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Citi Double Cash Review: Your 2% Cash Back Sidekick

Review Updated
Joel O'Leary
Author: Joel O'Leary
Joel O'Leary
Joel O'Leary
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Joel is a full-time writer at Motley Fool Money, where he brings a clear, approachable voice to topics ranging from credit cards to side hustles. He’s been writing about money since 2018, covering topics like credit cards, savings hacks, and the FIRE movement. Before joining the team, he managed editorial content for the How To Money podcast. When he’s not behind the laptop, Joel is likely at the beach surfing, or out and about with his family.

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Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
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Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Citi is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money.

Forget all the fancy cards with complex points systems. The Citi Double Cash® Card is a no-nonsense workhorse. Its primary goal is to give you up to 2% cash back on every purchase -- 1% when you buy, 1% when you pay it off.

Let me translate that into dollars: Personally, my wife and I spent about $40,000 on our credit cards combined last year (we average about $3,300 a month). If we used this 2% cash back card for all our spending, we'd be looking at a sweet $800 reward!

There's also a $0 annual fee for this card. So it's a real no-brainer for those who want a stress-free reward system.

I'm going to cover all the ins and outs in this Citi Double Cash review.

Ratings Methodology

Citi Double Cash® Card

Great for: Cash back and balance transfers

Apply Now for Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Citi Double Cash® Card
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Apply Now for Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months on Balance Transfers

Regular APR

18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 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.

2% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. 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.

$200

  • This card combines a top-notch balance transfer offer with best-in-class unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. There's no introductory APR for purchases, so you'll need to pay those off in full every month if you want to avoid interest charges.

    • High cash back
    • 0% intro APR balance transfer offer
    • No annual fee
    • Free credit score monitoring
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • No 0% intro APR on purchases
    • 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 18.24% - 28.24%, 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).

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates and 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.

Our highest-rated credit cards have:

  • ​​High value through rewards or 0% intro APR offers
  • Attainable welcome bonuses that make up for any annual fees
  • Low annual fees or a balance transfer fee of 3%
  • Top perks such as purchase and travel protections, no foreign transaction fees, travel credits, and status upgrades

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates and 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.

Our highest-rated credit cards have:

  • ​​High value through rewards or 0% intro APR offers
  • Attainable welcome bonuses that make up for any annual fees
  • Low annual fees or a balance transfer fee of 3%
  • Top perks such as purchase and travel protections, no foreign transaction fees, travel credits, and status upgrades

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

What I like about the Citi Double Cash card

I've been reviewing credit cards for over five years now and have really come to appreciate the beauty of a straightforward, flat-rate cash back card.

The Citi Double Cash isn't flashy -- but that's what I love most about it! It's a "set-and-forget-it" card that you can go about using every day, silently racking up cash back on all swipes.

2% cash back on every purchase

The Citi Double Cash® Card's best feature is giving you simple, consistent cash back. You'll earn 1% when you make a purchase, and another 1% when you pay it off.

To earn the full 2%, you'll need to make at least the minimum payment on time -- no exceptions.

This is a great fit for both small and large spenders, because there is no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn.

For example, if you spend $30,000 a year on the card, and you'll earn $600 in cash back.

There's no need to enroll in rotating categories or track spending limits. Just swipe, pay it off, and earn the 2% cash back.

No annual fee

Fees are a pet peeve of mine. And a lot of 2% cards come with annual fees or restrictions on how much you can earn.

But not the Citi Double Cash. It has a $0 annual fee, which means you never have to stress about breaking even on a fee. There's very little downside -- yet huge upside.

$200 welcome offer

Here's the current welcome offer for new cardholders: 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. While this isn't the highest bonus available, it's one of the easiest to hit, which is a plus.

This welcome bonus is a quick win, giving you awesome upfront value. And it's relatively easy to qualify for because spending $1,500 in 6 months breaks down to only $250 per month -- a pretty easy task for most folks.

Want a bigger bonus? Check out our list of best credit card sign-up bonuses, some of them are worth $750 or more in cash or travel!

