Samsung finally has an Apple Card rival, and it beats Apple in one area

Samsung has announced the launch of its first-ever credit card in the US, appropriately called the Galaxy Card. On the surface, it appears to be similar to one of the countless branded credit cards available to consumers in the United States.

It offers rewards on general spending and exclusive cash back and perks on the purchase of Samsung products.

This isn't exactly the first time Samsung has tried bolting some kind of financial product onto owning a Galaxy device. It already offers financing options through its online store.

Samsung also had the Samsung Money debit card launched in collaboration with SoFi that never evolved past a cash-management account and didn't build credit history.

What's different this time is that Samsung has finally embraced the formula that proved successful for Apple. Apple launched the Apple Card back in March 2019, a sleek metal credit card initially issued by Goldman Sachs on the Mastercard network.

JPMorgan Chase took over as the issuer earlier this year, but the card has become one of Apple's more successful ecosystem products. Apple Card reportedly had more than 12 million users as of 2024, with annual spending estimated at more than $67 billion. Penetration among US iPhone owners reached around 8%.

Samsung has taken inspiration from that playbook. Like Apple's card, the Galaxy Card is made from metal, has no annual fee, and comes with a virtual card for secure online purchases. It is issued by Barclays on the Visa network and is clearly designed to encourage customers to stay within Samsung's ecosystem.

Apple still has one meaningful advantage: Apple Card users can open a high-yield Savings account linked directly to their card, allowing them to earn interest on their cash rewards.

Samsung offers a similar account through Samsung Money, but it's a separate product rather than a built-in benefit of the Galaxy Card.

Samsung also hasn't disclosed the card's Annual Percentage Rate (APR) range yet. Apple, on the other hand, clearly lists this information on its website. The Korean giant will likely share that information with approved applicants, but including it in the launch announcement would have made for a more transparent introduction.

Where Samsung turns the tables is on rewards. Its cash-back structure is simply more generous than Apple's. Galaxy Card offers 5% cash back on purchases made directly with Samsung, compared to Apple's 3% at Apple and select partners.

It also provides 3% on purchases made through Samsung Wallet versus Apple's 2% through Apple Pay. Both cards offer 1% cash back on everything else.

For the target audience of these cards, that difference matters more than any other feature. Someone regularly buying Samsung phones, tablets, wearables, or accessories stands to earn considerably more back with Galaxy Card than they would with Apple's equivalent.

Samsung opened public applications for the Galaxy Card on July 22, 2026, the same day it unveiled its latest Galaxy devices at Unpacked in London. Customers approved in time for those purchases will be able to stack the card's 5% cash back with Samsung's existing preorder promotions.

There's also a welcome offer of $200 in bonus cash rewards after spending $2,000 within the first 90 days. It's an admirable effort in providing customers some relief as they stomach the price hikes that Samsung has made on its new devices.

Like the Apple Card, the Galaxy Card is ultimately aimed at people already invested in the ecosystem. If you're not shopping with Samsung or using Samsung Wallet regularly, the standard 1% cash back won't stand out in a crowded credit card market. You can make the same criticism of Apple Card.

Samsung should have launched something like this years ago, but better late than never. Apple showed there was demand for this approach, and Samsung has followed with a version that, at least when it comes to rewards, is even more compelling.

Apple may still have a more mature financial ecosystem, but Samsung's first real attempt gets one of the most important parts right. If maximizing cash back is your priority, Galaxy Card is the better deal.