Credit Cards » Compare Credit Cards » Apple Card vs Amazon Prime Rewards Visa: Which Is Better?
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Apple Card vs Amazon Prime Rewards Visa: Which Is Better?

If you're a geek of both Amazon and Apple and not sure which card is better for your needs, we think we can help - there is a clear winner.
Author: Andrew O'Malley
Andrew O'Malley

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Andrew O’Malley has a BSc in Economics and Finance. He has worked in the finance industry as a risk analyst and is now pursuing a career in writing. In recent years, he has written for a number of leading publications. He studied Economics and Finance and has been fascinated with the financial markets since his teens.

Review & Fact Check: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Financial Expert, The Smart Investor CEO

Experience

Baruch Mann (Silvermann) is a financial expert and founder of The Smart Investor. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.
Author: Andrew O'Malley
Andrew O'Malley

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Andrew O’Malley has a BSc in Economics and Finance. He has worked in the finance industry as a risk analyst and is now pursuing a career in writing. In recent years, he has written for a number of leading publications. He studied Economics and Finance and has been fascinated with the financial markets since his teens.

Review & Fact Check: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Financial Expert, The Smart Investor CEO

Experience

Baruch Mann (Silvermann) is a financial expert and founder of The Smart Investor. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.

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Table of Content

If you’re brand loyal to Apple or Amazon, it makes sense to get a credit card that offers you the best cash back rewards for your purchases.

The Apple Credit Card has no annual fee and allows you to split the cost of your eligible Apple purchases in monthly installments with no interest.. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card also has no annual fee and a tiered rewards structure, and mainly relevant for those who have good credit. Let's explore them.

General Comparison

Apple card

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card Review

Apple Credit Card
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Rewards
3% cash back at Apple and select Apple pay partners, 2% on other Apple pay purchases, and 1% on all other purchases
5% at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, 2% cash back on restaurant, gas, and drugstores, 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Up to $150 Amazon gift card upon approval
Foreign Transaction Fee
%0
0%
Purchase APR
15.49% – 26.49% variable
19.24% – 27.24% Variable
Read Review
Read Review

Apply pay purchases include:

• Apple Pay purchases made directly with Apple (including Apple stores, within the App Store and for Apple services).

• Uber and Uber Eats purchases via Apple Pay.

Walgreens and Duane Reade purchases via Apple Pay.

• In-store T-Mobile purchases via Apple Pay.

• Nike purchases via Apple Pay (in U.S. stores, on Nike.com and on Nike apps).

Exxon and Mobil gas station purchases via Apple Pay. This includes fuel, car washes and convenience store purchases.

• Panera purchases via Apple Pay.

Simulation: Which Card Gives More Rewards?

Without a scenario comparison, it's difficult to understand the actual reward potential.

However, keep in mind that the numbers should be adjusted to your regular spending categories, which may differ – so the exact calculation is dependent on your personal habits.

Apple card

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card Review

Spend Per Category
Apple Credit Card
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa
$5,000 – Apple/Amazon
$150
$250
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets
$100
$100
$4,000 – Restaurants
$40
$80
$5,000 – Hotels/Airline
$50
$50
$4,000 – Gas
$80
$80
Estimated Annual Value
$420
$560

Compare The Perks

Hilton Honors American Express

Apple card

  • Impressive List of Partner Merchants Offering 3% Cash Back: While this is primarily an Apple credit card, there is a list of merchants which also offer 3% cash back. This list includes Mobil, Exxon, Nike, T-Mobile, Panera, Uber Eats, Uber, Walgreens and Duane Reade.
  • Interest Free Financing: When you use your Apple Card for eligible purchases, you can not only earn 3% cash back, but also enjoy interest free financing. You can split the cost of your purchase with monthly payments and no interest.
  • Mastercard Benefits: As a Mastercard, the Apple Credit Card also offers a number of Mastercard benefits including ID theft protection, Mastercard Priceless experiences and a 24 hour hotline.
  • Virtual Card Numbers: You can enjoy a further layer of privacy when you make online purchases with virtual card numbers.
  • Account Sharing: Two partners can merge their credit lines to form an Apple Family Account. Your account can have up to four participants above the age of 13.
  • Titanium Construction: Your card will be made of sleek metal for a unique appearance and feel in your wallet.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: You can use your card abroad without incurring any foreign transaction fees.
The World of Hyatt

