categories for earning 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases during that quarter after activation. You can also choose “cellphone providers” or “electronics store” as your 5% back category with the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. With this option, you can earn 5% back on the first $2,000 of purchases in your chosen category each quarter, then 1% after that. There’s no annual fee on the Cash+ Visa.
The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
The Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) also has no annual fee and allows you to earn 2% back— 1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay your bill. You can cash out these points at 1 cent apiece or transfer them to a limited number of travel partners. If you have other credit cards from Citi, however, you may be able to combine these points and access the full range of Citi’s transfer partners, unlocking increased value in your redemptions. According to TPG's October 2024 valuation, Citi ThankYou points are worth 1.8 cents apiece, meaning the 2 points you earn would provide a 3.6% return on spending.
Is the Apple Card the best credit card for Apple purchases?
The Apple Card has no annual fee and offers 3% cash back on Apple purchases and at select merchants, including Nike, Walgreens and Exxon Mobil. Outside of these merchants, you can earn 2% back on payments with Apple Pay and 1% on other purchases. However, many other cards in this guide offer a higher return on Apple purchases.
For reference, cash-back credit cards without annual fees frequently have some earning categories in the 2%-5% cash-back range. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card lets you choose your own 6% cash-back category each month (6% cash back for the first year, then 3% after; purchases are limited to your first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter). The Chase Freedom Flex offers rotating categories in which cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 of spending in each quarter’s bonus categories.
Stacking rewards when purchasing online
No matter which credit card you use for your purchase, if you’re buying online, you can earn even more rewards. Clicking through a shopping portal can provide extra cash back or even additional Membership Rewards points with Rakuten. But make sure to check your options to see if any portals cover the newest iPhone or Apple Watch — often they exclude the latest models and will be detailed in the terms and conditions.
Earning rewards on your Apple purchase is one thing, but I’d argue it isn’t actually the most important factor when deciding what credit card to use to buy the latest iPhone, Apple Watch or MacBook.
These purchases are pricey, easily costing over $1,000 in many cases, and are exactly the types of purchases I want protected by the built-in perks of my credit cards. My family has seen Apple products end up in the lake, stop working just after their included warranty period and be damaged in a cycling accident. Even if you purchase Apple’s coverage, AppleCare only goes so far for some of these situations.
After the first 90-120 days, built-in card protections become more restrictive and no longer cover most types of accidents, theft, etc. However, many still offer an additional year of extended warranty on top of the manufacturer’s warranty for defects. My family has used that additional year of coverage provided by the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) when an iPhone developed a battery problem just after Apple’s one-year manufacturer’s warranty period ended. Multiple American Express cards also offer extra shopping protection, including cellphone protection, extended warranty, return protection and purchase protection.
As for the Apple Card, you’ll be responsible for the cost of damage, theft or repairs to products you purchase using this card.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
Bottom line
We aren’t saying you shouldn’t get the fancy-looking titanium Apple Card (unless that ruins your 5/24 standing). Getting an almost immediate 3% cash back on Apple purchases via a card with no annual fee is better than nothing. The spending analysis perks can benefit those new to personal finance and credit cards. But if you are looking for the absolute best card for Apple purchases, the Apple Card isn’t your answer. You can earn significantly more rewards on Apple purchases with other cards and — perhaps more importantly — get protection against loss, damage, theft and old-fashioned breakdowns.
For rates and fees of American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
