Citi Double Cash Card review 2024: Earn 2% cash back on every purchase

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Earning cash back can put a lot of money back into your pocket, depending on your spending. 

The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the top contenders in the cash back market. It offers a simple way to earn rewards without tracking purchases or worrying about spending caps. 

The card's 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay) makes it a valuable addition to your wallet, especially if you want to maximize your cash back rewards without paying an annual fee.

This review will explore the features, benefits, and potential drawbacks of the Citi Double Cash® Card to help you determine if it's the right choice for your wallet.

How the Citi Double Cash Card works 

The Citi Double Cash Card's appeal lies in its simplicity. 

Cardholders earn 1% cash back on all purchases and an additional 1% cash back when they pay their bill, resulting in a total of 2% cash back. There are no rotating categories to keep track of or activate, making it easy for cardholders to maximize their rewards without extra effort.

Let’s say you spend $2,000 monthly with your Double Cash card. You’d earn $40 in cash back each month, or $480 annually.

Another appealing aspect of the Citi Double Cash Card is that it has no annual fee. This means that cardholders can earn cash back without worrying about a yearly cost eating into their rewards.

Benefits of the Citi Double Cash Card

Solid flat cash back on all spending

The Citi Double Cash Card's main selling point is its uncomplicated 2% cash back on all purchases. Cardholders earn 1% cash back when they make a purchase and an additional 1% when they pay their bill. 

Plus, for a limited time, you can earn 5% total cash back on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal (through 2024). 

This straightforward rewards structure makes it easy for users to earn cash back without worrying about rotating categories or activating their rewards each quarter. 

“If you prefer to avoid stress and you're not keen on dedicating a lot of time to handle credit card transactions, you might find it more beneficial to go for a 2% cash back card and simply choose the rewards program that offers the most back on every purchase, no matter the category,” says Eric Croak, a certified financial planner and President of Croak Capital. 

You can redeem your rewards in several ways:

• Request a statement credit, which will reduce your account balance by the amount of cash back. 
• Deposit cash back directly into a linked bank account or request a check to be mailed to you. 
• Redeem cash back for gift cards from various retailers — including Amazon and PayPal — though the redemption value may vary.
• Book travel through Citi’s portal or transfer rewards to a limited number of travel partners. 

No annual fee

Some cash back cards charge annual fees; others don't. The Citi Double Cash Card doesn't — and when combined with its high flat-rate cash back, this card is a solid contender.

For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and 6% on select U.S. streaming services, 3% at U.S. gas stations and transit, and 1% on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.

While this card offers higher cash back rates, it has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 after. See rates and fees.

The Citi Double Cash Card's 2% cash back on all purchases without an annual fee may be more appealing for those who prefer a simple rewards structure and those who don’t spend a lot in certain categories. 

0% intro APR offer on balance transfers 

Cardholders can take advantage of a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then a 19.24%-29.24% variable APR applies). 

This offer is much longer than other cash back cards on the market and on par with many other balance transfer cards. It’s a helpful feature for those looking to pay off high-interest debt from another credit card. 

There are a few caveats, though. Balance transfers must be made within the first four months of card opening to qualify for the 0% rate. There’s a 3% intro balance transfer fee in the first four months — after that, you’ll face a 5% fee to transfer a balance. 

Other perks

In addition to its cash back rewards, the Citi Double Cash Card offers several other perks:

• Access to Citi Entertainment, which includes presale tickets for concerts, sporting events, dining experiences, and more
• A welcome bonus of $200 cash back if you spend $1,500 within the first six months of opening your account
• 24-hour fraud protection and $0 liability on unauthorized charges

Drawbacks of the Citi Double Cash Card

The Citi Double Cash Card has its benefits but isn’t perfect. 

For one, there’s no 0% intro APR offer on purchases, meaning new purchases will begin accruing interest immediately. This makes this card unsuitable for those who expect to carry a balance. 

Another potential drawback is the card's 3% foreign transaction fee. Many cards have eliminated this fee, so it's an extra expense to remember if you use the Double Cash Card for international purchases.

Keep in mind that the Double Cash is a flat-rate card. While some people like earning 2% cash back on everything, others may want to earn elevated cash back in areas where they spend the most. 

Some cash back cards offer 3%-5% and more in certain categories, like groceries or gas. Others come with rotating categories each quarter or month. For example, the Citi Custom Cash earns 5% cash back in your top spending category each billing cycle (up to a $500 limit) 

If you can align your spending, you may earn more cash back by using a different card or pairing the Double Cash with another credit card. 

Who is the Citi Double Cash Card best for? 

The Citi Double Cash Card is optimal for everyday spenders who don’t want to keep track of categories. You’ll receive 2% cash back regardless of whether you use your card for gas, groceries, entertainment, or anything else. The lack of annual fee is also a major perk. 

But, the Citi Double Cash Card may not be the best choice for those looking for tiered cash back or travel perks. If you want to boost your rewards with elevated categories or earn travel-specific perks like airline miles or hotel points, you may want to consider other options.

While the Double Cash Card offers some perks like Citi Entertainment access, but there aren’t many added benefits relative to the competition. You may also find a higher welcome bonus with other credit cards.

Alternatives to the Citi Double Cash Card 

If you're considering other cash back card options, here are a few alternatives to the Citi Double Cash Card. 

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with higher percentages for specific categories. You’ll earn 3% on dining and drugstore purchases and 5% on Lyft and travel purchased through Chase Travel. 

This card has no annual fee and a generous APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. You can earn a cash bonus if you spend a certain amount on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

This Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. You’ll earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

This card has no annual fee and a generous APR on purchases and balance transfers. You can earn a $200 bonus if you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account. 

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

This card offers 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per category per year, then 1%). You’ll also earn 1% on other purchases. It has no annual fee. See rates and fees. 

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.

You can earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months. This card also comes with an introductory 0% APR offer on balance transfers and purchases for the first 15 months (a variable 19.24%-29.99% APR applies after).

How we rated this card 

Every credit card review we publish has undergone a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and objectivity.

We rate all credit cards on a 10-point system, with 10 being the highest possible score and 1 being the lowest possible score. We assess each card across several key factors, weighted based on what our research shows matters most to readers like you. Learn more about our methodology here. 

• Rewards: The Citi Double Cash Card offers an easy way to earn 2% cash back on every purchase, though you won’t get the full cash back until you pay off your credit card bill. Despite this, this card helps you earn rewards on everyday purchases. The limited-time 5% cash back on select travel purchases through Citi Travel further enhances the card's rewards value.
• Redemption flexibility: The card's redemption options are fairly flexible, allowing users to redeem cash back as statement credits, direct deposits, checks, or gift cards. You can also book travel through Citi’s travel portal, though you can’t transfer them to a Citi travel partner.
• Annual fee & welcome bonus: This card has no annual fee, making it accessible to many users. The welcome bonus is relatively easy to achieve. 
• 0% APR offer: This card offers a solid 0% APR offer on balance transfers but not for new purchases. 

The bottom line

The Citi Double Cash Card is excellent for those seeking straightforward rewards. With its 2% cash back on all purchases and no annual fee, this card provides a hassle-free way to maximize your cash back rewards.

While the foreign transaction fees and lack of a 0% APR offer on purchases may be drawbacks for some, the Citi Double Cash Card's uncomplicated rewards structure and no annual fee make it a valuable addition to your wallet.

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.