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Citi® Double Cash Card review
A premier no-annual-fee card with a 2% cashback rate on all purchases.
finder.com’s rating: 3.8 / 5
★★★★★
- Get this card if you want cashback rewards on all purchases.
- Pick something else if you want a signup bonus.
- Apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
Up to 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay)
Rewards
$0
Annual fee
13.99% to 23.99% variable
Purchase APR
670
Minimum Credit Score
Review by
Amy Bonnett
amy.bonnett@finder.comAmy Bonnett is the Compliance Coordinator for Finder.com's credit card, loans and banking crews. She enjoys working with the nitty-gritty details to ensure that only the most accurate info makes its way to you. When she's not helping folks find the best credit card for them, you can find her out in her backyard playing with her rescue dogs, Freya and Leia.
Expert review
The Citi® Double Cash Card is always the first card I recommend to my friends and family. The conversation usually goes something like this: A friend asks for my advice on a credit card. I tell them if they have good credit and are in the habit of paying off their credit card balance each month, they’ll be hard-pressed to find a more valuable and easy-to-use card than the Double Cash.
End of conversation. They apply for the card because it’s just that good.
My favorite part about the Double Cash is how simple it makes earning rewards. Its 2% cash back on all purchases is one of the best unlimited rates you’ll find. The only catch is you’ll earn 1% when you use your card to buy something, but won’t get the other 1% until you pay off that purchase.
That’s why I only recommend this card to people who don’t carry a balance from month-to-month. To make it even easier to use, the Double Cash has a $0 annual fee. That means you don’t have to worry about an annual fee eating into the rewards you earn.
Not to be overlooked is the Double Cash’s intro APR period on balance transfers. At 18 months, this is three to six months longer than the average balance transfer intro period you’ll find with similar cashback cards. However, you won’t get a 0% intro APR on purchases, giving you another reason to pay your balance off monthly with this card. You also won’t earn a signup bonus with the Double Cash. While this might seem off-putting at first, I like to think of the long-term value of this card compared to the typical 1.5% unlimited cashback card. We compared your potential earnings and while you might earn more in your first year with a card like the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, the Double Cash pulls ahead as time goes on.
Even a credit card junkie like myself can find daily value in a card as simple as the Citi® Double Cash Card. I have cards that earn rewards on groceries, gas, dining and travel, but for all other purchases, the Double Cash remains my go-to.
Finder experts pick Citi® Double Cash Card as a 2021 best product for credit cards.
How to apply for the Citi® Double Cash Card
- Go to the provider's site and select 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 to excellent credit score of 670 or higher to increase your chances of approval. 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 to excellent credit score of 670 or higher, you improve your chances of approval.
| Credit range | Approval rate |
|---|---|
| 720–850 | 96% |
| 680–719 | 82% |
| 620–679 | 43% |
| 300–619 | 10% |
| Lower than 619 | 40% |
Based on a finder.com poll of hundreds of Citi® Double Cash Card users.
Citi Double Cash 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. Once your reward reaches $25, call 855-473-4583 or visit the Citi website to redeem your reward as a check, statement credit or credit to your linked checking or savings account.
- 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 5% of the transaction, and the greater of either 3% or $5 for balances transferred after your first 4 months from account opening. 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. You must make your balance transfer in your first 4 months of account opening. Otherwise, you can’t use the 0% intro APR period.
- No annual fee. You get these perks without paying an annual fee.
- Citi Entertainment. Enjoy special access when you want to buy presale tickets or VIP packages for concerts, sports events, dining and more. 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.
- 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.
- Free authorized users. Citi allows you to add up to 10 authorized users for free. Many providers allow just one or two additional users on your card.
Citi Double Cash drawbacks
- 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’ll pay up to $40 for each late payment. 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.
Compare similar cashback credit cards
Compare to see how the Citi Double Cash stacks up against similar cashback credit cards.
Citi® Double Cash Card
★★★★★
| Find out more |
|---|
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Minimum credit score 670 |
|
Annual fee $0 |
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Purchase APR 13.99% to 23.99% variable |
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Balance transfer APR 0% intro for the first 18 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable) |
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Rewards Up to 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay) |
|
Welcome offer N/A |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & fees| Go to site |
|---|
|
Minimum credit score 670 |
|
Annual fee $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter) |
|
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable) |
|
Balance transfer APR N/A |
|
Rewards 6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on other purchases (redeem as statement credit) |
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Welcome offer $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months |
BlockFi Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card
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Minimum credit score 700 |
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Annual fee $0 |
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Purchase APR 14.99% to 24.99% variable |
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Balance transfer APR N/A |
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Rewards 3.5% back in Bitcoin in the first 90 days, up to a total of $100 in Bitcoin, then 1.5% on all purchases |
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Welcome offer Up to $100 in Bitcoin rewards by earning 3.5% back in Bitcoin on all purchases in the first 90 days |
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Citi® Double Cash Card reviews and complaints
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.
Even though Citi has been in business for more than 200 years, it was never accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). As of October 2020, more than 200 reviewers on the BBB site give the bank a score of 1 out of 5. Because Citi failed to resolve customer complaints on the site, BBB has rated the bank with the lowest F rating.
Citi is rated slightly higher at 1.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot where customers mostly complain about poor customer service.
Who is this card best for?
This card is ideal for someone who can combine it with a category 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.
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 other eligible 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.
Bottom line
If you’re looking for a simple credit card with high cash back on all purchases, the Citi is a simple, powerful and popular choice. In addition to cash back, the card offers a terrific intro APR period 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.
Credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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