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The Double Cash is a top flat-rate card, especially if you’re consolidating debt.
Garrett YarbroughWritten by
Nouri ZarrughEdited by
/ 15 min
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At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict,this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for andhow we rate our cards.The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
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Snapshot
4.2
Bankrate rating
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
Bottom line
This is a solid low-hassle option for anyone looking for a simple way to earn rewards. But the lack of intro APR on purchases and a foreign transaction fee put it at a disadvantage against other rewards cards.
Best for up to 2% cash back
-
Rewards value
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4 / 5
APR
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
3 / 5
Rewards flexibility
Features
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
3 / 5
Good to Excellent(670–850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Recommended Credit
Intro 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.
1% - 5%
Rewards rate
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, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
Annual fee
Regular APR
On This Page
On This Page
- Current offer details
- Citi Double Cash pros and cons
- Reasons to get this card
- Reasons to skip this card
- Expert experience
- Citi Double Cash vs. other cash back cards
- Best cards to pair with the Citi Double Cash Card
- Is this card worth getting?
- Rating methodology
- Frequently asked questions
Citi is an advertising partner
Citi Double Cash® Card overview
The Citi Double Cash® Card is a practical cash back credit card that makes it easy to earn rewards and practice financial responsibility. It’s light on features and doesn’t have an intro APR offer on purchases, but its biggest merits are its top-tier flat-rate rewards and generous intro APR offer on balance transfers.
The Double Cash is an appealing choice if you’re looking for an easy way to earn rewards on purchases or pay down existingdebt, though it has more competition than it once did.
Rewards
- Limited-time offer: 5 percent total cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked via the Citi Travel portal through Dec. 31, 2024
- Up to 2 percent cash back on all eligible purchases (1 percent when you buy, plus another 1 percent when you pay off purchases)
Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysisWelcome offer
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back).
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis0% APR offer
- 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (transfers must be made within the first four months)
- 19.24 percent to 29.24 percent variable ongoing APR
Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis
Rates and fees
- No annual fee
- 3 percent foreign transaction fee
- 3 percent intro balance transfer fee ($5 minimum; 5 percent after the first four months)
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis
Other cardholder perks
- Citi Entertainment access
- Citi Flex Pay alternative installment payment plans for qualifying cardholders
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis
Citi Double Cash pros and cons
Pros
It has one of the highest flat cash back rates available, making it an excellent standalone or complementary card.
This card does not charge an annual fee.
It features one of the longest intro APR offers for balance transfers on a rewards card.
Cons
You need to pay your balance to get the full rewards amount.
A 3 percent foreign transaction fee makes this card a poor choice for purchases abroad.
Unlike some competing cards, it doesn’t offer an introductory APR on new purchases.
Why you might want the Citi Double Cash
The Citi Double Cash is one of the best no-annual-fee cash back cards available. Whether you’re looking for a standalone card or want to combine it with other cards, the flat rate earned for all purchases makes it a great option. It could also be a top choice if you need to pay off debt thanks to its strong intro APR on balance transfers.
Rewards: Stellar flat cash back rate
Besides being one of the best flat-rate cash back cards on the market with up to 2 percent cash back, the Citi Double Cash can help keep your spending habits in check with its earn-as-you-pay rewards structure. You automatically earn 1 percent cash back when purchasing, but you must pay off that purchase to receive the additional 1 percent back. If you’re new to rewards cards, this structure can incentivize you to pay on time to avoid interest charges and the slippery slope into debt.
The Citi Double Cash is also a great option if you’re looking for a low-maintenance rewards card. You’ll earn the same unlimited rewards rate on any purchase, so you won’t have to track spending categories or juggle multiple cards to maximize rewards. Plus, for a limited time through Dec. 31, 2024, you can earn 5 percent total cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked via the Citi Travel portal.
Although Citi advertises the Double Cash as a cash back card, you actually earn ThankYou points, which you can redeem for cash back in the form of a statement credit, direct deposit or check. You can also use your rewards for gift cards, travel through Citi or Shop with Points on Amazon or PayPal. However, it’s important to note that these are “basic” ThankYou points, so you can’t transfer them to a Citi travel partner. You’ll need to pair this card with a premium Citi travel card for that.
