Best Credit Card to Use Making Apple Purchases

[Bradac56]

That depends on if the OP wants to jump through hoops like paying through paypal wallet and/or use multiple cards for categories. The apple card is the easiest and best case if you just want to buy apple products and even better if you use the other nine 3% merchants. 

It just depends on how the OP normally spends money - simple or complex & how much spend a month?  Is a $3k laptop a major expense or is it just another regular purchase?

[Anonymous]

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@M_Smart007 wrote:

IIRC? ..I think @Anonymous had a good explanation on how to buy Apple at a deep discount.

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Christmas time at Costco with 4% back from the Citi Costco Visa card (2%) & Executive Membership (2%).

That Mid-2019 Macbook Air was already $300 off ($799.99) from the Apple store price of $1,099. Same model #. Plus the included 4 year warranty with 120 day theft/damage protection (card benefit + Costco 1yr add) that would have cost an extra $249 at Apple.

Best place to buy Apple stuff is, in order:

1. Costco (even with cash and a $60 membership you save a lot over Apple.com)
2. Micro Center (if you're lucky enough to have one close by)
3. Somewhere else online
4. Apple.com

[longtimelurker]

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@FormerCollegeDJ wrote:

I'll add that the Discover It Cash (typically Q3) and Chase Freedom Flex (typically Q4) usually offer 5% rewards on PayPal purchases 

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Discover certainly is Q3 this year and the previous two, but wasn't a category before that.  Freedom hasn't announced for 2021, and was Q4 for 2020 and 2019, but was Q2 in 2018.  So a little early for "typical" but probably true!

[longtimelurker]

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@Bradac56 wrote:

That depends on if the OP wants to jump through hoops like paying through paypal wallet and/or use multiple cards for categories. The apple card is the easiest and best case if you just want to buy apple products and even better if you use the other nine 3% merchants. 

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It still really depends.   If I use my Altitude Reserve whenever I encounter mobile pay (which is almost true), then using it to buy apple products at at a store using it is going to beat the Apple card.

[SPChaser]

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@FormerCollegeDJ wrote:

I'll add that the Discover It Cash (typically Q3) and Chase Freedom Flex (typically Q4) usually offer 5% rewards on PayPal purchases during one three month period of the year every year, but you'd have to wait a bit to get your new MacBook if you went that route and wanted to maximize rewards.

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Thanks @FormerCollegeDJ for sharing this info! Wifey just got the Flex and we've been planning on purchasing two MacBook Pros later this year prior to getting the card. This will be a great way to maximize our purchase 😎. 

[SPChaser]

Just gotta say thanks to everyone. Really invaluable info when considering I'm going to spend $6-8,000 on a couple apple products. 

[FormerCollegeDJ]

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@SPChaser wrote:

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@FormerCollegeDJ wrote:

I'll add that the Discover It Cash (typically Q3) and Chase Freedom Flex (typically Q4) usually offer 5% rewards on PayPal purchases during one three month period of the year every year, but you'd have to wait a bit to get your new MacBook if you went that route and wanted to maximize rewards.

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Thanks @FormerCollegeDJ for sharing this info! Wifey just got the Flex and we've been planning on purchasing two MacBook Pros later this year prior to getting the card. This will be a great way to maximize our purchase 😎. 

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I should note it isn't a guarantee Chase will offer PayPal as a 5% quarterly category on the Chase Freedom Flex (and Chase Freedom) in Q4 2021, but they have offered PayPal as a category sometime during the year each of the last three years.  In 2020, they also had a quarter (Q3) where Amazon was a 5% category.

You can see a listing of the Chase Freedom's/Chase Freedom Flex's past 5% quarterly categories at the following link (scroll down a bit to see the listing):

https://thepointsguy.com/news/activate-chase-freedom-5x-earnings/

[SPChaser]

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@FormerCollegeDJ wrote:

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@SPChaser wrote:

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@FormerCollegeDJ wrote:

I'll add that the Discover It Cash (typically Q3) and Chase Freedom Flex (typically Q4) usually offer 5% rewards on PayPal purchases during one three month period of the year every year, but you'd have to wait a bit to get your new MacBook if you went that route and wanted to maximize rewards.

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Thanks @FormerCollegeDJ for sharing this info! Wifey just got the Flex and we've been planning on purchasing two MacBook Pros later this year prior to getting the card. This will be a great way to maximize our purchase 😎. 

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I should note it isn't a guarantee Chase will offer PayPal as a 5% quarterly category on the Chase Freedom Flex (and Chase Freedom) in Q4 2021, but they have offered PayPal as a category sometime during the year each of the last three years.  In 2020, they also had a quarter (Q3) where Amazon was a 5% category.

You can see a listing of the Chase Freedom's/Chase Freedom Flex's past 5% quarterly categories at the following link (scroll down a bit to see the listing):

https://thepointsguy.com/news/activate-chase-freedom-5x-earnings/

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Much appreciated follow up DPs Definitely didn't miss @longtimelurker point this. Before reading this thread wasn't giving much thought as to the best place or card to purchase Apple products. 

[credit8502020]

UPDATE: So it appears that, at this time, buying from the Apple Store directly using the Elan Card may be the best way to get the most cash back. Elan offers 5% on Electronic Stores.

Of course, please feel free to share any other alternatives. I haven't found anything higher than 5%. With Elan you earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter. Anything (accessories, etc.) over $2,000, I can easily purchase with another card to maximize cash back. 

Thanks! 

[CreditCuriosity]

Eligible for educational discount also using a CC?   Back when I worked for a university that possibly was the cheapest way to get one at one point in time.  Although not a student worked for university/medical center and got said discount.  Also some states have tax free days or a few of them a year that could be 9-10% off right there depending on state, just another thought.  Usually those days happen before a semester.