Citi Double Cash^® Card Review [2023]: Up to 2% Cash Back on Everything

Cashback rewards can be a great way to earn money on the purchases you make every day. For people looking for a simple flat-rate cashback credit card with no limit on spending, look no further than the Citi Double Cash^® Card. With its easy-to-understand rewards program and $0 annual fee, this Citi card is beneficial no matter what type of spending you do most frequently.

Earn Cash Back Twice

Citi Double Cash^® Card

4.8

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

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Earn $200 in 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, 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

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; 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
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR
• No annual fee

Drawbacks

• Foreign transaction fee

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, 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.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, 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).

Key takeaways

• The Citi Double Cash^® Card offers a simple and attractive cashback rewards program, enabling you to earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; 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.
• With a $0 annual fee, this credit card offers a low-cost option for balance transfers.
• With the Citi Double Cash, you can benefit from 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable).
• This credit card might not be the best fit for international travel due to its 3% foreign transaction fee.

Who should get the Citi Double Cash Card?

The Citi Double Cash Card is ideal for people who love earning cash back on their everyday spending but don’t love complicated credit card rewards programs. You 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, 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.

The Citi Double Cash card is also great for budget-conscious members since there’s a $0 annual fee. Additionally, if you're looking for an attractive balance transfer option, the Citi Double Cash does not disappoint. This card offers a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months after account opening (then a 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR after that).

For frequent travelers, the Citi Double Cash likely isn’t the best credit card to use overseas. It carries a foreign transaction fee of 3%.

It’s also a good time to note that while this card's cash back is good, other credit cards may offer a higher rate in specific categories. The Citi Double Cash Card might be better as a secondary credit card to be utilized when your primary card doesn’t earn at a higher rate.

Card basics

Why we like the Citi Double Cash: benefits and perks

• Generous rewards for all categories: Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; 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.
• Lengthy introductory APR period: New cardmembers can enjoy a 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers within 18 months of account opening (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)), making this a great card to help you use a balance transfer to pay off debt. Note that there is a balance transfer fee, which is a percentage of the amount of each transfer. At present, the 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. And, of course, if you don't pay your balance transfer off by the end of the intro period, the remaining balance will be subject to the regular APR for balance transfers.
• $0 annual fee: Citi Double Cash Card users can enjoy rewards without having to worry about annual fees. That means all the cash back you earn can stay in your pocket.

• Card security: Citi takes security seriously. Citi will send you alerts if there’s any unusual activity on your credit card, and you’re not responsible for any charges from unauthorized purchases.
• Access to presale event tickets and more: Citi Entertainment offers special access to thousands of events, including dining experiences, concerts, and sporting events. 

What we don't like about the Citi Double Cash: drawbacks

• No intro APR on purchases: The interest rate on balance transfers is a great benefit of this card, but that same benefit does not apply to purchases. You'll pay the regular purchase APR on all of your spending if you don't pay off your balance each month.
  
• Foreign transaction fee: If you plan to travel outside the U.S., then the Citi Double Cash won't be a good fit for you as it has a foreign transaction fee of 3%.

Earning & 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. 

Best ways to earn

Earning cash back is a breeze with the Citi Double Cash Card. Members will 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; 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, and there are no caps to how much cash back you can earn.

Cardholders of the Citi Double Cash Card earn unlimited 1% for every dollar spent on anything. The other 1% is earned when you pay for your purchases. Minimum payments must be made to earn cashback rewards.

For people wanting to earn as much cash back as possible, you’ll need to make this Citi card your primary credit card. This may limit your rewards on other cards with higher earning potential. For example, there are credit cards that earn higher cash back in specific categories, such as dining, gas station, or grocery store spending. 

If your expenses in those categories are significant, you may miss out if you use Citi Double Cash card as your everyday card. If that sounds like you, then the Citi Double Cash is probably a great second card to have, while you also hold a more specialized rewards card for certain categories of spending.

Maximizing your redemptions

Cashback rewards can be redeemed once your rewards balance reaches a minimum of $25. However, cashback rewards can expire if you don’t make any purchases or payments for 12 months.

Cardmembers have four redemption options with the Citi Double Cash Card:

• Receive a check
• Receive a statement credit on your card account
• Receive a direct deposit credit on a linked Citi savings, Citi checking account, or another checking account used to make Citi credit card payments at least twice
• Convert your cashback rewards into Citi ThankYou points

While opting for a check or account credit may be the easiest way to redeem rewards, converting your cash back into Citi ThankYou points could be the most lucrative option.  This basically turns your cashback rewards into travel rewards. Your cash back transfers at a 1:1 ratio, so $1 of cash back equals 100 Citi ThankYou points.

And once you convert your rewards into ThankYou points, you can redeem them for gift cards, merchandise, or even to book travel through the Citi portal. Even better, if you have a Citibank travel rewards card, such as the Citi Prestige (no longer accepting applications) or Citi Premier^® Card card (perhaps as part of the Citi trifecta), you can use one of those cards to transfer your ThankYou points directly to more than a dozen Citi transfer partners. 

Other cards to consider

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 vs. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you want reliable cashback rewards and a solid sign-up bonus, consider the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). 

New cardmembers can also earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, all for a $0 annual fee.

Citi Double Cash vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

Another cashback card to check out is the Chase Freedom Unlimited^®. You can earn unlimited matched cash back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned (there is no limit to how much you can earn; every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match). 

This Chase card also earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases and has a $0 annual fee.

Citi Double Cash vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

Another flat-rate cash reward option is the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. This card allows you to earn 2% cash rewards on purchases.

It also offers a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months and a 0% intro APR for purchases for 15 months from account opening, then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable.

Earn Cash Back Twice

Citi Double Cash^® Card

4.8

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

4.8

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.

Apply Now

Why We Like It

Earn $200 in 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

Rates and fees

Apply Now

See how these cards compare:

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
• No annual fee
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 19.99% - 29.99% (variable) APR; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months (or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time; No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR)
• 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
• Rates and fees

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• Unlimited matched cash back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned (there is no limit to how much you can earn; every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match)
• Bonus rewards on eligible travel, dining, and drugstores
• No annual fee
• Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers

Citi Double Cash Card FAQ

Citi Double Cash^® Card: bottom line

The Citi Double Cash^® Card is a great balance transfer credit card that offers a lengthy introductory period for its lower APR on balance transfers and a solid flat earning rate on daily purchases.

As a $0-annual-fee credit card, it offers an opportunity to benefit from cash back you earn or save on potential interest charges. However, it isn’t as effective as a travel card since it comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee.

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 more options in our list of the best balance transfer credit cards.

Author Details

Kevin Payne Kevin Payne is a freelance writer specializing in student loans, credit cards, personal finance, and travel. He is a regular contributor to Club Thrifty, Millennial Money, and Student Loan Planner. As the budget and family travel expert behind FamilyMoneyAdventure.com, Kevin recently turned his writing side hustle into his full-time career. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife and four kids.

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Yahia Barakah Yahia Barakah is an Editor at FinanceBuzz and has created finance-focused content since 2011. He has a background in institutional investment and asset management, and he has a deep passion for financial literacy.

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