Bankrate Insight
To make the most of “basic” points, you can pool them with the points you earn from one of Citi’s premium travel cards.Based on Bankrate’s latest point valuations, this could increase the value of your points from 1 cent to around 1.6 cents each on average when you take advantage of Citi’s best travel transfer partners.
0% APRbalance transfer offer: A lengthy intro APR for a cash back card
The Citi Double Cash is a great balance transfer credit card: The card’s 0 percent introductory APR on balance transfers lasts an impressive 18 months (then 19.24 percent to 29.24 percent variable). That’s one of the longest offers on a no-annual-fee rewards card and is on par with many offers you’ll find on traditional balance transfer cards.
The Double Cash charges a 3 percent introductory fee for balance transfers ($5 minimum; 5 percent for transfers made after the first four months). However, this is a lower fee than you’ll pay with other balance transfer cards. You could save more with a lower fee than a few extra months of 0 percent APR.
For example, if you had $2,000 in credit card debt and transferred it to the Citi Double Cash, you could pay just over $111 a month for 18 months without accruing any new interest. You’d only owe a $60 balance transfer fee, which is modest compared to the amount you would owe in interest over 18 months without an introductory APR.
Welcome offer: Decent bonus
The Citi Double Cash currently boasts a competitive offer of 20,000 ThankYou points after you spend $1,500 in your first six months as a cardholder (worth $200 when you redeem for cash back). This is on par with the bonus offers you'll find on many of the best no-annual-fee cash back and rewards cards, though the spending requirement is a bit high. Some competitors only require a $500 spend to earn the same.
While a sign-up bonus shouldn’t be the main factor when weighing card options, these bonuses can offer substantial value. You’d need to spend $10,000 to earn $200 cash back with the Citi Double Cash without this welcome offer.
Learn more:Best cash rewards credit card welcome offers
Why you might want a different cash back card
Although the Citi Double Cash is a top-tier option among flat-rate cards, it lacks an intro APR period for new purchases and only carries basic perks. These shortcomings may disappoint applicants looking for more first-year value.
Rates and fees: No annual fee, but otherwise typical
As long as you pay off your balance in full each month, the no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash should be a rewarding card. However, fees like the foreign transaction fee can quickly wipeout your earned rewards and then some.
You’ll also have to watch out for a high penalty APR and a late payment fee (see terms). The penalty APR can last indefinitely, which makes the Double Cash card’s terms much harsher than some rival cards. Several competitors don’t charge a penalty APR or remove it after six to 12 months if you make consistent on-time payments. You should do your best to avoid making late payments, as the Double Cash card’s rewards program is only great if you pay on time.
APR: No introductory offer on purchases
Unlike many balance transfer and competing rewards cards, the Citi Double Cash doesn’t offer an intro APR on purchases. That means carrying a balance from new purchases will accrue interest immediately. The Double Cash is still one of the best cash back cards for balance transfers, but others may be worth considering if you want an intro APR on purchases. Many no-annual-fee rewards cards offer an intro APRon purchases and balance transfers and may be a better fit for your needs.
Learn more:Should you get a longer balance transfer offer or a shorter offer with rewards?
Perks: Limited benefits for a rewards card
The Citi Double Cash is light on card benefits compared to competing cash back cards. Like all Citi credit and debit cards, the Double Cash card comes with Citi Entertainment access. Citi Entertainment opens the door to presale tickets, events and experiences. For more information, read Citi Entertainment’s FAQ page.
However, other no-annual-fee cash back cards offer better benefits. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card provides trip cancellation and interruption insurance as well as partner perks with several delivery and rideshare services. And the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offersan annual credit for eligible streaming service purchases.
The card that works best for you will have perks that best give you additional value. But if you prefer a flat-rate cash back card, the Citi Double Cash might still be the best option for you despite its thin perks portfolio.
We tried it: Here’s what our experts say
Our credit card expert, Nouri Zarrugh, uses the Double Cash card to maximize rewards on purchases that don’t typically earn boosted rewards.
I love the card’s simplicity. It has come in handy for big but easy-to-forget expenses like insurance bills or car repairs, which typically only earn 1 percent back on other cards. Even though I carry several cards, I have plenty of purchases pop up for which the Double Cash offers the best return on spending.
