My Experience With the Apple Credit Card

When I first heard about the Apple Credit Card, I was curious. A credit card designed by Apple and issued by Goldman Sachs? That sounded pretty cool. But I quickly realized something important: you can only apply for it in the U.S.

In Japan, due to financial regulations, it’s almost impossible to get one right now. So, if you live in the U.S. (citizen, green card holder, or even visa holder), you’re eligible—as long as your credit score is good.

What Exactly Is the Apple Card?

The Apple Card is a sleek, minimalist titanium card that works on the Mastercard network. That means you can technically use it anywhere in the world where Mastercard is accepted.

But the real magic happens when you connect it to Apple Pay. The card rewards you differently depending on how you use it:

• 🛒 3% cashback at Apple and partner stores
• 📱 2% cashback with Apple Pay purchases
• 💳 Only 1% cashback when using the physical titanium card

So yes, it looks stylish in your wallet, but for the best rewards, you’ll want to stick with Apple Pay.

The Design: Minimalist & Heavy

Apple is known for beautiful design, and the Apple Card is no exception. The card is:

• White, simple, and clean
• Made of titanium, which feels heavier than normal plastic cards
• Premium-looking, kind of like an Amazon Prime Card but fancier

It’s definitely a conversation starter when you pull it out, but I’ve learned the cashback is much better when I don’t use the physical card.

Why I Think It’s Different From Other Cards

One of the biggest differences is how easy it is to avoid paying interest.

Normal credit cards require a minimum payment every month, but even if you pay that, interest piles up. With the Apple Card, the Wallet app shows you exactly how much to pay to avoid interest. It even color-codes it:

• ✅ Green or blue = safe, no interest
• ⚠️ Yellow or red = interest is coming

Plus, there’s a Pay Early option. Even if you pay a smaller amount ahead of time, you can cut down interest charges. Honestly, I love this feature because it makes credit card debt less scary.

Cashback in Everyday Life

Adding the Apple Card to Apple Pay makes daily life smoother. For example, in New York City, I use it for the subway via OMNY, and it automatically gives me 2% cashback.

It may not sound like much, but trust me—those little percentages add up. I even stopped using my debit card because cashback makes the Apple Card a smarter choice.

Applying for the Apple Credit Card

The application is simple: you just apply via the Wallet app on iPhone or on Apple’s website.

But here’s what you need:

• A U.S. address
• Valid status (citizen, green card, or visa)
• Good credit history

The first time I applied, I actually got rejected. Why? I didn’t have permanent residency yet. After getting my green card, I applied again—and got approved.

Funny enough, I even know Americans who were rejected, usually because they were young and had no credit history. So yes, credit score really matters.

Things to Watch Out For

A few quick tips from my experience:

• Don’t overspend just because it looks cool (easy mistake 😅)
• Pay off your balance on time—the Fed is raising interest rates, and debt gets expensive fast
• Remember: 1% cashback with the titanium card isn’t worth it unless you just want to show it off

Final Thoughts

The Apple Credit Card is stylish, modern, and surprisingly practical—if you live in the U.S.. It’s not available in Japan yet, but if you’re a U.S. resident and use Apple products, I’d say it’s worth considering.

Just remember: the real rewards come from Apple Pay, not from flashing the titanium card at checkout.