Is the Citi Double Cash Card Worth it? Bankrate Caret RightMain Menu Mortgage Mortgages Financing a home purchase Refinancing your existing loan Finding the right lender Additional Resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Bank Banking Compare Accounts Use calculators Get advice Bank reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Credit Card Credit cards Compare by category Compare by credit needed Compare by issuer Get advice Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Caret RightMain Menu Loan Loans Personal Loans Student Loans Auto Loans Loan calculators Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Invest Investing Best of Brokerages and robo-advisors Learn the basics Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Home Equity Home equity Get the best rates Lender reviews Use calculators Knowledge base Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Loan Home Improvement Real estate Selling a home Buying a home Finding the right agent Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Insurance Insurance Car insurance Homeowners insurance Other insurance Company reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Retirement Retirement Retirement plans & accounts Learn the basics Retirement calculators Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Introduction to the Citi Double Cash Credit Card Advertiser Disclosure
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We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
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Jacob Lund/Shutterstock August 15, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more. Barri has written in the personal finance vertical—including credit cards—for more than 20 years. She currently identifies and reports on news and top trends in the credit card industry and authors in-depth interview pieces with industry experts. Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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If you think you might sign up for the Citi Double Cash to earn rewards, you’ll be happy to know this cash back card offers one of the highest flat rewards rates out there. Once you’re a cardholder, you get to earn a total of for each dollar you spend — 1 percent when a purchase is made and another 1 percent when it’s paid off. There are no limits to the rewards you can earn, and the card doesn’t charge an annual fee. If you’re someone who needs to consolidate and pay down high-interest debt, you should know this card offers an introductory 0 percent APR on for 18 months, followed by a variable APR of 16.99 percent to 26.99 percent. Just keep in mind that a 3 percent intro (minimum $5) applies when your transfer is completed within the first four months of account opening. Since rewards and balance transfers don’t mix well for some cardholders, you should probably use this card for one strategy or the other. Is the Citi Double Cash Card worth it
Before you choose the Citi Double Cash over other , it helps to know and understand all the main features you can access as a cardholder. Also, keep in mind that the and perks you receive do not require an annual fee. Exceptional rewards rate
Where many top cash back cards only give you 1.5 percent back in rewards (or offer specific bonus categories or categories that rotate), the Citi Double Cash keeps things as simple as possible. Once you sign up, you earn a total of 2 percent cash back for each dollar you spend — 1 percent when a purchase is made and another 1 percent when it’s paid off. New welcome bonus offer
The Citi Double Cash recently added a $200 cash back welcome offer for a limited time — which is in line with bonuses offered by similar 2 percent cash back cards, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card (earns cash rewards). In order to earn it, you need to spend $1,500 within the first six months of account opening, or $250 a month during the first six months. Considering the Double Cash didn’t offer a sign-up bonus previously, this new perk may be enough to tip this card in your favor. Introductory balance transfer period
Cardholders receive a 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by a variable APR of 16.99 percent to 26.99 percent. This makes the Citi Double Cash a good option for consumers who need to consolidate and pay down debt. Just keep in mind that the low interest offer applies to balance transfers only, not purchases. Cardholder benefits and perks
The Citi Double Cash is pretty light on , but that’s expected since it doesn’t have an annual fee. Perks you will receive include Citi Identity Theft Solutions, Citi Lost Wallet Service and access to . Note, you’ll also get $0 , meaning you won’t be on the hook for a cent in fraudulent charges if a thief uses your card or card number. Should I get the Citi Double Cash Card
The Citi Double Cash could work for almost anyone, including consumers who just want an easy-to-use, no-annual-fee credit card. However, this cash back card is best for consumers in two specific scenarios. You want to earn a flat rate of cash back
The Citi Double Cash stands out among cash back credit cards due to its generous flat rate of rewards, which is higher than most others. The rewards you earn with this card are unlimited, so you can use it for all your spending and bills to rack up rewards fast. Note that when it comes time to , you can use them for cash back or statement credits, or you can turn your rewards into Citi ThankYou points (albeit the of these points). This option can be useful if you want more redemption options or have another Citi credit card that earns points in this program. You need to consolidate and pay down debt
If you’re not interested in rewards but need to consolidate and pay down debt, the Citi Double Cash is still worth considering. While you’ll want to avoid using this card for spending while you pay down transferred balances, this card ranks among the thanks to its 18-month intro period (followed by a variable APR between 16.99 percent to 26.99 percent, as noted above). How to maximize your rewards with the Citi Double Cash Card
Since the Citi Double Cash offers a flat rate of cash back for each dollar you spend, you don’t need to jump through many hoops to . All you have to do is use your card for all your regular spending and bills to earn 1 percent back, then pay your bill off in full to earn another 1 percent back. Since the Citi Double Cash charges the regular variable APR on all purchases you make when you carry a balance, you should strive to pay your credit card bill in full each month anyway. The bottom line
The is popular for a number reasons — primarily its exceptional rewards rate and low interest offer on balance transfers. Just keep in mind that other credit cards may be worth considering, including options that give you rewards and a 0 percent APR on both purchases and balance transfers. Take the time to research other rewards credit cards before you fully decide on the Citi Double Cash. It could be the best credit card for your wallet, but you should still compare all your options to be sure. SHARE: Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more. Barri has written in the personal finance vertical—including credit cards—for more than 20 years. She currently identifies and reports on news and top trends in the credit card industry and authors in-depth interview pieces with industry experts. Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer.