The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi and the Apple Card stand out as distinctive choices, each catering to unique consumer needs. Let's compare them side by side.
Costco vs Apple Card: General Comparison
Apple Card, a collaboration between Apple and Goldman Sachs, is celebrated for its effortless integration into the Apple ecosystem, coupled with competitive cashback incentives, especially for Apple-related purchases and services.
Costco Anywhere Visa, designed for pragmatic spenders, stands out with substantial cashback rewards on crucial expenditures such as gas, dining, and Costco shopping. This aligns seamlessly with the spending patterns of its members, establishing it as a go-to choice for those seeking practical rewards.
Costco Anywhere Visa Card | Apple Credit Card | |
Annual Fee | $0 ($60 Costco membership fee required) | $0 |
Rewards | 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 | 3% cash back at Apple and select Apple pay partners. 3% Daily Cash back at Ace Hardware, Duane Reade, Exxon, Mobil, Nike, Panera Bread, T-Mobile, Uber, Uber Eats, and Walgreens. 2% on other Apple pay purchases, and 1% on all other purchases |
Welcome bonus | None | N/A |
0% Intro APR | N/A | N/A |
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0 |
Purchase APR | 20.49% (Variable)
| 15.99% – 26.99% Variable |
Read Review | Read Review |
Cashback Analysis: Which Card Gives More?
In the analysis, we assumed all purchases had been made with Apple Pay if you use an Apple card. The Costco card is a bit more lucrative for the average consumer. The more you spend on travel and restaurants – the more significant the difference between the cards.
Costco cash back will be issued in the form of an annual credit card reward certificate, accessible once your February billing statement concludes. This certificate is redeemable for either cash or merchandise at Costco Warehouses across the United States.
The Apple cash back is managed better – unlike typical cash back credit cards that provide monthly rewards upon statement closure, Daily Cash accumulates daily, syncing with your earnings. As it accumulates, Daily Cash is seamlessly deposited into your Apple Cash account or Apple Savings account if you have one.
Spend Per Category | Costco Anywhere Visa Card | Apple Credit Card |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | $300 | $300 |
$5,000 – Restaurants | $150 | $100 |
$4,000 – Apple Products | $40 | $120 |
$4,000 – Travel
| $120 | $80 |
$4,000 – Gas | $160 | $40 |
Estimated Annual Cashback | $760 | $640 |
* Assuming all supermarkets/gas purchases made via Costco
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Costco vs Apple Card Additional Benefits: Comparison
When it comes to extra benefits, each card has its own unique benefits. The Costco card offers a variety of travel protections, including roadside and travel assistance protection.
The main benefits of Apple are no fees and access to Apple's savings account.
Costco Anywhere Visa Card
- Damage & Theft Purchase Protection: Costco's Citi card offers coverage for damaged or stolen purchases, providing potential repairs or refunds within 120 days of acquisition, offering peace of mind for cardholders.
- Purchases Analysis and Tools: The Costco card offers a variety of spending tools and statistics on your purchases and rewards.
- Travel & Emergency Assistance: Costco cardholders benefit from 24/7 services, ensuring assistance with emergency travel arrangements, travel issues, medical and legal referrals, and more, enhancing their travel experience.
- Roadside Assistance Dispatch Service: With coverage across the U.S. and territories, Costco's Citi card provides a Roadside Assistance Dispatch Service, ensuring prompt help for cardholders facing car troubles during their journeys.
- Citi Entertainment℠: Elevating experiences, Citi Entertainment provides exclusive access to presale tickets and special events, enhancing the entertainment options available to Costco cardholders.
- $0 Liability on Unauthorized Charges: Costco's consumer card ensures complete protection against unauthorized charges, relieving cardholders of responsibility for any unauthorized online or other charges.
Apple Credit Card
- No Fees: One of the standout benefits of the Apple Card is its fee structure. There are no annual fees, penalty fees, transaction fees, or any other hidden charges associated with the card. This transparency makes it an attractive option for those looking to avoid unnecessary costs while enjoying the benefits of a credit card.
- Access to Apple Savings Account: cardholders can open an Apple savings account and direct Daily Cash to a Savings account.
Security: The Apple Card offers cutting-edge security features, including a unique card number for each purchase, biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID), and transaction alerts.
Great Wallet App: The Apple Card provides robust tools for managing your debt and spending. The Wallet app offers a clear overview of your transactions, organizes them by category, and provides insights into your spending habits. It also offers payment suggestions to help you pay off your balance faster and more efficiently.
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When You Might Prefer The Apple Credit Card?
You might prefer the Apple card in the following situations:
- High Spend On Apple Products: If you frequently purchase Apple products, such as iPhones, iPads, Macs, or accessories, you may prefer the Apple Card to maximize cashback in these specific categories.
- Daily Cash Rewards: If you appreciate a more frequent rewards system, the Apple Card's Daily Cash feature provides cashback on a daily basis, unlike the uncomfortable Costco Credit Card's annual certificate.
- You Primarily Use Apple Pay For Your Purchases: The Apple Card is tightly integrated with Apple Pay, making it easy to use and earn cash back on your everyday purchases. You can even use your Apple Card for online purchases made through Apple Pay.
When You Might Prefer The Costco Credit Card?
Opting for the Costco Credit Card over the Apple Card might be preferable in certain scenarios:
- Frequent Costco Shoppers: If you are a regular Costco shopper, the Costco Credit Card offers substantial cashback rewards on Costco purchases. This includes purchases made in-store, online, and at Costco gas stations.
- You Have A Costco Membership: In order to get the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, you need to have a Costco membership. If you're already a Costco member, this is a great way to get even more value out of your membership.
- You Spend On Gas And Restaurants: The Costco Credit Card also caters to gas and restaurantsspenders. If your spending aligns more with these, it might be a better fit.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for a credit card with everyday purchase rewards – there are some good alternatives you may want to consider:
Chase Freedom Flex℠ Card | Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | |
Annual Fee | $0
| $0 ($139 Amazon Prime subscription required)
| $95 ($0 intro for the first year) |
Rewards |
1-5%
|
1-5%
5% at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh , Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases, 2% cash back on gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting, 1% cash back on all other purchases
|
1-6%
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit
and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
|
Welcome bonus |
$200
|
$100
$100 Amazon gift card upon approval
|
$250
$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | 3%
| $0
| 2.70%
|
Purchase APR | 20.49%–29.24% variable
| 19.49% – 27.49% Variable
| 19.24% – 29.99% Variable |
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