Apple Card is a cash back credit card created by Apple and issued by Goldman Sachs. This card is meant to be used with your iPhone or iPad and Apple Pay wallet to earn rewards on purchases, but also offers a physical card (albeit with a lower rewards rate). In this article, i’ll explain the advantages of Apple Card in 2022.
There are numerous advantages of Apple Card, so we’ve created this guide to provide details on benefits you get after signing up for the card. Apple Card has been available since 2019, and Apple is continuing to add new features. You’ll find all the advantages of Apple Card below.
Advantages of an Apple Card
Here are the top 12 benefits of an Apple Card:
1. Apple Card Work Amazingly in the Apple Ecosystem
As you’d expect from any Apple product, the Apple Card work’s flawlessly with all of your other Apple devices, especially your iPhone.
The Apple Card offers deep integration with the Wallet app on the iPhone, but it can also be used on the iPad, Apple Watch, and the Mac for making purchases and viewing some credit card information.
There are many advantages of the Apple Card but overall, the best thing about it is how easy it is to use.
Everything from applying for the Apple Card, to paying your bill, to checking your Daily Cash and spending habits; it’s all done directly within the Wallet app. It’s incredibly simple to use and loads instantly on your iPhone.
Want to make your Apple Card your default card for App Store purchases? Easy, there’s a button for that. Chat with specialists, request replacement cards, lock your card, schedule payments, and more – it’s all done in the Wallet app.
It’s a notably pleasant experience that’s much quicker than using apps from Chase, Citi, or U.S. Bank, all of which were pretty good to begin with.
2. Apple Card supports real-time alerts and notifications
Another advantage of Apple Card is that it comes with built-in alerts to let you know when your payment due date is coming up.
You’ll also get a notification any time you make a purchase with your card. That’s a plus if you’re worried about fraud or hacking.
If a charge pops up that you don’t recognize, you can let Apple Card know with a tap. You won’t be held liable for fraudulent charges.
3. Card numbers are safe
One great advantage of Apple Card is that it boasts strong security features that aim to provide more peace-of-mind when using the card to pay for purchases.
When you get your card, a linked unique device number is created and stored on your iPhone in the Secure Element. Every purchase you make requires that unique device number to complete.
Purchases can be authorized with Face ID or Touch ID. So if someone steals your phone or you lose it, no one else can use it to buy anything.
The physical Apple Card doesn’t have any identifying information on it, other than your name. No card number and no CVV code mean nothing for anyone to copy if your card is lost or stolen.
If your card is lost, you can freeze it through the Wallet app. That can block anyone from using it to make a purchase. You can also use the Wallet app to order a replacement card.
4. No fees
With any credit card, you expect there to be some fees. This is another way the Apple Card is different.
There are no:
- Annual fees
- Cash advance fees
- International foreign transaction fees
- Over-the-limit fees
- Returned payment fees
- Late fees
If you ever plan to leave the U.S., you’ll want a credit card that doesn’t charge you an extra fee to use it abroad. That means you’ll want a card that doesn’t charge international fees, specifically; which is actually a very common practice.
Cards that don’t charge international fees will likely charge an annual fee (usually between $50 and $100 per year). Apple won’t charge either of those fees, which is a major bonus for those who like to visit new countries.
According to Apple, there are no hidden fees of any kind associated with the card.
That’s a huge advantage if you’re cost-conscious when it comes to spending on credit.
5. Physical credit card available
With Apple Card you can make digital Apple Pay payments, but Apple is also providing a physical card. Since this is a credit card designed by Apple, it is, of course, unique among credit cards.
Unlike most credit cards that are made from plastic, the Apple Card is made entirely from a titanium base material, with a multi-layer, white coating which is laser etched with your name. It’s the only card on the market made of this sleek metal.
One great advantage of Apple Card is that the front of the card does not have a card number or an expiration date listed, and on the back, there’s no CVV and no signature. If someone finds or steals your card, there’s no real way for them to use it, at least for online purchases.
There’s still a traditional magstripe on the back, along with a built-in chip. While the card number and CVV are not on the card itself, you can find them in the Wallet app if you need them.
