Apple Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Sapphire Steals the Show
Review
Updated
If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
Apple may be known for its amazing tech products, but it also has a highly popular credit card. The Apple Card, available exclusively for iPhone users, earns cash back and has some unique benefits you don't find in most credit cards.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is a more traditional credit card option. That's a good thing, because for most people, it offers far more value. It has useful travel perks and a top-notch rewards program. Here's why Chase comes out ahead in this showdown, and when you're better off with each card.
|
|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Apple Card |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.
3.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.
3.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
|
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
|
Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 100,000 bonus points |
Welcome Offer: N/A |
|
Rewards Program: Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases |
Rewards Program: 3% cash back at Apple and for Apple Pay purchases with select merchants, 2% cash back on all other Apple Pay purchases, 1% back on other purchases 1% - 3% cash back |
|
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
|
Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable |
Regular APR: 10.99% - 21.99%, variable |
|
Annual Fee: $95 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
|
Highlights:
|
Highlights:
|
Show More
Show Less
|
|
If you're trying to avoid credit card fees, the Apple Card is the way to go. Apple made waves by not charging any of the typical fees credit cards are known for, including annual fees and late fees.
The Apple Card is also a good fit for those who are new to credit. You don't need a good credit score to get it, like you do with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It even encourages responsible payment habits. When you're paying your bill, Apple shows you an estimate of how much interest you'll end up paying, based on the amount you enter.
For earning rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the clear winner. It has a valuable welcome offer, and the Apple Card doesn't. It earns bonus points in far more categories than the Apple Card, including dining, travel, and online groceries.
This Chase credit card is also a much better pick if you like to travel. It has a great travel rewards program, and it's easy to use your points for airfare, hotels, and other travel expenses. The Apple Card is a cash back card, so it's not well-suited for travelers.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR |
|
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Intro: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR |
|
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5-3 points per dollar Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Now, we'll go over how the Apple Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card compare in a few areas.
The Apple Card doesn't charge any fees at all. There's no annual fee, no late fees, and no foreign transaction fees. You are charged interest if you don't pay your card's statement balance. Apple provides a helpful estimate so you know how much credit card interest could cost you.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card charges an annual fee of $95. You can get some of that back, though. This card offers up to $50 in statement credits every account year for hotel stays you book through the Chase Travel portal. It's easy enough to use, and if you do so, it brings the real cost of the card down to just $45.
Winner: Apple Card
One of the big flaws of the Apple Card is that it doesn't have a welcome offer. There's no special bonus available to new cardholders.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, on the other hand, has a fantastic welcome offer. You earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. When you book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, points are worth $0.0125 a piece. That makes the bonus worth up to $1,250 in Chase Travel℠ value in travel. You can also transfer points to Chase's travel partners, which is what I recommend -- I've gotten amazing travel deals this way.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Neither of these cards has an intro APR. That's more of a downside for the Apple Card, as cash back cards often include this perk. Travel cards normally don't, so the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't missing anything too important.
To its credit, the Apple Card offers interest-free payment plans on many of the most popular Apple products. Depending on what you buy, you can get a 0% APR offer for six to 24 months. That's enough to give it the edge in this category.
Winner: Apple Card
With the Apple Card, you earn bonus rewards for using Apple Pay, as well as shopping with Apple and its partners. It earns:
Unlike most cash back credit cards, the Apple Card earns daily cash back. Your cash back is deposited daily, not at the end of the month. You can have it deposited in your Wallet app, or you can open a Savings account with the Apple Card and have it deposited there.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card tops that with bonuses across several popular spending categories. You may need to wait longer for your rewards, but you'll likely earn a lot more. This Chase card earns:
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If you're trying to get value from a credit card, you're probably going to want the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. There's a huge difference in rewards between these two options. The welcome offer alone on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is worth at least up to $1,250 in Chase Travel℠ value in travel. With its bonus categories, you can also continue earning plenty of points year after year.
Overall, I'd consider it one of the top credit cards. Even though I love Apple products, I wouldn't say the same about the Apple Card.
The Apple Card could be worth it if you don't want to pay any fees, and if you're looking for a straightforward cash back card. Only apply for it if you use Apple Pay often. The standard cash back rate of 1% is pedestrian. To get the most out of this card, you need to use Apple Pay so you earn 2% back as often as possible.
2025 Award Winner
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
100,000 bonus points
This card easily justifies the (very reasonable) annual fee with benefits that deliver real value. For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, which we estimate is worth $1,250 in Chase Travel℠ value. Plus, enjoy bonus travel and dining rewards, a $50 annual hotel credit, and 25% more value when booking through Chase Travel. With added travel protections like rental car insurance and trip reimbursement, we think this card is a game-changer for any traveler.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Mastercard and Visa.
