Spend $75, Get $75 Free: Apple Card's Limited November Offer Explained

Apple Card Basics: What You're Actually Getting

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Beyond the signup bonus, here's what the Apple Card offers ongoing:

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Cashback Structure:

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• 3% back at Apple, select partners (Uber, Walgreens, Nike, Exxon/Mobil)

• 2% back on all Apple Pay purchases

• 1% back on physical card purchases

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Key Features:

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• No annual fee (ever)

• No foreign transaction fees

• Daily Cash (cashback paid daily, not monthly)

• High-yield savings account option (4.40% APY as of October 2025)

• Full Apple Wallet integration

• Transparent interest calculations showing exactly what you'll pay

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Credit Requirements: Good to excellent credit typically required (670+ FICO score recommended)

Should You Apply? Here's Who Benefits Most

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You Should Apply If:

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1. You Shop at Apple or Apple Partners Regularly 

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If you're planning to buy a new iPhone, MacBook, or AirPods, the 3% cashback adds up fast:

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• $1,200 MacBook → $36 back + $75 bonus = $111 total value

• Already recoups the $75 spending requirement

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2. You Use Apple Pay for Most Purchases 

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The 2% cashback on all Apple Pay transactions beats most no-fee cards' 1-1.5% baseline rates.

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3. You Want Simplified Credit Card Management 

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Apple Card's integration with iPhone Wallet shows:

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• Real-time spending notifications

• Exactly how much to pay to avoid interest

• Weekly/monthly spending summaries by category

• Color-coded merchant categories

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4. You're Building or Improving Credit

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• Soft credit pull to check pre-approval (won't hurt your score)

• Clear payment guidance helps avoid interest

• Reports to all three credit bureaus

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5. You Travel Internationally 

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No foreign transaction fees means you keep 100% of your cashback abroad (most cards charge 3% on international purchases).

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❌ You Might Skip This If:

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1. You Don't Use Apple Pay Frequently 

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The physical titanium card only earns 1% back—there are better options for non-mobile payments.

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2. You Want Higher Category Bonuses 

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Cards like Chase Freedom Flex® offer 5% rotating categories and 3% on dining/drugstores.

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3. You're Chasing Premium Travel Rewards 

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If you fly frequently, cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offer better point redemption values for travel.

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4. You Spend Heavily in Specific Categories 

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The Apple Card is a solid "everyday" card, but doesn't have elevated bonuses for gas, dining, or groceries like specialized cards do.

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How Apple Card Compares to Other No-Fee Cashback Cards

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Chase Freedom Flex®

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• Ongoing cashback: 5% rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 per quarter), 3% on dining and drugstores, 1% everything else

• Annual fee: $0

• Best for: Strategic spenders who track rotating categories and maximize seasonal bonuses 

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Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

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• Ongoing cashback: 1.5% on everything, everywhere - no categories to track

• Annual fee: $0 (see rates & fees)

• Best for: True set-it-and-forget-it cashback without thinking about Apple Pay, categories, or rotating bonuses

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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• Ongoing cashback: 1.5-5% (5% on travel through Chase Travel℠, 3% dining/drugstores, 1.5% everything else)

• Annual fee: $0

• Best for: General spending across multiple categories

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Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

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• Ongoing cashback: 3% on dining, entertainment, groceries, and streaming

• Annual fee: $0 (see rates & fees)

• Best for: Frequent diners and grocery shoppers

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Discover It Cash Back Credit Card

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• Ongoing cashback: 5% rotating quarterly categories, 1% everything else

• Annual fee: $0

• Best for: Maximizers who track rotating bonus categories

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Is Apple Card Really the Best Card for Buying iPhone 17?

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Short answer: 

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It depends on your credit card strategy.