The physical Apple Card does not support contactless payments itself — you need to use your iPhone for Apple Pay payments. There is no cost for the card and there is no fee associated with replacing it if you lose it.
6. Apple Card offers various spending management features
Another great advantage of Apple Card is that you can easily categorize your transactions to see where you’re spending the most.
Spending can be broken down weekly or monthly, which can make budgeting a breeze.
If there’s a purchase you don’t recognize, you can pinpoint where it took place on a map. You can get questions about your account answered via text.
Apple Card streamlines your monthly payment by making your due date the last day of every month. You can set up weekly or biweekly payments to manage your balance.
7. Apple Card offers virtual Card Numbers for Online Non-Apple Pay Purchases
As we’ve already pointed out, there are no credit card numbers or other information on the physical titanium Apple Card. This data is instead available in the app, leaving some questions about online purchases where you often need a number and a CVV.
One huge benefit of Apple Card is that it can generate virtual card numbers for these kinds of purchases. The Wallet app provides a virtual card number and a virtual confirmation code, with the number being semi-permanent and able to be regenerated whenever you want. This info can be used for non-Apple Pay online purchases, over-the-phone purchases, and other similar situations.
8. Interest-Free Payments for Mac, iPad, and More
Another advantage of Apple Card is that Apple offers interest-free monthly installment payment plans for Macs, iPads, AirPods, HomePods, and more. Users can pay for products over time with the Apple Card, and will also earn 3 percent Daily Cash for purchases.
The installment plans can be used when checking out on the online Apple Store. Products like Macs and iPads offer 12-month interest-free installment plans, while others, like the Apple TV, AirPods, and HomePod have 6-month interest-free installment plans.
There are no payment plans for Apple Watch or iPod touch, but there are payment options for accessories like iPhone and iPad cases.
9. Apple Card features Advanced Fraud Protection
Advanced Fraud Protection is a new feature in iOS 15 that’s designed to keep Apple Card information more secure by changing the three-digit security code associated with the card on a regular basis.
When enabled, Advanced Fraud Protection will cause the three digit security code used for making purchases online to change every so often, which protects you if your card details are compromised by an online merchant. Apple says that the feature will not impact recurring purchases and subscriptions.
Advanced Fraud Protection can be enabled in the Wallet app.
10. Apple Card features fantastic Privacy measures
As with any credit or debit card added to Wallet, Apple creates a unique card number on iPhone for Apple Card that’s stored in the Secure Element. All payments are confirmed with Face ID or Touch ID along with a one-time unique dynamic security code.
This system means Apple does not know which stores a customer shopped at, what was purchased, or how much was paid.
11. Mastercard Network
As a Mastercard, the Apple card comes with benefits including access to Mastercard Priceless experiences, ID theft protection and a 24-hour hotline to report a lost or stolen card and get a replacement.
12. Apple Card supports Family Sharing
Another advantage of Apple Card is the Family feature, which allows for spouses to share a single Apple Card account, with each person serving as a co-owner in order to build credit.
Apple Card Family also lets parents share an Apple Card with their children for making purchases, with optional spending limits and parental controls to help children learn smart financial habits. All spending by the family is tracked with a single monthly bill.
Up to five people can be added to an Apple Card account for sharing purposes, with sharing handled through the Wallet app. All users must be part of the same Family Sharing Group, and be 13 years of age or older.
Co-owners must be 18 years or older, and will have a combined spending limit and the ability to see each other’s spending. Existing Apple Card customers will be able to merge their Apple Card accounts if they have two cards, resulting in a higher shared credit limit with the lower APR of the two accounts.
These are the advantages of an Apple Card
So, these, according to us, are the 11 of the most important advantages of Apple Card. Apple Card is user friendly and aesthetically pleasing. It charges absolutely no fees, which is a rarity in the credit card world. Transactions are color-coded and easy to follow, and cash back gets deposited daily. The card itself has a sleek, minimalist design without a credit card number in sight. The Apple Card could be a solid rewards credit card for you if you already use Apple Pay to make purchases. It’s secure and you can always see at a glance what you’ve spent and where.
Now that you know the benefits of Apple Card, consider checking out our article on benefits of Apple Pay