[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/passive-income\/cash-back-and-rewards\/credit-cards\/citi-double-cash-review\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/passive-income\/cash-back-and-rewards\/credit-cards\/citi-double-cash-review\/","headline":"Citi Double Cash Review: Is It the Best 2% Card on the Market?","name":"Citi Double Cash Review: Is It the Best 2% Card on the Market?","description":"Citi Double Cash: Best Basic Cash Back CardRead Review Basics: This card essentially gives...","datePublished":"2020-01-16","dateModified":"2025-03-23","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/#Person","name":"Logan Allec, CPA","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Money Done Right","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","width":488,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/citi-double-cash-review.png","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/citi-double-cash-review.png","height":312,"width":820},"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/passive-income\/cash-back-and-rewards\/credit-cards\/citi-double-cash-review\/","about":["Credit Cards"],"wordCount":2008,"keywords":["schema"],"articleBody":"\t    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCiti Double Cash: Best Basic Cash Back CardRead Review\t\t\t\tBasics: This card essentially gives you 2% cash back on everything.  You get 1% cash back when you swipe and an additional 1% when you make a payment.Example: Excluding housing costs (which typically can't be paid by credit card), the average American household spends $35,000 per year.  If you put $35,000 annually on this card, you would earn $700 cash back.Bottom Line: While other cards may give you more rewards in certain categories like groceries or gas, this card has you covered when it comes to the bulk of your spending.  I personally use this card whenever I make a purchase that doesn't fall into a bonus category on another card.\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWelcome OfferLIMITED TIME OFFER -- Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.Annual Fee$0Credit ScoreGood - Excellent\t\t\t\tOur Review Methodology        We may receive a commission if you sign up or purchase through links on this page.  Here's more information.    Table of ContentsToggleCiti Double Cash: OverviewCiti Double Cash: Other BenefitsWhen This Card Is BestWhen This Card Isn’t BestCiti Double Cash Pros and ConsCiti Double Cash: Should You Get It?Citi Double Cash: OverviewThe Citi Double Cash is one of the most popular cash back cards — and for good reason.\u00a0 It gives you unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee.Although the Citi Double Cash is my go-to cash back card, there are a few things that may cause some users to go with a different 2% cash back card.\u00a0 I’ll get into the pros and cons of the Citi Double Cash card later in this article, but first I’ll go over when this card makes sense.The BasicsMechanically, this card’s cash back is awarded in two parts: 1% when you use the card to make a purchase and another 1% when you make a payment.This can cause a slight delay in the awarding of your cash back, but only by a month if you diligently pay off your balance every month.And on the positive side, this function can provide you extra incentive to pay off your balance as quickly as possible (which you should be doing anyway).How to Redeem Cash BackThere aren’t any complicated point systems here.\u00a0 Your available cash back balance is displayed, down to the penny, right in your online account.A minimum of $25 is required to redeem cash back.Here are the four redemption offers currently offered by the Citi Double Cash:Statement Credit: This option applies your cash back as a credit against your current balance on the card.\u00a0 The credit will post 2-3 business days after you select this option.Direct Deposit: This option deposits your cash back into your Citi or non-Citi account within 1-2 business days.Check by Mail: This option sends your cash back as a check mailed to the address associated with your account.\u00a0 You should receive the check within 7-10 business days.Convert to Points: This option allows you to convert your cash back into Citi ThankYou Points.\u00a0 This would really only be an advantage if you have a travel Citi card like the Premier or Prestige that permits you to transfer your ThankYou Points to Citi’s airline partners at a bonus rate.\u00a0 This is beyond the scope of this review.Don't Forget!Keep in mind that reward statement credits do not count toward the minimum payment on your card.