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card Review

  • 0% APR Promo: You can choose to receive 3% cash back or 0% APR for 6 to 18 months on purchases over $50.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll not incur any foreign transaction fees if you use your card outside the U.S.
  • Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If you or one of your immediate family members have carry on or checked luggage damaged or lost by the carrier, you’ll benefit from up to $3,000 coverage per passenger.
  • Baggage Delay Coverage: If your baggage is delayed by your passenger carrier for over six hours, you will get reimbursement for essential purchases up to $100 per day for three days.
  • Travel Accident Insurance: If you pay for your train, bus, cruise or air transportation with your card, you will have up to $500,000 of accidental death or dismemberment insurance.
  • Travel and Emergency Assistance: If you’re away from home, you can use the Benefit Administrator to access travel and emergency assistance.
  • Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: If you charge the full rental cost to your car and decline the rental company collision insurance, you’ll receive theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles in the U.S and covered territories.
  • Roadside Dispatch: If you experience a roadside emergency, you can call a toll free number to access assistance. This varies from a tire change or jump start to gas delivery or lockout service. Any roadside service fees will be billed to your card.
  • Extended Warranty: You can enjoy an additional year on your manufacturer’s warranty for eligible products when you purchase them with your card.
  • Purchase Protection: When you pay for items with your card, your purchases will be covered against theft or damage for up to 120 days. There is a cap of $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
  • Visa Signature Benefits: You can also access Visa Signature benefits which include the Luxury Hotel collection that provides access to over 900 locations around the world. You’ll receive the best rates, complimentary in room Wi-Fi and automatic room upgrades when available. There is also a 24/7 concierge service, which can help you to find tickets, make dinner reservations or even help purchasing a gift.
  • Zero Fraud Liability: This policy ensures that you won’t be held responsible for any unauthorized purchases.

Compare The Drawbacks

As with all credit cards, there are both positives and negatives to these cards. It is important to be aware of the potential cons, before you make a decision about which card is best for you.

So, to help you make a smart decision, we'll highlight potential drawbacks here.

Apple Credit Card

Apple card

Unlike the Amazon Prime Rewards card, you don’t get any insurance perks with this card. So, if you’re looking for these types of benefits, this is not the right card for you.

Although this is a specialized card for Apple, the rewards for non Apple or Apple Pay purchases are very low at just 1%.

Requires Apple Pay and Apple Hardware: It may seem obvious, but you will need to have Apple Pay and Apple Hardware to make use of this card.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card Review

While this card does not charge an annual fee, you do need to be an Amazon Prime member to use this card. 

This currently costs $139 per year, unless you’re a student, when it costs $69 per year. Although Amazon Prime offers other benefits, you may want to offset the cost with the card benefits.

After the initial promo, there is no interest free financing, as you get with eligible Apple products and the Apple Credit Card.

Compare Redemption Options

 Here are the main things each card offers for cardholders:

  • Apple Credit Card

You can access all the redemption options for the Apple Credit Card via the “Daily Cash” feature. This does require that you set up an Apple Cash account, but each day, any rewards you earn will be added to your account.

You can use the balance in your Apple Cash account at any time to make a purchase with Apple Pay, use it as statement credit towards your Apple credit card bill or transfer money via SMS to a friend or family member who also has Apple Cash.

If you prefer not to set up an Apple Cash account, your daily rewards will simply accumulate and then can be applied as statement credit towards your card balance.

  • Amazon Prime Rewards Visa

You can redeem your rewards towards eligible Amazon.com purchases and there are no minimum redemption requirements. The card is considered as one of the best Chase credit cards and you can also redeem your rewards as statement credit, gift cards or travel purchases.

How to Maximize Cards Benefits?

Like any other card, there are some things that can help you to get more rewards with the same use, here are some:

  • Make Your Apple Card Your Default Payment Method: You can set your Apple card as your default payment method via the wallet settings. This will ensure that each time you use Apple Pay, you’ll use this card and earn 2% cash back.
  • Move Your Subscriptions to the App Store: When you shop through the Apple App Store, you’ll earn the maximum cash back. So, instead of paying for your subscriptions such as HBO, Hulu, Showtime directly, move them to an in app purchase via the App Store.
  • Use Virtual Card Numbers: If you shop online and have concerns about internet security, make use of the Virtual card numbers feature with this card. You can get a new card number at any time, you just need to tap “Request new card number” and one will be generated instantly.

