Credit Cards

The Credit Card That Offers Better Rewards Than the New Apple Card

new apple card
Written by Charlie

The new Apple Card has stirred a lot of interest but there is another credit card that offers even better rewards than the Apple Card – also with no annual fee.

On Monday, Apple revealed their new Apple Card. You can read all about the details of that card here. You can also read about some of the features that I think other issuers should pick up on.

The Credit Card That Offers Better Rewards Than the New Apple Card

As I said in my first post about it, the Apple Card is really a card for the masses. The masses that don’t care about earning a ton of miles or making sure that they are using the right card for category bonuses but they do want a simple way to get their money back. While there are other cards that offer that, none of them do it in the very graphic and somewhat millennial fashion that the Apple Card will.

Apple Has Nice Rewards But Not Game Changing

But, all of us who do love earning miles and points know that the Apple Card is far from the right card to have to earn rewards. Sure, you get 3% back on Apple purchases, but the Amex Business Gold card earns 4 points per dollar on such purchases as well (but with a high annual fee).

a screen shot of a black background

Even the 2% cash back isn’t something new as there are several cards that offer that, even no-fee cards. In fact, if you want to put out the high annual fee, the US Bank Altitude Reserve even gives you 3 points per dollar on all Apple Pay purchases (which can be redeemed at 1.5 cents per point for travel).

The Credit Card With Better Rewards Than the Apple Card
better than the Apple Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited at 3% cash back is better than the Apple Card

There are features of the Apple Card that are ones that will draw customers to use it but those are not enough to use that over other cards. There is one credit card that I would actually recommend that offers better rewards than the new Apple Card. It is the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

But, Not Online!

But, not the Chase Freedom Unlimited you can get online. Instead, if you take a stop into a branch, you can sign up for it and earn 3% cash back on all purchases up to $20,000 in a yearAfter that $20K in spending, you drop to 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Plus, there is no annual fee on this card either and it even offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balances transfers for the first 15 months. So, while the Apple Card advertises lower interest rates, the Chase Freedom Unlimited actually has no interest rates for the first 15 months.

Unlock the Value of the Cash Back By Converting It to Ultimate Reward Points

That is not all, however! As veteran points fans know, that cash back earned on the Chase Freedom Unlimited can actually be converted to super valuable Chase Ultimate Reward points that can be transferred to airlines or hotels.

They can also be used to pay for travel at the value of 1.25 cents per point (or 1.5 cents per point if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve). All you need to do to unlock that kind of value is to have an Ultimate Rewards earning credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Summary

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great card but remember, you need to stop in to a bank to sign up. Otherwise, if you do it online, you will only earn 1.5% cash back (but you will get a $150 sign-up bonus). The choice is yours but the 3% cash back is definitely a better reward than the new Apple Card offers – even if you have to wait until the close of your monthly statement to get that cash back.

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About the author

Charlie

Charlie has been an avid traveler and runner for many years. He has run in marathons around the world for less than it would cost to travel to the next town - all as a result of collecting and using miles and points. Over the years, he has flown hundreds of thousands of miles and collected millions of miles and points.
Now he uses this experience and knowledge to help others through Running with Miles.

1 Comment

  • There are many cards better than the Apple including most 2%+ cash back cards and the US Altitude Reserve.