New Apple Card Users Can Get 6% Back on Apple Purchases

But the promotion ends on March 31 and you must pay in full

By
Ben Luthi
Ben Luthi
Full Bio
Ben Luthi has been writing about credit cards and personal finance for six years and has written for U.S. News, NerdWallet, CreditCards.com and Experian, among others. Ben has developed many of Investopedia's in-depth credit card reviews and enjoys collecting and redeeming credit card miles and points in his everyday life and international travels.
Learn about our editorial policies
Published March 18, 2021

If you've been on the fence about applying for an Apple Card, its latest promotion may be enough to convince you. The card's issuer, Goldman Sachs, is now offering up to 6% cash back on Apple purchases through March 31.

Key Takeaways

  • Goldman Sachs has run several promotions to encourage consumers to open an Apple Card account.
  • The latest promotion offers 6% cash back on Apple products through March 31, 2021, when cardholders use their Apple Card and pay in full.
  • Cardholders must open an account and make their purchase by the March 31 deadline.

Should You Take Advantage of the Apple Card Promotion?

The Apple Card hasn't always had a sign-up bonus. In the past year, though, Goldman Sachs has tested several limited-time offers to incentivize new applications. 

The primary approach has been to offer between $50 and $75 in daily cash when new account holders spend the same amount at certain merchants, including Exxon or Mobil gas stations, Walgreens, Nike, Panera Bread, and Apple Service.

This most recent promotion is different in that it offers 6% cash back on Apple products when consumers use an Apple Card and pay in full. If they use the card and opt for monthly installments or the iPhone upgrade program, they'll earn only 3% cash back, which is the standard for Apple purchases on the card.

If you've been thinking about making a large Apple purchase, a 6% return is about as good as you're going to get anywhere. And because you can use your card right away after you're approved, you could conceivably wait until the final day of the promotion to make a decision.

But keep in mind that there may be better card promotions elsewhere.

For example, the Chase Freedom Flex card offers $200 cash back after you spend $500 in the first three months. In order to receive that same bonus with the Apple Card, you'd have to spend roughly $3,333 on Apple products and pay for them in full. 

It's also important to consider other card features. The Apple Card is relatively unique in that its bonus rewards are mostly reserved for purchases with specific retailers. Currently, you'll earn 3% back at Apple, Duane Reed, Exxon, Mobil, Nike, Panera Bread, T-Mobile, Uber, Uber Eats, and Walgreens.

But if you want broader categories that don't restrict which merchants you shop at, another cash-back credit card could be a better option.

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

  1. Apple Card. "Shop With Apple or Select Merchants and Get Even More Daily Cash."

Take the Next Step to Invest
×
The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace.
Service
Name
Description