Citi Double Cash^® Card Review – $200 Bonus and Straight 2% Cash Back on All Purchases

Overview

If you need a credit card that offers straightforward cash rewards, consider Citi Double Cash Card, issued by our partner Citibank. This credit card provides a $200 bonus cash back along with a consistent 2% cash back on all purchases. It allows you to earn an unlimited 1% cash back when making purchases, with an additional 1% cash back as you pay for those transactions. As of October 2024, it is running a special offer to give out 5% cash back on eligible travel purchases through 12/31/25. The card also features no annual fee and 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months.

Card Summary

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Citi Double Cash^® Card

• 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, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel^℠ portal through 12/31/25.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, 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).

Intro APR

0% on Balance Transfers

Intro APR Period

18 months

Annual Fee (rates & fees)

$0

Credit Needed

Excellent, Good, Fair

Card Benefits

Special Offer: $200 Cash Back Bonus

Citi Double Cash Card users have the opportunity to earn a $200 cash rewards bonus by making $1,500 in purchases within the initial 6 months. Receiving this $200 cash rewards bonus translates to a 13% discount on the first $1,500 spent — an effortless means of increasing the cash back in your wallet.

Cash Back: How Citi Double Cash Works

By earning 1% cash back when making purchases and an additional 1% when paying off the balance, you accumulate a total of 2% cash back on all your expenditures. The cash back has no limits, and as long as your account remains open, your earned rewards don’t expire.

In addition, Citi Double Cash Card is running a special travel offer to let you earn 5% cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel^℠ portal through 12/31/25.

Illustratively, if your annual card spending amounts to $30,000, including $6,000 in eligible travel purchases of 5% cash back, you will receive $780 in cash back rewards. You can utilize our cash rewards calculator to determine the potential cash back rewards based on your specific expenditures.

0% Introductory APR

Additionally, it offers a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers, enabling you to transfer your current credit card balance and benefit from an extended period of 18 months with no interest. This provides an opportunity to save on interest costs. Post the introductory period, a go-to rate of 18.49% - 28.49% (variable) applies.

Fees

Citi Double Cash Card boasts a zero annual fee, allowing you to retain the card without incurring any charges. On the other hand, it has foreign transaction fees at 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars. If you’re planning to use a credit card for international transactions, it’s crucial to be aware of any foreign transaction fees and consider other cards that may offer more favorable terms for overseas spending if that’s a significant part of your financial activity.

Required Credit Rating

Citi Double Cash Card is tailored for individuals with an excellent, good, or fair credit profile.

Bottom Line

To recap, here are the main pros and cons when considering Citi Double Cash Card:

Pros

Double Cash Back: Citi Double Cash Card provides a unique structure where you earn 1% cash back on all purchases when you make them and an additional 1% cash back when you pay them off. This effectively gives you 2% cash back on every purchase, making it competitive in the cash back rewards category.

Sign-Up Bonus: The card offers a sign-up bonus of $200 cash, which makes it quite attractive.

No Annual Fee: Citi Double Cash Card does not charge an annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for cardholders.

Simplicity: The card’s structure eliminates the need to navigate through different spending categories or deal with quarterly changes, offering a straightforward way to earn rewards on all purchases.

Acceptance: Citi Double Cash Card is a Mastercard, which is accepted at nearly every merchant that accepts credit cards, both in the US and internationally.

Balance Transfer Intro APR: The card typically offers a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for a long period of 18 months, providing a potential benefit for those looking to transfer and manage existing credit card debt.

Cons

Foreign Transaction Fee: If you frequently travel internationally, it’s important to note that the card has foreign transaction fees, which may not be ideal for those who spend internationally.

Variable APR: The APR can be relatively high, especially if you have less-than-excellent credit, so it’s important to consider this if you carry a balance.

Is this the right card for you?

If you desire simple and direct cash back rewards without the burden of an annual fee, the Citi Double Cash Card is an obvious and advantageous choice. This card grants a $200 cash bonus following qualified spending and ensures a consistent 2% cash back on all purchases. Furthermore, it extends a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for an extensive period of 18 months, providing a valuable opportunity to alleviate existing credit card debt.

Similar Rewards Credit Cards

If you are interested in the Citi Double Cash Card, it’s worth exploring a few other credit cards that offer comparable benefits.

2% Fixed Rate Cash Back Credit Cards

Credit Card		Bonus and Rewards	Annual Fee
	Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®	2% cash back* on every purchase--no categories, tiers, or limits--no kidding. Get more out of every day purchases -- earn 2% cash back with your Synchrony Premier Card. No complicated math or rewards categories to remember.	$0
	TD Double Up℠ Credit Card	$100 Cash Back in the form of a statement credit when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days after account opening Unlimited 2% Cash Back on all eligible purchases	$0

No-Annual-Fee Rewards Credit Cards

Credit Card		Bonus and Rewards	Annual Fee
	Citi Custom Cash® Card	$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. 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.	$0 rates & fees
	Citi Rewards+® Card	20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com 2X ThankYou Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou Points on All Other Purchases.	$0 rates & fees
	Chase Freedom Unlimited®	Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 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.	$0
	Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express	$200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.	$0 rates & fees
	Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi	4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com 1% cash back on all other purchases	$0 rates & fees
	USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card	Unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases, no category restrictions, no caps on cash back. Earn a $200 reward bonus when you spend $1,000 on qualifying purchases within 90 days of account opening.	$0 (rates & fees)

0% APR Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Credit Card		0% APR	Annual Fee
	Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card	0% on purchases for 12 months and on qualifying balance transfers for 21 months. After the intro period ends, the go-to rate of 17.49% - 28.24% (variable) applies. (rates & fees)	$0
	USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card	0% on balance transfers for 15 months (rates & fees)	$0 (rates & fees)