Finder experts pick Citi® Double Cash Card as a 2020 best product for credit cards.
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Citi® Double Cash Card review
Last updated:
A no-annual-fee card with a high cashback rate on all purchases.
finder.com’s rating: 3.8 / 5.0
★★★★★
- Get this card if you want cashback rewards on all purchases.
- Pick something else if you want a signup bonus.
- Apply with a good credit score of 670 or higher.
Up to 2%
Cash back
$0
Annual fee
13.99% to 23.99%
Purchase APR (variable)
0%
Intro balance transfer
for the first 18 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Details
| Product Name | Citi® Double Cash Card |
|---|---|
| Card type | Mastercard |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Purchase APR | 13.99% to 23.99% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 18 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer fee | $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| Cash advance rate | 25.24% variable |
| Cash advance fee | $10 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
| Penalty APR | Up to 29.99% variable |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% of the transaction value |
| Interest free period | Up to 23 days |
| Late payment fee | Up to $40 |
| Returned payment fee | Up to $40 |
| Additional cardholder fee | $0 |
Expert review
Review by
Kliment Dukovski
kliment.dukovski@findercrew.comKliment Dukovski is a credit cards writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.
Expert review
This card from Citi — a finder.com advertising partner — has lots of perks. For starters, it comes with a $0 annual fee, 18 months of 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and the ability to earn 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you make the purchase and an additional 1% when you pay off your balance.
On the downside, you won’t earn any bonus when you signup or get a 0% intro APR on purchases. If this is something you don’t mind, the Citi® Double Cash Card could be an excellent choice for everyday use.
What makes this card tick? We looked at the highlights
Pros
- Cash back.
Earn 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% back when you make the purchase and 1% back when you pay your balance. - Intro APR on balance transfers.
Get a 0% intro APR period for 18 months on balance transfers made within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, a variable APR of 13.99% to 23.99% applies. - No annual fee.
You don’t have to pay anything to own this card. - Citi Entertainment.
Get access to presale tickets and more.
Cons
- No signup bonus.
Despite being a strong rewards credit card, you won’t earn any bonus when you signup for the card. - No intro APR period on purchases.
Unfortunately, you only get a long 0% intro APR period on balance transfers, but not on purchases. Most cashback cards offer both. - Foreign transaction fees.
This card is a poor choice if you often travel abroad or if you make online purchases at foreign merchants. That’s because you’ll pay a 3% fee of the amount on each transaction.
Who is this card best for?
This card is ideal for someone who can combine it with another rewards card. This way, another card can be used on categories where you earn more than 2% rewards and use the Citi® Double Cash Card on all other purchases.
How to apply for the Citi® Double Cash Card
- Click Apply now.
- Complete the application form with your personal and financial information.
- Review your application and submit it.
What credit score do I need?
You need a good credit score of 670 or higher to increase your chances of approval.
| Credit range | Approval rate |
|---|---|
| 720–850 | 96% |
| 680–719 | 82% |
| 620–679 | 43% |
| 300–619 | 10% |
| Lower than 619 | 40% |
Card benefits
Cash back.
Earn 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off. This lets you earn cash back twice and is the highest unlimited rate on all purchases that you can get. The industry standard is 1.5% back. Citi may also grant access to the Citi Bonus Cash Center, which offers even more opportunities for cash back with select merchants.
Intro APR on balance transfers.
Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months for balance transfers that are completed within 4 months of your account opening. Keep in mind that even during the intro period, you’ll pay a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the transaction. After the intro period, a transfer APR of 13.99% to 23.99% variable applies. This is one of the longest intro APR periods that you can get when compared to similar cards.
No annual fee.
You get these perks without paying an annual fee.
Late-fee pass.
You won’t pay any fees when you make a late payment for the first time. Other cards often come with a late payment fee of up to $49.
Citi Entertainment.
Enjoy special access when you want to buy presale tickets or VIP packages for concerts, sports events, dining and more.
Credit card protection.
Citi monitors your account 24/7 and alerts you in case of suspicious activity. You can also get your lost card replaced within 24 hours.
Deeper dive: Citi Entertainment
This feature is offered by all Citi credit cards and it can be an excellent perk if you often go out either on concerts, theater plays or sporting events.
Formerly known as Citi Private Pass, Citi Entertainment gives you access to presale tickets, VIP packages and preferred seats on select events. Just remember to use your Citi® Double Cash Card to purchase the tickets.
Case study: Ryan’s experience
Ryan Brinks
Assistant Publisher
When Citi first came out with the Double Cash card, I got an invitation to upgrade my existing Citi card. I already had a cashback card from another brand in my wallet that offered 5% back on select categories, so I ran the numbers to see if the Double Cash reward on all purchases would put more money back in my pocket. It was hardly a comparison.
I upgraded to the Double Cash card and have yet to find another credit card that compares for everyday purchases. I’ll still use the 5% cashback card occasionally, but Double Cash is my go-to for purchases day in and day out. It takes the hassle out of managing multiple cards.
What to watch out for
Balance transfer limits.
Complete all balance transfers within 4 months of card membership to use the intro APR period. Otherwise, the standard APR of 13.99% to 23.99% variable will apply.
High late payment fees.
You won’t pay any fees for your first late payment. But starting from the second, you’ll pay up to $40. If you make one late or returned payment, Citi may impose a penalty APR of up to 29.99% variable, which may last indefinitely.
Citi® Double Cash Card foreign transaction fees.
