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Citi Double Cash? Card review: Earn rewards for everyday purchases

Updated 6 min read

Rewards cards are everywhere. In fact, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported that three-fourths of all general credit cards are rewards cards. However, some rewards cards are complicated, requiring you to keep track of spending categories, activate bonus categories, or transfer points to get the most value.

The Citi Double Cash Card offers a simpler option. It provides a flat 2% cash-back rate on every purchase, so there are no rotating categories or monthly activations required. And with no annual fee, it could be a useful addition to your wallet to use on everyday purchases like gas or groceries.

  • Purchase APR: 19.24% to 29.24%

  • Balance transfer APR: 0% APR for 18 months for balance transfers completed within four months of account opening; after that, the APR is 19.24% to 29.24%

  • Balance transfer fee: Introductory fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) for transfers completed within the first four months of account opening. After that, the fee is 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).

  • Cash advance APR: 29.99% for cash advances

  • Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% and applies if you miss one payment or have a payment returned

The Citi Double Cash Card doesn't have an annual fee.

With the Citi Double Cash Card, you can earn $200 cash back if you spend at least $1,500 on new purchases within the first six months of opening the account. That offer gives you more time to meet the spending requirement than most cards, so it's more achievable for most households.

You'll earn 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% cash back at the time of the purchase, and another 1% cash back when you pay your bill. There's no limit on how much you can earn in cash-back rewards.

Your cash-back rewards accrue as Citi ThankYou points, and you can redeem your points in the following ways:

  • Gift cards: Citi allows you to redeem your points for gift cards from over 150 major retailers and restaurant chains. Generally, you need to have at least 2500 points — $25 in cash-back rewards — to qualify for a gift card. If you redeem points for gift cards, your points are typically worth one cent each. However, there are occasional sales and bonus offers that give you more value for your points; for example, you can currently get a $25 gift card to Panera or Subway with 2,250 points — giving you 10% more value for your points.

  • Shop with points: With the shop with points option, you can link your online accounts with major retailers, such as Best Buy or Walgreens, to your ThankYou points account. Once you link your accounts, you can redeem your points to pay for part or all of your purchase at the time of checkout.

  • Travel: You can redeem your points for flights or hotel stays through the Citi ThankYou portal.

  • Cash: Citi allows cardholders to redeem points for cash in the form of statement credits or deposits to a checking or savings account.

  • Charitable donations: With as few as 1,000 points — $10 in cash-back rewards — you can make charitable donations with your points. You can donate points to major organizations like the American Red Cross, SmileTrain, or UNICEF USA.

Although the Citi Double Cash Card has a valuable rewards program, it has few benefits or perks. It only offers the following benefits:

  • Identity theft: Through Mastercard, cardholders can take advantage of free identity theft protection and account monitoring services.

  • Citi Entertainment: As a cardholder, you get special access to ticket sales for major events, including concerts and games.

  • No travel benefits: With some cards, you get added benefits like travel insurance or airport lounge access. But the Citi Double Cash Card is more limited; it doesn't provide any added travel benefits.

  • Charges foreign transaction fees: If you travel outside of the U.S., be aware that the Citi Double Cash Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on every purchase.

  • No promotional APR on purchases: Although the Citi Double Cash Card offers 18 months at 0% APR on balance transfers, it doesn't have an introductory APR offer for new purchases.

The Citi Double Cash Card is a Mastercard, so it's part of the second-largest credit card network. Mastercard cards are accepted by most retailers in the U.S., and it's also widely accepted in other countries.

Worldwide, there are approximately 335 million businesses. Approximately 37 million businesses accept Mastercard credit cards — slightly lower than the number that accepts Visa cards, the industry leader. As a result, you can use your Citi Double Cash Card anywhere Mastercards are accepted, including grocery stores, gas stations, online retailers, and international merchants.

You can make payments on your Citi Double Cash with the following methods:

To make a payment on your Citi Double Cash Card online, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the Citi login page or launch the mobile app and enter your username and password.

