Citi Double Cash^® Card Review [2026]: Up to 2% Cash Back on Everything

Citi Double Cash^® Card basics

Citi Double Cash Card welcome offer

The card's welcome offer sets you up to earn $200 cash back, which is a nice perk for a no-annual fee card. However, to get it, you have to spend at least $1,500 in the first 6 months of opening the account.

The minimum spending requirement is significantly higher than competing cards with a similar bonus value. That said, the amount of time you're given to hit that required spend is about double that of comparable cards.

If you're planning a one-off large purchase or typically spend at least $250 a month on your everyday card, this card offers a decent bonus perk. Just note that other cash back credit cards make you do far less in exchange for the same amount.

For example, some popular cash back cards require a minimum $500 in purchases during the first three months of account opening (about $166 in required spending per month) to earn the welcome offer.

Citi Double Cash Card benefits and perks

The Citi Double Cash Card is far from flashy, but it does shine in some areas.

Unique rewards program

Its cash back rewards structure makes earning effortless for all categories. So if your monthly spending is spread across multiple categories — let's say streaming subscriptions, groceries, pet care, salon services, gas and dining out — you'll reliably earn cash back on those purchases throughout the year.

There are no quarterly category rotations, enrollment windows to track and no earning caps to hold you back. It's a flat cash back rate on all purchases with a twist.

You're rewarded 1% cash back for each dollar you spend, but also rewarded 1% cash back for each dollar you pay back. It's a worthy option if you prefer predictability, instead of rotating cards and optimizing your spending to chase rewards.

Plus, the two-pronged rewards program could help strengthen your credit. Doling out the 1% reward at payment encourages you to repay your debt and keep your balance low — the two biggest factors when building your credit score.

The Citi Double Cash Card amps up the rewards appeal if you're planning a trip, too. You can earn a total of 5% cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. This is an attractive boost if you don't already carry a travel rewards credit card. But if you have a stack of travel credit cards in your repertoire, this one isn't the most competitive.

Lengthy no-interest intro offer

The Citi Double Cash Card works double-time, both as a convenient rewards card and as a strong balance transfer credit card. It offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable)) .

A common concern with balance transfers is the cost associated with this debt repayment strategy. Citi Double Cash reduces this burden with an introductory 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.

The downside is that this intro APR doesn't apply to new purchases. Also, if debt repayment is a big driver for getting this card, don't drag your feet. In order to qualify for the intro APR on balance transfers (and to secure a lower fee on your transfers), you must make any transfers within 4 months of account opening.

Earning and redeeming cash back

Potential earnings in years one and two

Here's a look at how your cash back can add up with the Citi Double Cash Card. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 1 cent per reward earned.

Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.

Year one earnings: $950

Year two earnings: $750

These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which takes a look at points earned via spending, if there is a sign-up bonus, and the annual fee.

Using the calculator below, you can customize the points value and monthly spending by category to get a better idea of what you might earn with the Citi Double Cash Card.

Credit Card Rewards Calculator

Enter your monthly expenses into the calculator below to see how much you could earn in rewards!

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Citi Double Cash® Card

Monthly Category Spending	Value
Hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel $ Earn 5% Cash Back Value
All purchases with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases $ Earn up to 2% Cash Back Value

Estimated Monthly Earnings

These estimates are based on FinanceBuzz's own assessment of the terms of the financial product and your inputs. Actual rewards may vary depending on your usage of the product.

Best ways to earn

The Citi Double Cash card keeps it about as simple as it gets for earning cash back rewards. Members can earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.

While there are credit cards that earn higher cash back in specific categories, the Citi Double Cash Card's universal up to 2% return on all purchases means you don't miss out if a purchase doesn't perfectly align with any rotating categories.

Ensuring that you plan travel through the Citi Travel platform is the best way to maximize your rewards. Just make sure that your other credit cards don't offer higher rewards on travel, and the pricing for your preferred travel providers is actually competitive.

Maximizing your redemptions

The Citi Double Cash Card earns rewards in the form of Citi ThankYou® Points. From there, you can redeem your points as cash back in one of three ways:

• Receive a statement credit on your card account
• Receive a direct deposit to a checking or savings account
• Receive a check

Alternatively, you can redeem your points to book travel, purchase gift cards, or make online shopping purchases.

Overall, these redemption options are pretty typical for a cash back credit card. But it's worth noting that transferring your ThankYou Points to a Citi travel partner can be a good way to maximize their value.

Citi Double Cash Card transfer partners

Redeeming your ThankYou Points for travel through a transfer partner could unlock bonus opportunities.

