Prime Visa vs Apple Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Prime Visa leads on gas stations; the Apple Card on everyday spending.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
- Prime Visa
Chase · No annual fee
- Apple Card
Goldman Sachs · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Prime Visa$0Apple Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Prime Visa$150 gift cardApple Card—
- Rewards
- Prime VisaCash backApple CardCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Prime VisaNoneApple CardNone
- Network
- Prime VisaVisa SignatureApple CardMastercard
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Prime Visa2%HighestApple Card1%
- Gas Stations
- Prime Visa2%HighestApple Card1%
- Transit
- Prime Visa2%HighestApple Card1%
- Everything else
- Prime Visa1%Apple Card1%
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Prime Visa—Apple Card
- Extra 2% Booking.com Travel Credits · $2 per transaction
- Rideshare & transit
- Prime Visa—Apple Card
- $60 Uber One trial · $60 one-time
Perks & access— means none on record
- Car rental
- Prime Visa—Apple Card
- 5%+ off Hertz rentals + perks
- Other perks
- Prime Visa—Apple Card
- Share card with family and teens
- Interest-free payments on Apple gear
- Color-coded spending insights
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Prime Visa
- Up to $500,000 travel accident coverage
Apple Card— - Purchase & returns
- Prime Visa
- $500 per claim on damage or theft
Apple Card- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
- No fees on international purchases
- Biometric security on every purchase
- Other protections
- Prime Visa—Apple Card
- No late fees or penalty APR
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Prime Visa
- 5% back at Amazon.com, Audible.com, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel with an eligible Prime membership
- 5% back on Chase Travel portal bookings with no cap
- 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and transit - solid everyday categories
- $150 Amazon Gift Card welcome bonus with no minimum spend required
- No annual fee on the card itself (Prime membership separate)
Apple Card- No annual fee, no late fees, and no penalty APR
- Daily Cash deposited immediately rather than monthly
- 3% back at Apple and select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, Nike, etc.)
- 2% back on all Apple Pay purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cons
- Prime Visa
- Requires an eligible Amazon Prime membership to earn 5% (3% without Prime)
- Rewards locked to Amazon ecosystem - cannot transfer to airlines/hotels
- Only 1% back on non-category purchases - below average for catch-all spending
- No premium travel protections like trip delay insurance or lounge access
- Sign-up bonus is gift card, not flexible cash or points
Apple Card- Only 1% back when using physical card (non-Apple Pay)
- Requires iPhone to apply and manage the card
- No sign-up bonus
- No travel-related benefits or protections
- Limited 3% merchant list compared to category cards
Category-by-Category Winner
The Prime Visa wins in 3 of 3 categories. The Apple Card leads in 0.
Gas Stations
Prime Visa earns 2X vs 1X
Transit
Prime Visa earns 2X vs 1X
Dining
Prime Visa earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| Scenario | Prime Visa | Apple Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $150 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $150 Year one: $300 | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $35 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $155 Year one: $185 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Prime Visa |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $600 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $600 Year one: $750 | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $35 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $515 Year one: $545 | Prime Visa | Prime Visa |
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Prime Visa if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Prime Visa or Apple Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Prime Visa have that the Apple Card doesn't?
- The Prime Visa focuses on earn rates, while the Apple Card offers travel credits.
- Should I get the Prime Visa or the Apple Card?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.

