Head-to-head · 🇺🇸 United States

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Apple Card

Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.

US
Premium
Chase
Chase Sapphire Reserve
VISA
Wins 2 of 10
US
Goldman Sachs / Apple
Apple Card
Wins 2 of 10
Verdict

It's a true tie — neither dominates. Pick the one whose boost categories match where you actually spend.

Side-by-side

CriterionChase Sapphire ReserveApple Card
Annual fee
·
$550
No annual fee
Joining fee
=
None
=
None
Top reward rate
10% (travel)
·
3% (shopping)
Base reward rate
=
1%
=
1%
Forex markup
=
No FX fee
=
No FX fee
Welcome bonus
=
60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months
=
No welcome bonus — daily cashback model
Fee waiver threshold
=
No waiver
=
N/A (no fee)
Min income
=
=
Min credit score
·
740
660
Editorial rating
4.7/5
·
4.4/5

Benefits compared

Chase Sapphire Reserve

  • 10x on hotels and rental cars booked via Chase Travel
  • 5x on flights booked via Chase Travel
  • 3x on all other dining + travel
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounge access
  • 50% bonus when redeeming for travel via Chase portal

Apple Card

  • 3% Daily Cash on Apple purchases + select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, T-Mobile)
  • 2% Daily Cash on all Apple Pay transactions
  • 1% Daily Cash on physical-card purchases
  • No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late fees
  • High-yield savings account at 4.4% APY
  • Privacy-first: no purchase data sold

FAQ

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Apple Card: which is better?

It's a true tie — pick the one whose boost categories match your spend. Chase Sapphire Reserve wins on 2 criteria, Apple Card on 2.

Can I get both?

Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Chase Sapphire Reserve for its best categories, Apple Card for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.

Which one has the better welcome bonus?

Chase Sapphire Reserve: 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months. Apple Card: No welcome bonus — daily cashback model.