Flexible rewards

This card used to be cash back only, but now it's part of Citi's ThankYou® Points program.

Don't worry, it's not complicated at all. You can still redeem points for cash back, it's just that a points system opens up options for different style rewards.

You can choose from:

  • Direct deposits or statement credits (1 point = $0.01)
  • Gift cards
  • Travel booked through Citi
  • Points transfers to select travel partners (more if you also have a premium Citi card)

While most people will still use this for cash back, the option to earn ThankYou points gives you more choices, which is cool.

Even more perks

Other things to look forward to:

  • 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers. The go-to 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR applies at the end of the intro period.
  • 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
  • Free credit score monitoring
  • Open to Fair credit scores (580 and up)
  • $0 liability on unauthorized charges

All in all, this little beauty is packed with all the perks you want in a no annual fee card.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5-3 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Downsides you should consider

While I personally don't see any of these pitfalls as dealbreakers, they could be a minor concern for your personal situation.

Limited bonus categories

While there is a boost for travel purchases, there are no other spending categories that have additional earning potential.

Basically, this is a great "catch-all" credit card for those who spend across a variety of categories all year round. Not a great fit for those with super heavy spending in one single category (eg. gas, dining, etc.)

Balance transfer fee

The intro APR for balance transfers is solid. But, you must be aware that the privilege comes with a fee. 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).

This is pretty standard across most 0% balance transfer cards, but it's still a cost to factor in.

Also, note: there is no 0% intro APR offer for purchases, which some cards do include.

How to apply for the Citi Double Cash card

Applying is super easy and takes just a few minutes online.

1. First, double-check your credit score

While approval isn't guaranteed, folks with a fair, good, or excellent score will be the most well-qualified candidates. This means you'll want to have at least a 580 before applying.

2. Gather your info and fill out the application

You can apply directly from this page. You'll be asked for the standard personal and financial info when applying. Things like:

  • Name and address
  • Your SSN
  • Employment and income info
  • Monthly housing payment (mortgage or rent)

It's always important to be truthful and accurate with applications. Errors can delay your approval.

3. Submit and wait for approval

The bank will run a credit check and verify all the info you submitted. Most approvals happen instantly, and they'll ship out your new card within 10 business days.

If you're not approved right away, don't panic! The bank will follow up with you directly to let you know why, or verify your documents.

Fun fact -- I just got denied for my first Citi card last month. They sent me a letter saying they denied my application due my overall available credit limit being too high. Oops, I probably have too many credit cards open! If you get denied, it's not the end of the world.

And if you do get denied for your credit limit like me, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a similar card that may be worth trying for. If your credit score needs improvement, focus on getting a card that's easier to qualify for and spend three to six months paying it off on time and building your score.

4. Meet the spending requirement

Don't forget that there's a $200 welcome offer if you can spend $1,500 in the first 6 months. So make sure you're prepared to meet that to qualify for the bonus.

Final thoughts

The Citi Double Cash® Card is a great "catch-all" spending card. If you're the type of person that spends money across a wide range of categories, this is a perfect fit.

There's immediate value if you can earn the $200 welcome offer. And also long term value with a $0 annual fee, and a strong 2% return on every dollar you spend (and pay off).

If you're a minimalist and don't want to juggle multiple reward cards with different point systems, Citi Double Cash is well worth it.

Ready to earn 2% cash back on everything? Apply for the Citi Double Cash® Card now -- see rates and fees -- and earn that $200 bonus while you're at it!

FAQs

  • Yep! 1% when you buy, and another 1% when you pay it off. You need to pay at least the minimum due to get the full 2%.

  • It's a decent travel card because you can earn extra cash back for booking travel services. But, honestly, it's not my top pick. That's because it charges foreign transaction fees, doesn't offer travel insurance, and other top travel cards offer higher rewards value.

  • You'll likely need fair to excellent credit (580 or higher FICO® Score). But also keep in mind that approval can depend on income and other debts.

  • It certainly does. And it's easy to qualify for, too! Right now you can earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.