Citi partners with 19 airline and hotel loyalty programs:

• AAdvantage Program
• ALL - Accor Live Limitless
• Avianca LifeMiles
• Cathay Pacific
• Choice Privileges
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• EVA Air
• Flying Blue
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Leaders Club
• Preferred Hotels & Resorts
• Qantas Frequent Flyers
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Royal Orchid Plus
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red
• Wyndham Rewards

Although Citi has a sizable list of transfer partners, it's far from comprehensive. If you're a devout Delta SkyMiles or Hilton Honors member, for instance, this redemption alternative won't help enhance your next trip.

Why you might want a different card

Low rewards rate

While this card's cash back is good, other no-annual-fee cash back credit cards offer higher rates in specific categories, such as dining, gas, groceries, or online purchases. That's why we recommend the Citi Double Cash Card if you already have cards earning high rates in your top spending categories.

For example, you could use the Citi Custom Cash^® Card for your grocery shopping if that's where you spend the most money since it earns 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back). On other purchases, you could use the Citi Double Cash.

Not travel-friendly

While the Citi Double Cash card has a lot of conveniences going for it, it's not ideal for frequent international travelers.

It has a foreign transaction fee of 3%, which could wipe out your cash back earning potential if you use it while traveling abroad.

If you're something of a globetrotter, check out our list of the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

Compare Citi Double Cash Card to other cards

Though the Citi Double Cash^® Card is widely considered to be one of the best cashback credit cards available, it isn't the only cashback card that's worth having. Other credit card issuers offer similar cards, and some of them even come with other perks in addition to a welcome bonus and balance transfer offer.

	Citi Double Cash Card	Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees)	Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel	5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases	Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Welcome bonus	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 a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening (limited-time offer)	$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual fee	$0	$0	$0
Intro APR	0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable))	0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then 18.24% - 27.74% Variable)	0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening (then 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR) 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (then 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% 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	$5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days	3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee	3%	3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars	3%
	Apply now	Apply now	Apply now

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

Another cashback card to check out is the Chase Freedom Unlimited^®(Rates and fees).

It's a great example of having your cake and eating it, too. Like Citi Double Cash, it offers an unlimited flat-rate cash back reward rate — albeit slightly lower at 1.5%. But the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited makes up for it with more bonus rewards categories:

• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service

It also offers a welcome bonus, but has a lower spending threshold when it comes to qualifying for that bonus. Plus, it delivers on something that the Citi Double Cash Card lacks — 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, then 18.24% - 27.74% Variable.

If you have a big purchase coming up soon, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a smarter choice for you.

Unlimited Cash Back

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

4.7

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.

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

Limited Time Offer: Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Base rewards rate of 1.5%
• $0 annual fee
• Ability to transfer cash back to other Ultimate Rewards cards
• Intro APR offers for purchases and balance transfers

Drawbacks

• Has a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
• No bonus categories for gas or groceries

Card Details

• Limited Time Offer: Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Check out our full Chase Freedom Unlimited^® review | Learn more in our Citi Double Cash vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited comparison.

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

Another flat-rate cash reward option is the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card(Rates and fees). This card allows you to earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Like Citi Double Cash, it's a no-frills, set-it-and-forget-it cash rewards program.

It's perfect if you simply want one card to rule your wallet, or want a card that fills the rewards category gaps left by your other credit cards.

It also offers a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months and a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening, then 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable.

Unlike the Citi Double Cash, which doesn't have an intro APR offer on purchases, the Wells Fargo Active Cash offers an intro APR period for both purchases and qualifying balance transfers.

This is the card for you if, let's say, you have an existing balance from securing an in-demand wedding venue and caterer, but have a list of upcoming expenses for the big event.

If you need to finance your special day, getting an intro APR on both qualifying balance transfers and new purchases could help you save money on interest long-term — just ensure your purchases are paid off before the intro period ends.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

Wells Fargo Active 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.

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
• Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
• Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash

Drawbacks

• Foreign transaction fee of 3%
• No bonus categories

Card Details

• Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
• $0 annual fee.
• No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

Check out our full Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card review | Learn more in our Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. Citi Double Cash comparison.

FAQs

Bottom line

The Citi Double Cash^® Card(Rates and fees) is ideal for those looking for a no-fuss way to earn cash back rewards. Its flat unlimited up to 2% cash back rate on all purchases provides excellent earnings without having to juggle rotating categories or promotions. While not the highest earner in popular categories, the Double Cash's simplicity and $0 annual fee makes it a valuable addition to any wallet.

Ultimately, the Citi Double Cash Card is a reliable option for straightforward cash back, but personal spending habits should be taken into account when choosing the best fit. Explore other options in our list of the best balance transfer credit cards.

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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Simple flat-rate cash back on all your purchases
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable) APR
• No annual fee

Drawbacks

• 3% foreign transaction fee for international purchases
• 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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, 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).