Citi Simplicity^® Card vs. Citi Double Cash^® Card: Cash Back, Balance Transfers, or Both?

Citi Simplicity vs. Double Cash

	Citi Simplicity® Card	Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
FinanceBuzz star rating	4.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
FinanceBuzz Year 1/Year 2 values1 <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p>	Year 1: $0 Year 2: $0	Year 1: $950 Year 2: $750
Annual fee	$0	$0
Welcome bonus	Long introductory APR period on balance transfers	Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back
Intro APR	0% intro APR for 12 months from date of account opening on purchases, then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable) 0% intro APR for 21 months from date of account opening on balance transfers, then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening	0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Balance transfer fee	3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends	3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends
Earning rate		2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25
Other benefits	Citi Identity Theft Solutions Digital wallet technology No late fees	Citi Entertainment Citi Identity Theft Solutions Digital wallet technology
Foreign transaction fee	3%	3%
Credit needed	Excellent, Good	Excellent, Good, Fair
	Learn more	Apply now

What both cards excel at

Both the Citi Simplicity and Citi Double Cash were created with different, particular consumers in mind, so you aren't going to see too much overlap in their strengths. Still, they do have a few shared benefits that offer value to cardholders.

No annual fees

The Citi Simplicity has a $0 annual fee and the Double Cash has a $0 annual fee.

Introductory APR balance transfer offers

Both cards come with introductory APR balance transfer offers. If you have debt that's accruing interest, you might consider a balance transfer credit card with no annual fees to help you pay it off.

When you have a card with a high interest rate, a big portion of your monthly payment goes toward interest instead of paying your balance down. With a balance transfer, you can move your debt to a card with a 0% intro APR offer for a set time period. During that period, since you're not accumulating interest, all of your monthly payment can go toward paying off your balance.

This is often a smart way to get out of debt faster. For more information, check out our list of the best balance transfer cards.

Security solutions

You also have Citi Identity Theft Solutions and digital wallet technology on both cards. Digital wallets allow you to get through the checkout process faster and help protect you from identity theft because you don't physically use your credit card. If there is an issue with identity theft, Citi Identity Theft Solutions can help resolve the matter.

Citi Entertainment access

When you have a Citi card, you also have the ability to use Citi Entertainment. With Citi Entertainment, you can get special access to purchase tickets to premiere events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences, and more.

How are these cards different?

For the most part, each of these cards will appeal to different consumers. Take a close look at the differences between them to see which one might be more beneficial for you.

Citi Double Cash earns cash back rewards

One of the biggest differences between these cards is that the Citi Double Cash is a cash back card, offering 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25. This makes the Double Cash much more appealing to me than the Simplicity.

I also appreciate that you have multiple redemption options with the Double Cash card. You can redeem your rewards for statement credit, a direct deposit into an account of your choice, or as a check that's mailed to you. You can also convert your cashback rewards into Citi ThankYou Points.

Citi ThankYou Points can be redeemed in multiple ways. You can use them to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more through the Citi Travel Center. If you want to use your points to book a flight on an airline directly, consider booking with Citi's transfer partners. You can transfer your ThankYou Points to more than a dozen partners.

You can also redeem your points for gift cards. And, if you're enrolled in a Citi checking account, you can use your points to pay certain bills. The Citi Simplicity is not a rewards credit card, so the Citi Double Cash is a much better option if, like me, you're more interested in a card that offers cash back.

Citi Simplicity is the better 0% intro APR card

Both the Citi Simplicity and Citi Double Cash have 0% intro APR benefits. The 0% intro APR period is lengthy on both cards, so if you need a credit card with a long balance transfer period, either of these two cards would be ideal options. But, the Simplicity does offer more time to pay off debt before interest kicks in.

Citi Double Cash balance transfer offer

The Citi Double Cash offers 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers (then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR).

Citi Simplicity balance transfer offer

The Citi Simplicity offers 0% intro APR for 21 months from date of account opening on balance transfers (then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable) APR); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.

If you need a credit card with a 0% intro APR period on purchases, the Citi Simplicity is the better option. The Citi Double Cash does not offer a 0% intro APR on purchases.

The Citi Simplicity offers 0% intro APR for 12 months from date of account opening on purchases (then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable) APR). If you have upcoming purchases you want to avoid accruing interest on, the Citi Simplicity could be the card for you.

Reduced fees with the Citi Simplicity

When comparing any two credit cards, I always make sure to take a close look at the fees that come attached. The Citi Simplicity has a $0 annual fee and the Double Cash has a $0 annual fee, and they both have foreign transaction fees:

• Citi Simplicity^® Card foreign transaction fee: 3%
• Citi Double Cash^® Card foreign transaction fee: 3%

This means an additional fee will be added to any purchase made with either of these credit cards when traveling abroad. I would take note of this and keep in mind that neither of these cards are best for travel.

They may not be the best travel credit cards, but they are among the best credit cards when it comes to balance transfers. Keep in mind that balance transfers will often have a fee attached, called a balance transfer fee. This fee can either be a flat amount or a percentage of the amount being transferred. In the case of the Citi Simplicity, the balance transfer fee is 3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends. For the Citi Double Cash, you'll also pay 3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends.

The Citi Simplicity also offers an added benefit: no late fees and no penalty rates, so if you accidentally miss a payment, you don't need to worry about extra costs. This is a perk that the Citi Double Cash doesn't provide.

Which Citi card should you choose?

When you should choose Citi Simplicity

• You want a long intro APR offer on balance transfers
• You want an intro APR offer on purchases

Learn more in our Citi Simplicity card review.

When you should choose Citi Double Cash

• You want a long intro APR offer on balance transfers
• You want to earn cashback rewards

Learn more in our Citi Double Cash review.

FAQ

Bottom line

The Citi Double Cash is a cash back card, while the Citi Simplicity is a 0% intro APR card. They have a few overlapping features and benefits, but they're mostly designed for different purposes.

If you want to earn cash back with a simple rewards rate, consider the Citi Double Cash^® Card(Rates and fees). Its earning structure even landed it on our list of the best cash back credit cards.

To me, this is a much more appealing option than a card that offers no rewards, like the Citi Simplicity. Plus, you can take advantage of an intro APR offer on balance transfers and a $0 annual fee.

If you want an intro APR offer on both purchases and balance transfers, the Citi Simplicity^® Card is probably better for you. In fact, it ranks on our list of the best 0% intro APR cards, just keep in mind that you won't have any opportunities to earn rewards with this card.

Earn Cash Back Twice

Citi Double Cash^® Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Simple flat-rate cash back on all your purchases
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR
• No annual fee

Drawbacks

• 3% foreign transaction fee
• No bonus categories to maximize earnings
• No introductory APR on purchases

Card Details

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Author Details

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®, is credit cards specialist. For over a decade, he's leveraged credit card points and miles to travel the world. His expertise extends to other areas of personal finance — including loans, insurance, investing, and real estate — and you can find his insights on The Washington Post, Debt.com, Yahoo! Finance, and Fox Business.

Author Details

Lisa Dammeyer

Lisa Dammeyer is a writer for FinanceBuzz and an accomplished editor focused on personal finance and investing. She got her start in the finance industry in 2020 when she worked at a stock market news website. In that role, she helped lead a team of editors as they covered the biggest news stories in the market each day.