2026 Edition

Apple Card vs 2% Cash Back Calculator

Apple Card earns 3% at Apple and select partners, 2% on Apple Pay, and 1% where Apple Pay is not accepted. Find out whether that beats a flat-rate cash back card on your actual spending.

Apple + 3% partners
3%
Apple, Nike, Walgreens, Uber, Exxon, +6 more
Apple Pay (other)
2%
Any merchant accepting Apple Pay
Non-Apple-Pay
1%
Physical card, online checkouts without Apple Pay

1. Enter your spending

$
$
$

2. Comparison card rate

Set the flat cash back rate of the card you would compare against. Default is 2% (Wells Fargo Active Cash, Citi Double Cash, Fidelity Rewards Visa).

Or set your own:2.0%

1.5%: Older base-rate cards or some store cards

2.0%: Standard flat-rate cash back (most common)

2.5%: US Bank Smartly with qualifying balance, or premium-tier cash back

3.0%: Aspirational; rarely available without an annual fee

What this calculator does not model

  • Welcome bonuses. The comparison card may have a sign-up bonus worth $200 to $400 in year one. Apple Card has no welcome bonus. The "paired" recommendation is even stronger when this is factored in.
  • Apple Card Monthly Installments float value. 0% APR financing on Apple hardware lets cash earn interest elsewhere. Worth $20 to $50 per major Apple purchase depending on outside cash yield.
  • Apple Card Savings 3.50% APY (as of April 23, 2026). Per Apple's terms, APY can change at any time. Treat as a cash-management convenience, not a reason to open the card.
  • Category cards stronger than 2%. A Citi Custom Cash, US Bank Cash+, or Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards setup can beat 2% on the user's top spending categories. Run those through the CardSavvy Optimizer for a full-wallet view.
  • Travel-card transferable points. Apple Card earns Daily Cash. Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou points can redeem above face value through transfer partners. Not modeled here.

Optimize your entire wallet

Apple Card is one of many no-fee cash back cards. See how it stacks up against a full-wallet optimization across cash back, travel, and category cards.

Try the CardSavvy Optimizer

Learn more

Read the full Apple Card 2026 review, compare cash back cards, or see all calculators.

Apple Card Review 2026Best Cash Back CardsCompare All Cards

Calculator updated 2026-05-08. Apple Card rates and partner list per Apple's published terms (learn.applecard.apple/no-fees) as of May 2026: 3% Daily Cash at Apple and select merchants when paid with Apple Card via Apple Pay (current partners: Apple, Ace Hardware, Booking.com, ChargePoint, Duane Reade, Exxon Mobil, Hertz, Nike, Uber/Uber Eats, Walgreens), 2% on other Apple Pay purchases, 1% where Apple Pay is not accepted. Variable purchase APRs of 17.49% to 27.74% as of January 1, 2026. No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late fee. Chase to become the new Apple Card issuer per Apple's January 7, 2026 announcement; Mastercard remains the network. Comparison-card rates reflect publicly advertised flat cash back rates from Wells Fargo Active Cash, Citi Double Cash, and the Fidelity Rewards Visa. Benefits and rates change. Not financial advice.