— Nouri Zarrugh, Editor, Bankrate
How the Citi Double Cash compares to other cash back cards
The Citi Double Cash card is a solid pick, but doesn’t offer the highest flat cash back rate. It also lacks the top features available on other cash back cards, like an intro APR on new purchases. Here are some comparable flat-rate cash back cards worth considering before committing to the Citi Double Cash.
![Citi Double Cash Card Review | Bankrate (4) Citi Double Cash Card Review | Bankrate (4)](https://i0.wp.com/cdn.prodstatic.com/shared/images/cards/120x76/9ea24330-ae9f-11ec-81f6-95945bae99c9.jpg?auto=webp&fit=bounds&width=120&height=76)
Annual fee
$0
Intro offer
$200 cash back
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.
Rewards rate
1% - 5%
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, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
Recommended Credit Score
Good to Excellent(670–850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
![Citi Double Cash Card Review | Bankrate (5) Citi Double Cash Card Review | Bankrate (5)](https://i0.wp.com/cdn.prodstatic.com/shared/images/cards/120x76/79da4290-e29d-11e8-9226-898bd023ae97.png?auto=webp&fit=bounds&width=120&height=76)
Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Card
Bankrate Score
Annual fee
$0
Intro offer
N/A
Rewards rate
1.5% - 2.5%
2.5 percent cash back on all purchases (on up to $10,000 in qualifying purchases each billing cycle, then 1.5 percent) with a qualifying Tier One Rewards status Unlimited 1.5 percent cash back with Tier Two Rewards status
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent(740–850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
![Citi Double Cash Card Review | Bankrate (6) Citi Double Cash Card Review | Bankrate (6)](https://i0.wp.com/cdn.prodstatic.com/shared/images/cards/120x76/5ecc0ed0-577e-11ec-9716-87183df373f6.png?auto=webp&fit=bounds&width=120&height=76)
Bankrate Score
See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Annual fee
$0
Intro offer
$200 cash rewards
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Rewards rate
2%
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Recommended Credit Score
Good to Excellent(670–850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Best cards to pair with the Citi Double Cash Card
When pairing credit cards, choosing a card that supplements your existing card or makes up for what your card lacks works best.
In the case of the Citi Double Cash, consider pairing it with a bonus category cash back card that can boost your rewards on your common spending categories. Additionally, if you know you have a big purchase coming up, a low introductory APR on purchases may be helpful. However, any card that earns more than 2 percent back in your most frequent spending categories can pair well with the Double Cash.
Who is the Citi Double Cash right for?
The Double Cash could be an excellent card for these cardholder profiles:
Bankrate’s Take — Is Citi Double Cash worth it?
The Citi Double Cash is a strong choice if you’re looking for a simple standalone credit card that earns a solid cash back rate on each purchase. You can also benefit from the Citi Double Cash lengthy intro APR on balance transfers if you’re in the market for a balance transfer credit card. The earn-as-you-pay caveatprovides ongoing value and may encourage you to stay out of debt.
That said, the Citi Double Cash is only worth it if you can pay back what you owe and avoid carrying a balance on purchases. If you don’t pay them off, you’ll only earn 1 percent cash back, which is lower than average. If you have a history of skipping credit card payments or paying bills late, it might be best to consider a different cash back card.
How we rated this card
150+
cards rated
50+
rewards programs valued
1800
data points analyzed
40+
perks evaluated
We rate credit cards using a proprietary card scoring system that ranks each card’s estimated average rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more against those of other cards in its primary category.
Each card feature is assigned a weighting based on how important it is to people looking for a card in a given category. These features are then scored based on how they rank relative to the features on other cards in the category. Based on these calculations, each card receives an overall rating of 1-5 stars (with 5 being the highest possible score and 1 being the lowest).
We analyzed over 150 of the most popular rewards and cash back cards to determine where each stacked up based on their value, cost, benefits and more. Here are some of the key factors that influenced this card’s overall score and how the score influenced our review:
Frequently asked questions
Compare the best cash back credit cards
Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, credit monitoring and identity theft analysis on NextAdvisor.com, he joined the CreditCards.com and Bankrate teams as a staff writer to develop product reviews and comprehensive credit card guides focused on cash back, credit scores and card offers.
* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.
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