Apple Card Family is live, and it's incredibly easy to add someone to your account
Last month, Apple announced several notable updates to the Apple Card, including an option to easily add authorized users to your account. Best yet, you can share your credit history with individuals you choose to add, so they can build credit without having an account of their own.
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With the company's latest addition, Apple Card Family, the primary account holder can share their card account with up to five other people who are 13 years or older and members of the same Family Sharing group.
This new feature became available on Monday, so I updated my iPhone to iOS 14.6, as required, and added my mom to see how the process works.
After my mom and I both updated our iPhones to the latest software version, I opened my Apple Card in the Wallet app, clicked the settings option in the top-right corner and tapped to "Share My Card."
Already on my Family Sharing group, my mom appeared as an eligible user right away. Once I tapped her name, I could opt to add her as a co-owner or participant ā I chose the latter since co-owners will be prompted to merge their existing Apple Card account with your own, or open a new account if they don't already have one.
Next, the app had me select a pre-defined transaction limit amount ā $25, $50, $100, $250 or "no limit."
I opted for the lowest amount and clicked to submit. Her invitation arrived right away.
My mom was prompted to enter her social security number on her own device, so she never had to provide it to me. She was also given the option to request a free physical card to be shipped to the address on her iCloud account, which is due to arrive in between six and eight days.
Related: Apple Card Family makes it easy to help kids, family members build credit
Once she was done, I immediately had the option to adjust her transaction limit, register for notifications, or lock or remove her account.
While the initial screen only offers pre-set transaction limit amounts, you can enter any amount you wish after you add a participant to your account. The app allowed me to go beyond my own credit limit, though I imagine a transaction much higher than that amount would likely be declined.
Bottom line
While I don't have any immediate need for Apple Card Family, it's certainly helpful to have an easy option to add authorized users to your account ā and help family members easily build their credit in the process.
Plus, as someone who's had to spend much of the past few days calling around to various airline and hotel reservations lines to make changes to an upcoming trip, I have to say that being able to manage my account entirely from the Wallet app is a much-welcome change of pace.
While the card's rewards structure leaves a lot to be desired, especially for anyone looking to earn free flights and hotel stays, Apple has clearly hit a home run on the technology front.
Featured rendering courtesy of Apple
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership RewardsĀ® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership RewardsĀ® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership RewardsĀ® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership RewardsĀ® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership RewardsĀ® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if youāre approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount ā all with no credit score impact. If youāre approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership RewardsĀ® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership RewardsĀ® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership RewardsĀ® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership RewardsĀ® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay ItĀ® lets you tap in the American ExpressĀ® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan ItĀ® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. Youāll know upfront exactly how much youāll pay.
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- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American ExpressĀ® Gold Card. Thatās up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American ExpressĀ® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkinā locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
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- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.