On January 7, 2026, JPMorgan Chase announced it would become the new issuer of the Apple Card, taking over from Goldman Sachs in a transition expected to take about 24 months and subject to regulatory approval (Nasdaq, January 2026). Mastercard remains the payment network. Until the handoff is complete, Goldman Sachs continues to run the program.
As of October 2026, Apple’s own Apple Card page still lists Goldman Sachs Bank USA as the issuer. So if you apply today, your account opens with Goldman, and it will move to Chase at some point later. Does that change whether the card is worth getting? Not much, as we’ll explain. The bigger question is whether its rewards suit how you pay.
At a glance
| Feature | Details (as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Goldman Sachs Bank USA (Chase transition announced, pending) |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual fee | None |
| Late, over-limit, foreign transaction fees | None (late payments still add interest) |
| 3% Daily Cash | Apple, plus select merchants when paying with Apple Pay |
| 2% Daily Cash | All other Apple Pay purchases |
| 1% Daily Cash | Purchases with the physical titanium card |
| Variable APR | 17.74% to 27.99%, based on creditworthiness (as of Oct. 1, 2026) |
JustMobs rating: 3.9/5. Excellent fee structure and a slick app; middling rewards unless you use Apple Pay for nearly everything.
How Daily Cash works
The Apple Card pays rewards as Daily Cash, credited each day rather than once a month. The rate depends entirely on how you pay:
- 3% on purchases from Apple and at select merchants when you pay with Apple Pay. Apple’s current list includes Ace Hardware, Booking.com, ChargePoint, Duane Reade, Exxon Mobil, Hertz, Nike, Uber, Uber Eats and Walgreens, with exclusions.
- 2% on everything else you pay for with Apple Pay.
- 1% when you use the physical card or type the card number into a website that doesn’t take Apple Pay.
Purchases through Apple Card Monthly Installments, typically used for iPhones and other Apple hardware, earn 3% up front with 0% financing on those installment plans.
The weak spot is that 1% tier. Plenty of places still don’t take Apple Pay, including some grocery chains, utility bills, rent portals and many online checkouts. Every one of those transactions earns half of what a flat 2% card pays.
Where the Apple Card stands out
Genuinely no fees
No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late fee, no over-limit fee. Missing a payment still costs you interest and can hurt your credit, but the card doesn’t stack a penalty fee on top. Very few major cards can say that.
Daily Cash into savings
You can send Daily Cash automatically into an Apple savings account, which Goldman Sachs currently provides. Apple doesn’t post a fixed rate on the card page, so compare the current yield against other high-yield accounts before routing everything there. Under the announced deal, Chase plans its own Apple-branded savings account, and existing savers will be able to choose whether to move.
The app
Spending is broken down by category and color, interest is estimated before you pay, and payment options are presented clearly. For people who tend to lose track of a balance, the design helps.
Where it falls short
- Rewards depend on Apple Pay. Using the physical card earns 1%, which is below most no-fee competitors.
- iPhone required. You need an Apple device to apply and manage the account.
- No welcome bonus in the traditional sense, outside occasional promotions.
- No intro APR on general purchases or balance transfers.
- Issuer uncertainty. When the account moves to Chase, it’s not yet public exactly how account details, savings options or customer service will change.
Monthly Installments: useful, with one caution
For Apple buyers, the installment plans are the card’s most practical feature. You split the price of a device into monthly payments at 0% interest and receive 3% Daily Cash on the full price at purchase. Compared with financing a phone through a carrier, that’s a clean deal.
The caution is that installments still use part of your credit line and show up in your balance. If you also carry a regular balance on the card, that portion accrues interest at your normal APR. Treat installment payments as a fixed bill and pay the rest of the statement in full.
Apple Card vs. a flat 2% card
The fairest comparison is the Citi Double Cash, which pays 2% on all purchases, Apple Pay or not, and adds a long balance transfer intro period. It charges a foreign transaction fee, though. If half your spending ends up on the physical card or a non-Apple Pay website, the Double Cash wins. If you pay with your phone almost everywhere and travel abroad, the Apple Card’s 2% plus no foreign fees can come out ahead.
For people building or rebuilding credit, remember that approval decisions belong to the issuer, not Apple, and a hard inquiry comes with a full application. The CFPB’s guide to credit reports and scores is a good place to see where you stand.
Frequently asked questions
Will my Apple Card number change when Chase takes over?
Neither company has published a detailed cardholder playbook yet. Reports on the deal say the transfer is expected to be phased, with Goldman running the program in the meantime. Watch for notices in the Wallet app and by email, and read any change-in-terms notice carefully when it arrives.
Does the issuer change affect my credit?
Portfolio transfers between banks normally keep your account history intact, since the account itself carries over. Your payment record is what drives your score, and myFICO explains why on-time payments weigh most.
Can I use the Apple Card on Android?
No. You need an iPhone to apply and to manage the account in Wallet.
Is the 3% list fixed?
No. Apple has added and removed partner merchants over the years, and Booking.com purchases also carry separate travel credits. Check Apple’s page for the current list instead of relying on old screenshots.
Should you get it now?
If you already use Apple Pay for most purchases, buy Apple products regularly and like the idea of no fees anywhere, the Apple Card is a sensible pick today. There’s no reason to wait for Chase. Your account should carry over, and the core features are what you’d be signing up for either way.
If you rely on a physical card, pay a lot of bills that don’t take Apple Pay, or want a sign-up bonus, look elsewhere. A flat 2% card or a category card will earn more. Full rates and terms are on Apple’s Apple Card page. Rewards partners and rates can change.