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With the iPhone 17 starting at $799, you're making a significant purchase. Here's how to maximize value:

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When Apple Card IS the Best Choice:

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1. You're Using Apple's 0% Financing

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• 24-month interest-free payments through Apple Card Monthly Installments

• No credit check for existing Apple Card holders

• 3% Daily Cash on the full purchase price upfront

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iPhone 17 Example:

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• $799 iPhone → $23.96 Daily Cash earned immediately

• Pay $33.29/month for 24 months with 0% interest

• Plus the $75 signup bonus if you're a new cardholder

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2. You Value Simplicity. 

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Everything lives in your iPhone:

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• One-tap purchase in the Apple Store app

• Automatic payment tracking

• No separate financing application

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When OTHER Cards Might Be Better:

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1. You're Working Toward a Big Signup Bonus

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If you're trying to earn a travel card signup bonus, putting $799+ on that card helps you hit spending requirements faster.

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Example Strategy:

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: $799 iPhone counts toward $4,000 spend for 60,000 bonus points (worth $750+ in travel)

• American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees): iPhone purchase counts toward $2,000 spend for 60,000 points

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: $799 toward $4,000 requirement for 75,000 miles

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2. Your Card Has Cell Phone Protection Several premium cards offer cell phone damage/theft coverage when you pay your monthly bill with the card:

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Cards with Phone Protection:

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• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Up to $600 coverage, $25 deductible

• U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite: Up to $800 coverage, $50 deductible

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Up to $800 coverage, $100 deductible

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Up to $1,000 coverage, $100 deductible

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The Catch: You must pay your monthly phone bill with these cards (not the phone purchase) to activate protection. If you buy with Apple Card financing and pay your Verizon/AT&T bill with one of these cards, you get both 0% financing AND phone protection.

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3. You Have a Business Card with Bonus Categories 

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Business owners with high spending requirements might benefit more from:

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• American Express® Business Gold Card (See Rates & Fees): 4x points on top spending categories (up to $150K/year)

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: 3x points on select categories (first $150K)

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (See Rates & Fees): 2x points on all purchases (first $50K)

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Plus: Business cards often include purchase protection and extended warranty coverage that personal cards don't offer.

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Strategic Consideration: Carrier Restrictions

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Important if you're on Verizon Business: Some business plans don't support Apple Card Monthly Installments. You'd need to purchase outright, making signup bonus cards more attractive.

How to Apply for Apple Card in 3 Minutes

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The Apple Card application process is completely digital and takes less than 5 minutes:

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Step 1: Open Wallet App

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• iPhone users: Open Wallet app → Tap "+" icon

• Not on your phone? Visit https://learn.applecard.apple/offer

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Step 2: Check Pre-Approval

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• Soft credit inquiry (doesn't affect your credit score)

• Instant decision in most cases

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Step 3: Accept Your Offer

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• Review your credit limit and APR

• A hard credit pull only happens when you accept

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Step 4: Start Using Immediately

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• Digital card available instantly in Wallet

• Physical titanium card ships within 6-10 business days

The Bottom Line: Should You Get the Apple Card?

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Even if you only use the card once to unlock the bonus, you're getting $75 in free money for zero cost. The no annual fee means there's no downside to keeping it in your wallet, even as a backup card for Apple purchases. Plus, it comes with a sleek metal card design.

5 FAQs About the Apple Card $75 Bonus

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Can existing Apple Card holders get this bonus?

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No, this offer is for new cardholders only. Apple rarely offers retention bonuses to existing customers.

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When do I receive the $75 Daily Cash?

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Within 1-2 business days after meeting the $75 spending requirement in your first 30 days.

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Does the $75 spending requirement include Apple purchases only?

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No—any purchase counts toward the $75 minimum. Buy groceries, gas, dining—it all qualifies.

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Will applying hurt my credit score?

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The initial pre-approval check is a soft inquiry (no credit score impact). Only the final acceptance triggers a hard inquiry, which may temporarily lower your score by a few points.

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Can I use the Daily Cash toward an iPhone purchase?

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Yes! Daily Cash can be:

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• Applied to your Apple Card balance

• Deposited into your bank account

• Used directly for Apple purchases

• Saved in Apple's high-yield savings account (4.40% APY)