The Apple Account Card serves as a way to access the balance of an Apple ID account quickly and easily, but it could get confused with the Apple Cash Card, and there are key differences between the two digital cards. Both are stored in the Wallet app on the company's devices, allowing users to store various cards and passes in one digital wallet. The application can hold many different items, from state identification cards to credit cards to hotel and travel keys. This versatility makes it a must-have for many Apple users, but it can become complicated. The company offers a few different virtual cards in the app, but they are distinct and have their own specialties.
Apple already had two other cards available in the Wallet app before the release of the Apple Account Card: the Apple Cash Card and the Apple Card. All three cards from the company have very similar names but are not the same. The Apple Card is a traditional credit card that was released in 2019 in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard. For this reason, it is significantly less accessible than the other two options. It requires users to be over 18 years of age, pass a credit check and is also restricted to specific regions. However, it offers the most flexibility — users can use the Apple Card anywhere Apple Pay and Mastercard are accepted.
The Apple Account Card is a rebranded version of the iTunes Pass, which was a pass available in the Wallet app that allowed users to use their iTunes account balance without a login. It was quietly released in May 2022 in an iOS update, but there has been no Apple Support page for the card yet. After setting up the card in the Wallet app, users can view their Apple ID account balance and use it to make purchases. Previously, there were separate gift cards and balances for the Apple Store and the iTunes Store. However, since iTunes has been split into three different apps, the process is unified. As a result, users can use one Apple ID account balance for both iTunes and Apple Store purchases. This is convenient, but there's room for confusion between the different Apple cards.
How The Cards Differ In Features & Functionality
The Apple Cash Card was introduced to allow users to quickly and easily send money and pay for items within the Wallet app. It uses Apple Pay, but unlike the Apple Card, it is not a credit card. Users can load the Apple Cash card with different amounts of money through a credit or debit card, and they can use virtual cash anywhere Apple Pay is accepted. Additionally, it is only available in the United States. It is required that users be 18 years or older or have permission from a family member through Apple's Family Sharing account configurations. Through iMessage and Apple Pay, the Apple Cash Card can hold set amounts of money for use in the Wallet app on Apple Products.
The main difference between the Apple Account Card and the Apple Cash Card is the different limitations of the two cards. The Apple Account Card can hold a set balance just like the Apple Cash Card, but the former can only be used for products and services inside the Apple ecosystem. For example, if a person wants to make purchases at an Apple Store or pay for subscription services, the Apple Account Card might be the way to go. However, the Apple Cash Card has an abundance of flexibility since users can use it anywhere that Apple Pay is accepted. Depending on what the card is used for, both the Apple Account Card and the Apple Cash Card have their own unique benefits.