Samsung debuts new Galaxy Card to compete with Apple's credit card

Samsung has just launched a new credit card, dubbed the Samsung Galaxy Card. It is available for U.S. customers and is backed by a coalition of Barclays Bank and Visa. It's a clear response to the Apple Card, which has been offered in the U.S. since 2019, and comes with both a virtual card and a metal card with a black Samsung logo.

The Galaxy Card comes with a lot of benefits for Samsung customers, offering cash rewards on purchases made both on Samsung's online platform and elsewhere, though you'll see a range of rewards from 5% cashback on purchases made from Samsung, 3% on purchases made with Samsung Wallet, 2% for streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus, to 1% rewards on purchases made elsewhere. Financing is naturally also going to be available for eligible customers.

“For years, users have relied on Samsung products to enhance their daily life — from staying connected with friends, to relaxation, to productivity. Today, Samsung Galaxy Card offers users a new way to be rewarded every time you pay,” Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of the Digital Wallet Team at the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, said. “Users are busy, they need a credit card that simplifies their life and offers them real value — Samsung Galaxy Card does both.”

Samsung has partnered with both Visa and Barclays to bring the card to fruition, and both companies have shared their support of the new project.

“Partnering with Samsung is a strong example of Barclays' partner-first strategy and the innovation we’re bringing to the market with some of the world’s most recognised brands. Together, we’re creating seamless, rewarding digital banking capabilities and products that meet customers where they are — in their Samsung Wallet — and fit naturally into how they live, shop, and connect,” Denny Nealon, CEO of Barclays U.S., said.

Kirk Stuart at Visa added that the Samsung Galaxy Card would blend simplicity, security, and widespread compatibility for users with varied commerce needs.

Samsung is opening applications for the Galaxy Card on July 22, with successful applicants getting a $200 cash bonus if they spend $2,000 on the card within the first 90 days.

Addressing the Apple in the room

Samsung has spent years positioning its Galaxy line as Android’s answer to the iPhone, sometimes even being criticised for its lack of originality. The hardware is only part of Apple’s ecosystem advantage, and the Apple Card shows Apple's penchant for extending its influence beyond devices and into everyday services.

The Galaxy Card is an obvious attempt to build a similar connection. Samsung already has millions of customers using its Galaxy phones, paying for goods and services with Samsung Wallet, and its wider ecosystem of products such as the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Watch. A branded credit card gives the company a new surface area to keep its users engaged.

Despite all that, Apple benefits from enormous brand loyalty and cultural cachet that Samsung, although one of the world’s biggest smartphone makers, has struggled to replicate.

Even if that were to be set aside, the Apple Card has had issues of its own, from lack of relevance to costly regulatory concerns. Apple’s partnership with Goldman Sachs was fraught with issues, with the financial firm eventually moving to exit the consumer credit partnership, offloading it to JPMorgan Chase in early 2026. That opens the door for Samsung to learn from Apple’s experience while building its own offering.

Only time will tell whether this Galaxy Card would at least rival the Apple Card in a way that guarantees its longevity, much like the Galaxy phones do with the iPhone, or if it'll be just another short-lived experiment from Samsung eventually ending up propped up by contractual obligations rather than genuine consumer interest and uptake.