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The Citi® Double Cash Card is a sturdy, simple card ideally suited for everyday purchases. The no-annual-fee card delivers a good set of perks and benefits with its 2% cash rewards on purchases, 1% when purchases are made, and an additional 1% when the purchases are paid off.
Let’s say you spend $500 on a Citi Double Cash Card. You will receive $5 (1% of the total purchase) and $5 (1% at the time of payment). It offers no sign-up bonus but 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% to 28.49% variable.
The Citi Double Cash Card is a great option
for people searching for a credit card with
a good cash-back rate on every purchase.
In this article, we will fully review
this cashback card in detail so you can see
whether it is a good match for your needs.
Citi Double Cash Card overview
- With no restrictions or spending caps, this card offers unlimited cashback of 2% (1% on purchases plus an additional 1% when you pay your bill). You have to pay at least the minimum due to get cashback.
- Cashback is earned in the form of ThankYou Points.
- There is a 0% intro APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers. Following that, the variable APR will range from 18.49% to 28.49% variable. Cashback does not apply to balance transfers.
- There will be an Introductory fee of 3% of each transfer made within the first 4 months of account opening ($5 minimum). Than 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after that.
- It comes with a $0 annual fee.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- 2% cash back—1% when the purchase is made and 1% when purchases are paid off.
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers.
Cons
- No bonus categories.
- Foreign transaction fee.
- No introductory APR on purchases.
Citi Cashback Rewards
A market-leading 2% cash rewards is offered on all purchases with the Citi Double Cashback Card – 1% when you make the purchase and an additional 1% when you pay it off. There are no restrictive categories to monitor or sign up for with the Citi Double Cash Credit Card. The amount of cash rewards you can earn is likewise uncapped. (Pricing information).
Balance transfers, cash advances, account fees, interest, and later-returned products do not qualify for cashback. And you have to pay at least the minimum due on time.
Cashback Redemption
Cashback is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. The cashback earned with Citi Double Cash is extremely simple to redeem. You can redeem your points for cash rewards (cash through a statement credit, direct deposit, or cheque. Or, look into other ways to redeem points, such as gift cards, travel, and shopping. For example, you can redeem 5000 ThankYou Points for $50 via statement credit, check, or direct deposit to your bank account.
Regarding travel partners, While Citi does not have as comprehensive a list as Chase or Amex. AirFrance/KLM, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, and Emirates are a few of their airline partners, while Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards are their hotel partners.
0% Intro APR Offer
For 18 months, the Citi® Double Cash Card provides 0% intro APR on balance transfers. After that, depending on your creditworthiness, the variable APR will range from 18.49% to 28.49%. Additionally, an intro fee of 3% of any transfer made within the first four months after account opening ($5 minimum). After that, a 5% fee ($5 minimum) will be added to each transfer.
Balance transfers with 0% APR can be an effective strategy to deal with credit card debt, especially if you can commit to paying off the debt within the introductory period.
Fees
The Citi Double Cash credit card is ideal for people looking for a no-annual-fee card that is easy to use and earns good cash-back benefits. However, there is an intro fee of 3% or $5 (whichever is the minimum) on a balance transfer done within 4 months; after that, 5% or $5 (whichever is the minimum) is applied. Additionally, there is a 3% foreign transaction fee, which makes the card not a great option for use overseas.
Other Perks And Benefits
Citi entertainment
You may get privileged access to thousands of events with Citi Entertainment, including presale tickets and exclusive experiences for the year’s most anticipated concerts, sporting events, culinary experiences, and more.
Currently, you can access the presale of Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, and Citi preferred tickets for Billy Joel, etc., through Citi Entertainment.
Theft And Protection
With Citi, you will get the ID Theft Protection program offered by Mastercard, which helps eliminate the worry of identity theft by monitoring the information you choose to protect and alerting you if suspicious activity is found. Also, there are no unauthorized charges on your account. Citi provides a service for lost wallets that replaces your card and provides you with emergency cash.
How Much Are Rewards Worth?
The card’s high flat-rate rewards and straightforwardness make it a good choice for those seeking simple, easy-to-earn cash rewards on their daily spending.
Typically, the cashback value is 1 cent for every percentage point earned. With the Citi Double Cash card, if you spend $1000 each month and pay the full balance, you can earn cash-back rewards of $20.
Who The Citi Double Cash Card Is For?
The City Double Cash Card is a good cashback card option for people who want to earn more money on their everyday purchases. If you want a simple credit card, you can apply for it and then forget about it; I mean that people get no-annual-fee credit cards to boost their credit score. This works because the new credit card will increase your overall credit limits, lowering your credit utilization and, in turn, increasing your credit score.
Anyone seeking a simple approach to earning rewards will find the Citi Double Cash Card a reliable, hassle-free alternative that works well. If you’re not someone looking for big sign-up bonuses or many travel perks, in that case, this card’s exceptional double cash-back earning rate provides simple and predictable rewards on regular purchases.
Other Credit Cards To Consider
Citi Double Cash Card VS Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
If you want no annual fee or cash-back credit rewards, you can’t go wrong with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card or the Citi Double Cash Card. Both of these cash-back cards have no annual charge and effectively offer an unlimited 2% cash rewards, though the Citi card rewards as 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay it off.
The difference between the two cards is that the Wells Fargo Active Cash card offers a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first three months, whereas the Citi Double Cash Card does not. While Wells Fargo’s Active Cash® Card offers 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable, Citi only offers the introductory 0% APR for balance transfers.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card wins this comparison because of its usual sign-up bonus and superior introductory APR on balance transfers and purchases.
Citi Double Cash Card VS Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers a competitive 5% cash back on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases, 3% cash rewards on eligible dining and pharmacy purchases, and 1.5% cash back on all other transactions. In contrast, the Citi card offers a hassle-free 2% cash back on purchases (1% while purchasing, 1% while paid off).
However, Chase gives a 1.5% sign-up bonus on all purchases up to $20,000 in the first year (up to $300 in cash back). The Citi Double Cash Card is best for those who prioritize cash back and simplicity. Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers better rewards for those who spend a lot at restaurants and drugstores and value insurance protections.
Citi Double Cash Card VS Discover it® Cash Back
For individuals who prefer simple credit card options, the Citi Double Cash Card is a trustworthy choice that offers 2% cash back on all purchases without any limit. With the Discover it® Cash Back card, you can earn 5% cash back on your top spending category for each billing cycle, with a maximum of $500 in purchases. After reaching this limit, you will receive 1% cash back. The bonus categories include grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations.
The Citi Double Cash Card beats Discover it® Cash Back as a better option for those with above-average credit looking for a cash-back credit card. It offers superior rewards value and the ability to save on balance transfers.
Final Thoughts
If you spend a lot of money on travel or dining, you should consider a different credit card that offers more bonus rewards in those categories. Still, if you want a simple way to earn 2% cash rewards (you get 1% cash rewards on purchases and 1% more when you pay off) on all of your purchases with no spending limit, the Citi Double Cash Card is an excellent option for you.
However, the Citi Double Cash card is only beneficial if you can pay off your debt and avoid a long-term balance buildup, as it offers hassle-free cashback and a good balance transfer deal. If you do not pay off your purchases, you will only earn 1% cash rewards on each.
You can sign up for our travel concierge to get expert advice on properly maximizing and managing your cards.
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