Apple card

  • Book your travel with your card: Although this card is primarily for Amazon, it offers some excellent travel benefits if you pay for your fare with your card. This includes baggage insurance, trip delay and travel accident insurance.
  • Check the Visa Signature Benefits catalog: Before you book a hotel stay or trip, check the Visa Signature Benefits catalog. You may be able to get a preferential rate on your hotel or room upgrades for free.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card Review

Customer Reviews: Which Card Wins?

  • Apple Credit Card

Satisfied customers report that this card is an excellent option for frequent Apple customers. There are also some great partner deals.

Negative reviews seem to relate to approval difficulty. You will need excellent credit to qualify for this card, and there are complaints from people with high credit scores that appear to struggle to get approved.

  • Amazon Prime Rewards Visa

Satisfied customers report that while this is primarily an Amazon card, there are lots of opportunities to earn good rewards with other retailers.

Negative reviews highlight that there are no real options to transfer your rewards. While there are multiple redemption options, there are limited partner options.

Bottom Line

Amazon and Apple are massive brands in today’s marketplace and if you’re brand loyal, it stands to reason that you may want to investigate cards that reward your purchases.

Brand aside, there are some key differences between these two cards that may affect your decision about which card is best for you.

Why You Might Want the Apple Card ?

The Apple Credit Card is a great option that could be good if:

  • You want free financing: This is a great feature of this card that allows you to split the cost of certain Apple purchases into monthly payments with no interest charges. So, if you want to invest in new Apple hardware, you can spread the expenses.
  • You want a family card: The Apple Credit Card allows you to set up a family account so up to four family members can share the account. This even allows teens to access the card benefits.
  • You have internet security concerns: The Apple Credit Card provides virtual card numbers on demand, so you can use a temporary number for your online purchases.

When You Might Want the The Amazon Card?

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card can be a good fit for your needs if you're looking for:

  • You want travel insurance protection: Despite not being a “travel” card, the Amazon Prime Rewards card offers a decent travel insurance package. This includes lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver and baggage delay reimbursement.
  • You want roadside benefits: The Amazon Prime Rewards card also offers roadside despatch support, so you can get help with vehicle issues including gas delivery, lockouts, flat batteries or a flat tire.
  • You want the reassurance of zero fraud liability: You don’t need to worry about any unauthorized charges on your account, as this card has a zero fraud liability policy and fraud alerts you can set up in your Chase account.

Compare The Alternatives

If you're looking for a store credit card with great rewards for online shopping – there are some good alternatives you may want to consider:

Citi-costco-anywhere-visa-credit-card review

best buy credit card

Sam's Club® Mastercard®

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Best Buy Visa Card
Sam's Club® Mastercard®
Annual Fee
$0 *
$0–$59 based on creditworthiness
$0
Rewards
1-4% 4% cash back on on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% cash back on restaurants and most travel purchases, 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com, 1% cash back on all other purchases
1-5% 5% back in rewards on shopping at BestBuy ( 6% back* in rewards for Elite Plus Cardmembers), 3% back in rewards on gas purchases, 2% back in rewards on dining, takeout and grocery purchases, 1% back in rewards on everyday purchases
1-5% 5% cash back on gas anywhere Mastercard is accepted (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1% after), 3% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases for Plus members, 3% on dining and takeout and 1% on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
None None
10% first day 10% back in rewards on your first day of purchase
None None
Foreign Transaction Fee
0%
N/A
N/A
Purchase APR
20.49% (Variable)
29.24% Variable
19.90% or 27.90% Variable

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Andrew O'Malley

Andrew O'Malley

Andrew O’Malley has a BSc in Economics and Finance. He has worked in the finance industry as a risk analyst and is now pursuing a career in writing. In recent years, he has written for a number of leading publications. He studied Economics and Finance and has been fascinated with the financial markets since his teens.
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The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation. 

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Credit Card Reviews Methodology

In order to determine the best possible credit cards, we look at things like fees, interest rates and rewards. We do this with companies that are associated with us as partners as well as other offerings. From there, we make a decision about what the best card is related to different categories and needs. We focus on interest rate cost & fees, especially the cost of carrying a balance, rewards – cards accumulate rewards in different currencies—points, miles, cash back—and their values vary widely usability – cards that accept a wide range of credit profiles and offer simple solutions for things like checking your credit score or contacting. We also consider customer reviews.

We look at cards related to good or excellent credit ratings that will then provide a range of different benefits and improvements for someone who has these scores. We also look at low fees when it comes to those who have lower credit scores.