\u00a0 In fact, rather than worrying about minimum payments, here at Money Done Right we recommend that you pay off your balance in full every month to avoid financing charges.Great Balance Transfer OfferThe Citi Double Cash currently offers a hard-to-beat 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers completed within four months of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 14.24% – 24.24%.Of course, this benefit isn’t free. 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).So if you transferred $10,000 from another card to your Citi Double Cash, you would pay a balance transfer fee of $300.Doing a bit of math (12 months \/ 18 months x 3% = 2%), this is essentially like getting an 18-month loan at a 2% interest rate with the interest paid in advance.\t\t.st2-35052.btn.btn-default:hover{border-color: #4db848;color: #4db848;background: #fff !important;}\t\t\t\tLearn MoreWe earn a commission on this offer.\t\t\tCash Back Rate2%0% APR Period18 MonthsAnnual Fee$0\t\tNo Sign-Up BonusAt this time, the Citi Double Cash is not offering any kind of sign-up bonus.This really isn’t a huge strike against the card since it’s pretty rare for no annual fee credit cards to offer a sign-up bonus, and even when they do, they’re pretty lackluster (something like $50 – $100).FeesHere is a breakdown of the Citi Double Cash’s fee structure.\u00a0 The fees are generally low with the exception of the 3% foreign transaction fee..simple_table-24430 table tr th{\ttext-align: center;\t\t}.simple_table-24430 table tr td{\ttext-align: center;\t\t}Citi Double Cash FeesFee TypeFee AmountAnnual Fee$0Late Payment FeeNone for the first late payment; up to $40 after that.Foreign Transaction Fee3%Balance Transfer FeeGreater of $5 or 3% of the balance transferredCash Advance FeeGreater of $10 or 5% of the amount advancedIf you\u2019d like to watch a review of Citi Double Cash, check out my YouTube video below!Citi Double Cash: Other BenefitsBeyond the 2% cash back rewards, the Citi Double Cash offers several other benefits to cardholders.Credit BenefitsFree FICO Score: Every month you can check your FICO score free of charge, provided by Experian.\u00a0 Note that your score may look a bit “high” because the scoring model used is the Bankcard Score 8, which ranges from 250 to 900.\u00a0 When I first checked my score in my Citi account, I saw that it had been 850 at one point, and I got super excited (prefect score woo-hoo!).\u00a0 But then I discovered that this is actually an 850 out of 900 rather than an 850 out of 850, so I didn’t have a perfect credit score after all.Identity Theft Assistance: With the Citi Double Cash card you are eligible for Mastercard ID Theft Protection at no extra charge.\u00a0 This protection provides you with constant identity monitoring as well as assistance in the unfortunate event that your identity is ever stolen.\u00a0 Note that this benefit is not automatic; you will have to opt in to it in the “Card Benefits” section of your account.\u00a0 However, this opt-in process is as easy as clicking a couple buttons and comes at no extra charge to you.Citi Quick Lock: If your card is lost, stolen, or otherwise compromised, you can log in to your Citi account and lock the card so that it cannot be used.\u00a0 Note that this feature does not request a replacement for your card; there is another area for that.\u00a0 This feature simply locks the card.$0 Liability on Unauthorized Charges: You are not responsible for unauthorized charges made on your Citi Double Cash card.\u00a0 “Unauthorized charges” are any charges not made by you or by anyone allowed to use the account, such as authorized users.Fraud Warnings: As with most cards, you will be alerted via your choice of text, email, phone, and\/or mail of any suspicious-looking transactions on your account.Shopping and Travel BenefitsCiti Concierge: This is a service that I don’t think very many people use but can be very helpful.\u00a0 If you’re planning a trip or even just an event in your own city, the Citi Concierge can help you with things like reservations, gift ideas, airline tickets, and more.\u00a0 They are available 24\/7 at 1-800-508-8930.Citi Entertainment: Through Citi Entertainment, you can get exclusive access as well as presale tickets to a variety of music, sports, theater, and dining events in all fifty states.Virtual Account Numbers: Although most websites are up-to-date when it comes to keeping your sensitive information secure, many aren’t.\u00a0 This is where a Citi virtual account number can come in handy.\u00a0 With one click, you can have Citi create a “substitute” credit card number that you can use online instead of your actual card number.