Though there are now many credit cards on the market offering 2% back on every purchase, the Citi Double Cash did it before it was popular. Cardholders earn a net 2% back per dollar spent—1% after making the purchase, 1% after making at least the minimum payment due.There are no spending caps and no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn, and there’s no annual fee to carry the Double Cash.
The card’s simple reward structure makes it perfect for people who don’t like earning elevated rewards in some categories but subpar rates on other spending, as many cash-back cards do. And, the Double Cash doesn’t require you to keep track of rotating categories or spending caps.
In addition, anyone looking to pay off high-interest debt from a non-Citi credit card will appreciate the intro APR offer: 0% for 18 months on balance transfers. After, a 17.74% - 27.74% variable APR applies. There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) for transfers completed within four months of account opening. After, a fee of 5% ($5 minimum) applies.
However, despite being a solid choice for consumers who want a flat-rate card, the Double Cash falls short in a few respects. It does not offer a welcome bonus, which many competing cash-back cards do, and its intro APR is limited to balance transfers only and not purchases. Plus, it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it’s not a good card to use when traveling outside the United States.
It’s also light on benefits. You won’t get perks such as cell phone protection, extended warranty protection or rental car insurance, which can be had on some other no-annual-fee credit cards.
Inside this article
Citi Double Cash Card Basics
$0 annual fee
No welcome bonus
Earn 2% cash back—1% when you buy, 1% when you pay
Purchase APR: 17.74% - 27.74% variable APR
Balance transfer APR: 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. After, a 17.74% - 27.74% variable APR applies
Balance transfer fee: Intro fee of 3% ($5 minimum) for transfers completed in the first four months. After, 5% ($5 minimum)
Issuer offers an online tool to check if you’re pre-selected for a Citi credit card
Citi Double Cash Card Other Details
Citi Double Cash Card Rewards
The Citi Double Cash Card earns 2% cash back—1% when you buy, 1% when you pay. If you prefer to earn the full 2% after making a purchase, you may prefer a different 2% card.
Though the Double Cash is marketed as a cash-back credit card, rewards come in the form of Citi ThankYou Points, meaning you earn 2 points per dollar spent. Points can be redeemed for cash back to a linked bank account with no minimum redemption amount required. You can also redeem points as statement credits to your card or take them as a paper check in the mail.
Additional redemption options include gift cards, charitable donations and shopping with points at participating online and in-store partners. However, if shopping with points, beware that you may get subpar value compared to redeeming for cash back. For example, if you redeem points when checking out at Walmart, the redemption rate is 1,250 points for $10. That comes out to a value of 0.8 cents per point, compared with 1 cent per point redeemed to a checking account.
Points can also be transferred to a limited selection of Citi’s travel partners. But if you also hold a Citi Premier Card or Citi Prestige Card, you can transfer to Citi’s full list of travel partners.
Citi Double Cash Card Rewards Potential
Using government data and other publicly available information, Sound Dollar estimates that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card. We'll use those numbers to determine what you might be able to earn in rewards using this card.
Since the Citi Double Cash is a flat-rate card, purchases in all spending categories earn 2% back. With $25,087 in annual spending, that’s $501.74 per year in cash back.
Citi Double Cash Card APR Details
Regular APR: 17.74% - 27.74% variable.
Intro APR: 0% for 18 months on balance transfers. After, a 17.74% - 27.74% variable APR applies. There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) for transfers completed within four months of account opening. After, a fee of 5% ($5 minimum) applies.
Citi Double Cash Card Benefits and Perks
Free Credit Score: Access your FICO Score at no cost.
0% Fraud Liability: You aren’t liable for unauthorized charges on the card.
Compatible With Digital Wallets: Use your card with digital wallets such as Apple Pay.
ID Theft Protection: Offered by Mastercard, this benefit monitors your information for suspicious activity and can help resolve identity theft if it has occurred. Enrollment required.
Citi Entertainment: Get early access to tickets for concerts, sporting events and more.
Citi Double Cash Drawbacks
No welcome bonus
Doesn’t have an intro APR on purchases
Lacking in benefits
Alternate Cash-Back Credit Cards
Citi Double Cash vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash
The Wells Fargo Active Cash earns 2% back on every purchase and charges no annual fee. It also offers a welcome bonus: earn $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months.
There’s also an intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers: 0% for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. After, a variable APR of 18.74%, 23.74% or 28.74% applies. There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) for transfers completed within 120 days from account opening. After, a fee of 5% ($5 minimum) applies.
You can get cell phone protection against damage or theft of up to $600 per claim (subject to a $25 deductible) when you pay your monthly phone bill with the Wells Fargo Active Cash.
The card also provides 24/7 access to the Visa Signature Concierge, as well as benefits when staying at a property in the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection (terms apply).
However, it’s worth noting the Active Cash does not offer any travel transfer partners.
Citi Double Cash vs. Citi Custom Cash
The Citi Custom Cash charges no annual fee and comes with a unique 5% cash-back program. You earn 5% back in your top spending category (from a list of eligible categories) on up to $500 spent each month, and 1% back on other spending.
Categories eligible for 5% cash back include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
There’s also a welcome bonus: $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 in the first six months. The Custom Cash is marketed as a cash-back card, but rewards are earned in the form of Citi ThankYou Points.
The card provides a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After, a 17.74% - 27.74% variable APR applies. The balance transfer fee is 5% ($5 minimum).
Citi Double Cash vs. Capital One Quicksilver
The Capital One Quicksilver earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Its earning rate may be less impressive than that of a 2% cash-back card, but it comes with a couple advantages.
For one thing, the Quicksilver offers a welcome bonus of a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months, plus, 5% back on gas and groceries (capped at $300 in cash back) during the first six months.
The card also charges no foreign transaction fees. If you’re planning to travel abroad, that makes the Quicksilver a good choice for your trip.
The Quicksilver charges no annual fee and comes with the following intro APR periods: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, after which a 17.99% - 27.99% variable APR applies. There’s a 3% fee for balances transferred within the first 15 months.
Should you get the Citi Double Cash?
If you’re looking for a cash-back credit card with a simple, flat-rate earning structure, the Double Cash is an excellent choice. It’s also a solid option for anyone looking to do a balance transfer from a non-Citi card and pay off the transferred debt during a long 0% APR period.
However, there are better cards to choose from if you want to earn your cash back upfront, rather than half after making a purchase and half after submitting a payment—and if you are looking to earn elevated cash back on specific spending or need a card to take abroad.
Citi Double Cash Summary
| Citi Double Cash Details | |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards | 2% cash back—1% when you buy, 1% when you pay |
| Purchase APR | 17.74% - 27.74% variable |
| Balance Transfer APR | Intro 0% for 18 months on balance transfers. After, a 17.74% - 27.74% variable APR applies. There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) for transfers completed within four months of account opening. After, a fee of 5% ($5 minimum) applies |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% |
| Welcome Bonus | None |