Apple Card vs Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card
Side-by-side comparison
| Apple Card | Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $395 |
| Welcome offer | No current offer | Up to 120,000 points |
| Dining | 2x | 4x |
| Groceries | 2x | 4x |
| Gas | 2x | 4x |
| Travel | 2x | 4x |
| Streaming | 2x | 1x |
| Everything else | 2x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $583 | $680 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Locked to Wyndham Rewards |
| Network | Mastercard | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Apple Card | Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | None | Up to 120,000 points |
| To earn it | No minimum spend | $6,000 in 120 days + $750 on Wyndham in 180 days |
| Est. first-year value* | $583 | $1,705 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $583 | $505 |
This one splits by time horizon. In year one the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card is ahead by roughly $1,122, thanks largely to its welcome offer. But the Apple Card earns more every year after, so if you keep it, it overtakes the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card only over the very long haul. Chasing the sign-up bonus and open to canceling before the second annual fee? Take the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card. Planning to keep it for years? The Apple Card pulls ahead.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Apple Card | Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | ~$220/yr (2 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Cash back only | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card carries the heavier credit stack (about $220 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
No overlap: a free cash card built around Apple Pay versus a premium Wyndham hotel card.
The Apple Card pays Daily Cash with no fee, best when you use Apple Pay. The Wyndham Premier is a loaded hotel card whose credits can offset its $395 for a Wyndham loyalist. Free Apple cash vs premium Wyndham perks.
Pros and cons
- 3% at Apple and select merchants, 2% via Apple Pay
- No annual fee and no fees at all
- Daily Cash paid instantly
- Great for Apple Pay users
- Only 1% on the physical card (non-Apple Pay)
- Best used inside the Apple ecosystem
- No travel perks or transfers
- 8x at Wyndham and 4x everyday categories
- Diamond status and $400+ in credits
- A big Wyndham bonus
- Strong for Wyndham loyalists
- $395 fee, only for Wyndham guests
- Points locked to Wyndham
- Overkill if you don’t stay at Wyndham
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reward type | Split | Apple Daily Cash vs Wyndham points. |
| Everyday value | Apple Card | 2% via Apple Pay, free. |
| Hotel perks | Wyndham Premier | Diamond status and credits. |
| Annual fee | Apple Card | $0 vs $395. |
| Best for | Depends | Apple Pay users vs Wyndham loyalists. |
The verdict
If you want a simple free card and use Apple Pay, the Apple Card is a fine no-fee earner, 2 to 3% back as Daily Cash with no fees whatsoever.
If you stay at Wyndham often, the Earner Premier’s credits and 8x earning can justify $395, but only for a loyalist. They aren’t comparable: free Apple cash versus premium Wyndham perks. Most people will prefer the free Apple Card unless they’re deep in Wyndham.