\u00a0 If this “substitute” number somehow gets compromised, you aren’t affected.\t\t\tThe Citi Double Cash has no annual fee that gives 2% cash back on all purchases with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.5\/5 Rating\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.st3-35053.btn.btn-default:hover{border-color: #4db848;color: #4db848;background: #fff !important;}\t\t\t\t\tLearn MoreWe earn a commission on this offer.\t\t\tWhen This Card Is BestFor personal spending, I use the Citi Double Cash more than any other card, and this may be the case for you as well if your goals for a cash back card line up with the characteristics below.You Want Rewards FlexibilityCompared to other 2% cash back cards with no annual fee, the Citi Double Cash makes redeeming your cash back a breeze: you can redeem it as a statement credit, have it direct deposited to a bank account, receive a check in the mail, or convert your balance into points.\u00a0 This kind of flexibility is definitely a plus.Personally, I redeem my cash back directly into a high-yield savings account so I earn interest on my cash back.You Do a Lot of “Everyday” SpendingThere are cash back cards on the market that offer elevated cash back rates between 3% on 6% on categories such as groceries and dining and entertainment.But if you do a lot of spending that doesn’t fall into the bonus categories for other cash back cards — I call this “everyday” spending — then the Citi Double Cash card may be worth getting before applying for one of the more specialized cards.When This Card Isn’t BestOf course, no one credit card is suited for everyone.\u00a0 Here are some situations in which you may want to check out other cash back cards that may better suit your needs.You Spend a Lot of Time AbroadThe Citi Double Cash has a 3% foreign transaction fee.\u00a0 Yes, you will get 2% back on the fee itself (which kind of brings the fee down to 2.94%), but my point is that the Citi Double Cash should not be your go-to card overseas.That said, I don’t count this factor against this card too heavily since if you travel abroad, you should also have a travel card with no foreign transaction fee in your arsenal.You Won’t Use It a LotAlthough the Citi Double Cash’s rewards are versatility in how they’re redeemed, you can only redeem them when you have a minimum $25 cash back in your account.In order to accumulate $25 cash back you will have to spend and pay off $1,250 on the card.\u00a0 If you’re not sure if you will hit this threshold regularly, consider checking out the PayPal Cashback Mastercard.Citi Double Cash Pros and ConsBelow I have listed the pros and cons of the Citi Double Cash card in summary format.Citi Double Cash ProsGives 2% cash backNo annual feeEasy to redeem rewards0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers made within four months of account opening (keep in mind the 3% balance transfer fee)Citi Double Cash Cons3% foreign transaction feeNo sign-up bonus$25 minimum cashoutCiti Double Cash: Should You Get It?So is the Citi Double Cash the best cash back card on the market right now?\u00a0 That’s a tough question, and frankly there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.\u00a0 It really depends on your spending habits.That said, if you’re looking for a simple go-to card without having to worry about an annual fee, the Citi Double Cash is as good as any in my opinion.\u00a0 You’re getting the best-in-class 2% cash back rate, and as long as you hit the $25 minimum, you have a variety of redemption options at your disposal.\t\t.st2-35052.btn.btn-default:hover{border-color: #4db848;color: #4db848;background: #fff !important;}\t\t\t\tLearn MoreWe earn a commission on this offer.\t\t\tCash Back Rate2%0% APR Period18 MonthsAnnual Fee$0\t\tResponses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and\/or questions are answered."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Passive Income","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/passive-income\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Cash Back And Rewards","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/passive-income\/\/cash-back-and-rewards\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Credit Cards","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/passive-income\/\/cash-back-and-rewards\/\/credit-cards\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Citi Double Cash Review: Is It the Best 2% Card on the Market?","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/passive-income\/cash-back-and-rewards\/credit-cards\/citi-double-cash-review\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]