Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. iMore may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.
Apple Card is coming this summer with some exciting changes to how we manage and reward ourselves with our credit card. Things like Daily Cash, where you get cash back every single day from your prior days' purchases, deposited right in your Apple Pay Cash Card. One of the most robust and friendly card management experiences, where you can see trends in your spending, check what categories your money is going into, and better stick to your budget. One of the most aggressive privacy policies on a credit card, where Apple doesn't know what you buy, how much it was, and where Goldman Sachs, the company hosting the card, isn't sharing any of your information to advertisers. All of these things make Apple Card an exciting option for a lot of people who are looking for a credit card that is easy to use, provides straightforward rewards, and is helpful in ensuring you use your card responsibly.
However, everyone is different, and we can't expect one card to rule them all. As great as Apple Card is going to be, it doesn't meet everyone's need in every way. For instance, while it's 3% back at Apple is completely unique to Apple Card and the 2% back when using Apple Pay is a solid offer that rivals or beats most other cash back cards on the market, literally everything else lands in the 1% category. So, if you're excited about Apple Card but are trying to figure out what cards pair well with it, we have some answers!
For the essentials
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a fantastic sidekick to Apple Card with its stellar cash back at supermarkets and gas stations, as well as all its additional benefits from American Express. All of us need groceries and most of us need gas, so when it comes to these essentials this card is a perfect fit alongside your Apple Card. Get 3% back for up to $6,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets, which doubles or even triples what you would earn with Apple Card, depending on if the grocery store supported Apple Pay. You'll also earn 2% back at U.S. gas stations, which also doubles Apple Card's cashback rate for those merchants who don't yet support Apple Pay. The card also currently has a $150 welcome bonus and, like Apple Card, no annual fee.
You'll also get access to a host of other benefits provided by American Express. Travel benefits include travel accident insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, roadside assistance, and access to their global assist hotline. You also get some shopping and entertainment benefits like extended warranties, return protection, theft and accidental damage protection for your phone, free 2-day shipping through Shoprunner, and member-only pre-sale tickets to events.
This card gets you 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year then 1%), 2% cash back at U.S gas stations and select U.S. department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. There's no annual fee and you'll earn a valuable welcome bonus to the tune of a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months.
For dining and entertainment
Savor® Rewards from Capital One® is a great partner to Apple Card for those who want to get the most rewards out of eating out and being out. Cardholders get unlimited 4% cash back on dining and entertainment purchases. This will, with few exceptions, quadruple the earnings of Apple Card for these kinds of purchases. You also receive 2% back at grocery stores (helpful where Apple Pay is not accepted), and 1% back everywhere else. The card currently has a $300 sign-up bonus offer, and the first year's annual fee is waived ($95 annually after that). If you are a major foodie, movie buff, or concert hopper, this is a great partner to your Apple Card.
You'll also get access to a host of other benefits provided by Capital One. Travel benefits include no foreign transaction fees, travel assistance services, and concierge services. You also get some shopping entertainment and benefits like extended warranties, price protection, and exclusive access to sporting and music events.
This card gets you unlimited 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% cash back at grocery stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. You'll earn a valuable sign-up bonus to the tune of a $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months. The card has a $95 annual fee which is waived the first year.
For quarterly bonuses
The Chase Freedom® card is a great card for those who want straightforward cash back with something extra every now and then. You'll earn 1% back on all purchases with no limit and 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate them. The categories are normally very applicable as things like groceries, gas, and home improvement are a few of those that are included. The card features a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months and 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers (variable APR of 17.24-25.99% after that).
You'll also get a bunch of bonus benefits from Chase. Shoppers can enjoy extra benefits like purchase protection, extended warranties, and zero liability protection. Travelers receive auto rental collision damage waiver protection, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and travel and emergency assistance services.
Earn 1% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter. Earn a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months. 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers (variable APR of 17.24-25.99% after that).
For points instead of cash
For some people, points can end up being a lot more valuable than cash back. Points card tend to offer huge sign-up bonuses that amount to better offers than cash back sign up bonuses, and there are tons of programs and promotions to earn double and even triple the number of points the card earns on a regular basis, especially for travel, dining, and entertainment purchases. if you want to really get into the rewards game and maximize every earning potential, here are a couple of the best credit cards out there:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has an enormous sign-up bonus of 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. That's equal to $750 worth of travel, and right now one of the best offers on the market. You'll earn 2 points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. It has no foreign transaction fees and a $95 annual fee, making it one of the less expensive premium points card around.
The American Express® Gold Card is a dining and travel points powerhouse. It currently sports a 35,000 Membership Rewards® Points offer after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 3 months. You'll earn 4 Membership Rewards® points at U.S. restaurants and 4 Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets. It has no foreign transaction fees and a $250 annual fee.
With its sign-up bonus having just jumped to 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months, now's the time to add the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to your wallet. Even better, future travel and dining purchases earn 2x points per dollar spent and it includes valuable travel benefits like primary car rental insurance. All of these extras make its $95 annual fee easy to justify.
The bottom line
No matter what you spend your money on, you're sure to find a credit card that serves as a perfect complement to your new Apple Card. Whether you are looking to earn more on the everyday essentials, a ton on fun experiences, or a little on everything, there's a card for that. Pick the right one for you and enjoy a duo that can't be beaten.