  2. Under account details, click on "Make a Payment".

  3. Select your payment amount from the available options, such as the minimum payment due or the full statement balance, or manually enter a different payment amount.

  4. Choose a date for the payment; you can choose the same day or set a date in the future.

  5. Enter your payment details. If you haven't made an online payment before, you'll need to provide your bank account and routing numbers.

  6. Verify the information is correct and click on "submit payment."

After submitting the payment, you'll be redirected to a confirmation screen, and a payment confirmation will be sent to your email address.

You can make payments via phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To do so, call 1-800-950-5114 and follow the instructions for making a payment.

You can mail your payment by sending a check to the following address: Citi P.O. BOX 9001037 Louisville, KY 40290-1037

Citi Double Cash Card is a solid choice for earning cash back on every purchase. But it’s not the only path toward simple, high-value credit card rewards. Before you apply, check out these great rewards cards that may offer you even more long-term value.

  • Welcome offer
    Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Cash-back
  • Purchase APR
    19.99% - 29.99% variable
  • Introductory APR
    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable 19.99% - 29.99% APR
  • Recommended credit score
    Good, Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
    • Enjoy up to 6 months of Uber One membership statement credits (through 11/14/2024)
    • No foreign transaction fees

Why we like it: If the Citi Double Cash card appeals to you for its flat cash-back rewards, you should also have the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card on your list. This card earns a flat 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (plus up to 5% when you book hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel). As a new cardholder, you can score a $200 welcome bonus when you spend at least $500 on your card within the first three months.

The Capital One Quicksilver is a no annual fee card with a competitive 0% intro APR on new purchases and balance transfers. While there aren’t many long-term benefits to pair with your cash-back earnings, you can get up to six months of complimentary Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024.

Read our full review of the Capital One Quicksilver card

  • Annual fee
    $0
  • Welcome offer
    Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back
  • Card type(s)
    Cash-Back
  • Introductory Purchases APR
    0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    20.49% - 29.24% Variable
  • Introductory Balance Transfer APR
    0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
  • Ongoing Balance Transfer APR
    20.49% - 29.24% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel?
    • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (includes takeout and eligible delivery service)
    • 1.5% on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts
    • Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more
    • 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers (20.49% - 29.24% variable APR after that).

Why we like it: Chase Freedom Unlimited also earns a flat 1.5% minimum cash back on every dollar you spend. But this card gives you the opportunity to earn even more in specific categories: 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel?, 3% on dining, and 3% at drugstores. Plus, there’s no annual fee and a 0% intro APR for both new purchases and balance transfers.

You’ll get even more from Chase Freedom Unlimited over your first year of spending. Earn 1.5% more in each rewards category for the first 12 months, up to $20,000 in purchases. That means up to 6.5% cash back on travel through Chase Travel?, 4.5% on dining and at drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases you make. If you max out this welcome offer, you can earn $300 in bonus cash back.

Ongoing benefits, protections, and redemption options can offer additional value — read more about Chase Freedom Unlimited here.

  • Annual fee
    $95
  • Welcome offer
    Enjoy a $250 Capital One Travel credit, plus earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Travel
  • Purchase APR
    19.99% - 29.99% variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Good, Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • 2x miles on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • Receive up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees
    • Receive a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and early check-in at eligible hotels
    • Access Hertz's Five Star membership tier, offering free upgrades, a wider selection of vehicles, and more

Why we like it: Unlike the cards above, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a travel rewards card — not a cash-back card. But it also has a flat rewards structure that makes it simple to earn and redeem miles for travel. 

There is an annual fee, but the Venture Rewards Card comes with a few added perks. These include up to a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees, Five Star status with Hertz, access to the Lifestyle Collection hotels and benefits when you stay (like $50 in experience credits), and more. You can redeem your miles toward Capital One Travel bookings or use them toward eligible travel purchases you make with your card.

Read our full review for more about how to maximize the Capital One Venture Rewards Card

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