Apple Card features you can’t get elsewhere
Maps of where your purchases were made
Apple
Apple’s map feature makes it very clear where you spent money.
Apple makes an excellent point that credit card purchases are often listed with minimal location information (and with really esoteric names for the store visited, to boot). We’d like to see its handy map feature in other banks’ apps.
3 percent cash back on Apple purchases
Apple
The Apple Card’s 3 percent on Apple purchases is unique, but it will only pay off big if you buy a lot of Apple hardware.
As a flat, upfront reward, you won’t find other cards paying this consistently. That said, only cardholders making frequent purchases on Apple’s website will see real benefit from this perk. Most people will be better off with a card that pays out a consistent cash back of 2 percent on all purchases, or one that has a tiered structure of rewards. The latter sometimes includes higher cash-back percentages for categories that include Apple products—e.g., purchases made at retailers like Best Buy or Amazon, or streaming services.
Daily cash back
Apple
Apple Card rewards are tallied each day and delivered via a cash card.
Apple’s real-time accrual of cash back is unique in the industry, with your rewards kept on an Apple Cash card. You can use those funds to pay part of your Apple Card statement balance, send money to other people, and make Apple Pay purchases. Be aware that returned purchases will play some havoc on what you truly earn: If you don’t end up keeping a purchase, it doesn’t count for cash back and that rewards amount is charged to your account.
Physical card without a CVV number or expiration date
Apple
The physical Apple Card is made of titanium and has nary a number or signature field to be found.
You’ll be hard-pressed to locate another credit card that doesn’t have a CVV number or expiration date printed on it. So the Apple Card wins on those two points, though we do wonder how universally stores and restaurants will accept a credit card with so little identifying information.