Are you wanting a metal credit or debit card and wondering how different options compare?
Well in this video, we’re going to be taking a closer look at a few cards I have on hand
and how you can get them for yourself.
Hey everyone this is Kyle from Money@30 and on this channel we look at personal finance
from a millennial perspective including credit and debit card review videos like this one.
In recent years, metal cards have been all the rage - almost to the point of parody in
some circles.
Nevertheless, these options remain popular as more consumers seek an upgrade from plasticl.
So what are some available metal credit can debit cards and how can you get one for yourself?
Let’s take a look at a few picks including some free ones.
First, we’ll start with a popular but expensive card: the American Express Platinum
Among the most well-known metal cards is the Amex Platinum, which defines “premium”
with its $695 annual fee and numerous benefits.
While I could detail all of the reasons this card may be worth that high fee, let’s talk
about the card itself.
First, it now comes in three different design options.
On my scale, the card comes in at 17g, with anecdotes suggesting that the card was slightly
heavier before it was updated to a plastic backing to accommodate tap technology.
Of course, if the $695 annual fee is still too high for you, there’s also the Amex
Gold card, which has the same metal design - but I was surprised to discover is actually
a bit lighter at 14g.
Currently, that card is available in the regular Gold and the Rose Gold color as seen here.
Whether you ultimately go with the Platinum, the Gold, or both, these are metal cards that
not only look cool but can also be quite powerful when put to their best use.
Next, if you’re not team Amex, then perhaps you’re Team Chase - including the Chase
Sapphire Preferred
While the Platinum may be most associated with metal these days, Chase actually beat
them to the punch with the release of the Sapphire Reserve.
Incidentally, although that card carries a $550 annual fee, the $95 annual fee Sapphire
Preferred is apparently made of the same material.
Personally, I find this card to be a bit more flexible than the likes of the Platinum or
Gold to the point where I wasn’t exactly sure it was metal.
But, weighing in at 12 grams on my scale, it’s definitely heavier than plastic.
Once again, the Preferred also has plenty of benefits that help make up for its annual
fee, making it a potential contender to join your wallet.
Another well-known metal credit card is the Apple Card - although the physical card actually
isn't the use of this option
When Apple announced that it was releasing its own credit card, one of the highlights
was the novel sleek-all white card it came with, famously bearing no card number.
Made from titanium, the Apple Card does have a unique feel that sets it apart from the
others we’ve discussed so far.
Overall, I’d say it feels more solid than the aforementioned options and comes in at
a surprising 14 grams despite feeling lighter.
Of course, the irony here is that Apple Card’s best rewards come not from using the physical
card but from using the card in Apple Pay, rendering this pretty-looking card all but
useless to me personally.
Turning to debit cards, the first one on my list is the Cash App Cash Card
I’ve talked about the Cash Card plenty of times before, including it’s awesome Boosts
feature.
However, when I was recently revisiting the card to write an update, I noticed that they
now have metal cards available for a fee.
At this time, users can choose between a Black or Chameleon Metal card for a one-time fee
of $50.
Like with other Cash Card, you can customize your card with a signature, text, emojis,
and more.
My card arrived in this nice little package, and is fairly hefty, coming it at 22 grams.
So while it’s hard to recommend you spend $50 just to get a card, I will say that it
does look pretty cool.
Incidentally, two banking platforms I’ve tried have levels of service called Metal
that come with metal cards: Revolut and OnJuno
Revolut is a digital banking platform that most notably allows users to exchange and
hold various worldwide currencies.
With such a feature emphasizing travel, it should come as no surprise that their Metal
plan includes additional travel benefits such as some lounge access, travel insurance, and
more.
As you might expect given the name, it also comes with a Metal debit card, with users
being able to choose between black, gold, space grey, rose gold, or lavender.
I actually think that the Rose Gold looks even better than my Amex one and weighs about
more at 17g.
However, Revolut Metal comes at a cost of $16.99 a month or $149.99 for a year if you
pay upfront.
Meanwhile, another digital banking service I’ve recently been trying out is OnJuno
and, as it turns out, they also offer a Metal plan.
In this case, customers can unlock this level of service by receiving direct deposit of
at least $250 a month.
In my experience, within a day or two of my first direct deposit arriving, I got an email
inviting me to upgrade and order my metal card.
Although this metal card is a bit flimsier than some of the others and weighs in at only
13g, it’s nice that you can get this card without having to spend any extra money.
Rounding out my debit card card is Cred.ai and their metal unicorn card
Likely winning the award for most unique design on this list is the Cred.ai unicorn card.
This debit card, which can also be used to help you build credit also gets props for
being another free option.
As for the card itself, I really like the thickness, the feel, and the weight - which
comes it at 17g.
Also, did I mention that there’s a unicorn on it?
All around, the Cred.ai card could be among the best options on the list as it’s also
one of the most accessible.
Finally, I wanted to mention a quick bonus one which I just received: Karat
Karat bills itself as a card for creators.
Earlier this week, my card arrived and I was a bit taken aback at just how pretty the card
was, It’s also quite sturdy and heavy, weighing 27 grams on my scale.
I’ll be doing a full review of Karat in the future but, for now, I’ll leave a link
in my description box if you’re a creator who wants to check it out.
Hopefully this gives you a better idea about what these metal card options are all about,
but for more on each, I’ll have a link to my full article in the description box down
below.
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So thanks again for watching and I’ll see you next time here on Money@30.