Use this card abroad and you’ll pay a fee of 3% of each transaction. This can quickly add up on a trip spanning several days.
Deeper dive: balance transfers
The 18 months of 0% intro APR period on balance transfers (13.99% to 23.99% variable after that) is a useful perk if you already have credit card debt. This way you can move your debt to the Citi® Double Cash Card and pay it off without accruing interest.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider:
- Fees. Making a balance transfer will cost you either a $5 or 3% of your total transfer, whichever is higher. This makes your $7,000 balance transfer cost $210.
- Time limitations. You must make your balance transfer in your first 4 months of account opening. Otherwise, you can’t use the 0% intro APR period.
- Amount limitations. You can only transfer amounts that don’t exceed your available credit limit. For example, your credit limit is $5,000. You can only make a balance transfer of $4,850. In this case, you’ll pay a $145 transfer fee, which makes a total of $4,995.
- Doesn’t earn cash back. Balance transfers are exempt from earning cash back.
What are my odds of preapproval?
When you’re ready, request a Citi credit card prequalification, select the perks you want — in this case, flat cash back on all purchases — and Citi will do a soft pull to see if you prequalify for any of their cards that match your criteria.
Keep in mind, card approval is not guaranteed even if you prequalify for the card. Typically, approval odds are between 80% and 90% if you prequalify. With a good credit score of 670 or higher, you improve your chances of approval.
How customers rate the Citi® Double Cash Card?
Customer praise
Most customers love that they can earn cash back twice, and they love the long intro APR period on balance transfers. Some customers claim they often receive an intro APR balance transfer offer long after they opened their account.
Customer complaints
Some customers were disappointed with the card and claim that their accounts were locked because of fraudulent activity when there was no fraud. Also, customers complain about the low credit limits they received and that they find Citi stingy with credit limit increases.
Another thing some customers dislike is that you can’t redeem your cashback rewards until you reach a minimum of $25.
We’ve polled hundreds of Citi® Double Cash Card users — here’s what we’ve found:
 | Application process rating: 73% |
|---|---|
 | Customer service rating: 81% |
 | Approval rate for 720–850 credit range: 96% |
 | Top reason people apply: $0 annual fee |
 | 47% pay monthly balance in full |
Authorized users or cosigners
You can easily add authorized users to your Citi® Double Cash Card with no restrictions to your relationship or age limit. Because Citi reports authorized users to the credit bureaus, you can help them build credit.
Citi allows you to add up to 10 authorized users for free. Here’s how to do it:
- Log in to your online account.
- Navigate to Credit card services and then Authorized users links.
- Fill out the form and choose whether the authorized user gets online access.
- As an alternative, call Citi customer support at 855-473-4583 and request to add an authorized user.
Keep in mind, you as the main cardholder are responsible for paying the authorized users’ balances.
How does Citi® Double Cash Card compare to other similar cards?
| American Express Cash Magnet® Card (see rates & fees) | Citi® Double Cash Card | Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash back rate | 1.5% on all purchases | 2% on all purchases — 1% when you make the purchase and 1% back when you pay your balance | 2.5% on all purchases |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 | $99 |
| Signup bonus | $150 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months | N/A | N/A |
| Intro APR purchases | 0% for the first 15 months, a variable 12.99% to 23.99% thereafter | N/A | N/A |
| Intro APR balance transfers | 0% for the first 15 months, a variable 12.99% to 23.99% thereafter | 0% for the first 18 months, a variable 13.99% to 23.99% thereafter | N/A |
How much can I earn with these cards?
If you charge $1,500 on your card each month, here’s how much you could earn:
| Yearly spend | Cash back | Welcome offer | Total cash back first year | Total cash back next year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cash Magnet® Card | $18,000 | $270 | $150 | $420 | $270 |
| Citi® Double Cash Card | $18,000 | $360 | $0 | $360 | $360 |
| Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card | $18,000 | $450 | $0 | $450 | $450 |
Cards to pair with the Citi® Double Cash Card
The Citi® Double Cash Card is an excellent option for flat rewards on all purchases. But you can boost your rewards if you pair this card with others that are more rewarding on select categories. For example:
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. This card earns 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 each calendar year, and 1% after that. Also, earn 6% back on US streaming services and 3% back at US gas stations and on transit purchases. Use this card on these categories and use the Citi® Double Cash Card on all other purchases.
- U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card. This card offers 5% back on up to $2,000 each quarter on combined purchases in two categories that you choose. These categories include home utilities, ground transportation, fast food, cell phones, furniture stores, department stores and more. After meeting the quarterly cap, you’ll earn 1% on all purchases.
How do I redeem Citi® Double Cash Card rewards?
Once your reward reaches $25, call 855-473-4583 or visit the Citi website to redeem your reward as a:
- Check
- Statement credit
- Credit to your linked checking or savings account
Compare similar cashback credit cards
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Compare Citi® Double Cash Card with other cards
- Compare with Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
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- Compare with Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Compare with American Express Cash Magnet® Card
- Compare with Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- Compare with Citi Rewards+℠ Card
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- Compare with Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
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- Compare with Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Compare with Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
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- Compare with Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
- Compare with PayPal Cashback Mastercard®
- Compare with Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
- Compare with Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Bottom line
If you’re looking for a simple credit card with high cash back on all purchases, this could be the right card for you. In addition to cash back, you’ll get one of the longest intro APR periods on balance transfers compared to other cards.
To get the card that best suits your needs, make sure to check out other balance transfer or cashback credit cards.
Frequently asked questions
Rates and fees
Cashback card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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