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This rewards credit card is a good fit for those looking to earn cash back rewards in a straightforward manner. Some other rewards credit cards have spending caps or complicated rewards structures — but that’s not the case with the Citi Double Cash® Card. Let’s take a closer look at the features, rewards structure, redemption options, and rates and fees for this card so you can decide if it’s right for you.
The Citi Double Cash credit card earns rewards through the Citi ThankYou Rewards program. Multiple redemption options are available for greater flexibility. Let’s explore how to earn and redeem rewards with this credit card in your wallet:
You can earn an unlimited 2% cash back as a Citi Double Cash® cardholder.
Here's a breakdown of how you'll earn rewards with this card:
Earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase
Earn 1% cash back when you pay off a purchase
Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
Note: Rewards accumulate in your account as Citi ThankYou points. You’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent and 1 point per $1 paid off.
Expert Intel: Want to earn more rewards? Mike Kern, founder of budgeting app, FreeBudget, suggests pairing the Citi Double Cash® Card with another rewards card that offers bonus rewards in your top spending categories. He explains the benefit to this approach, “Consider pairing this card with a variable rate rewards credit card that rotates categories at a higher percent and use this card as a catch all to maximize your cash back on every category.”
As a Citi Double Cash® cardholder, you can redeem your Citi ThankYou points for cash back rewards — but other redemption options exist. The value of your rewards depends on how you redeem your Citi points. ThankYou points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for cash back or a statement credit.
Here are a few ways you can redeem your rewards:
Cash back: Redeem for cash back as a statement credit to your credit card account, direct deposit, or a paper check.
Gift cards: Redeem for gift cards to popular retailers like Chewy, Target, and Wayfair.
Shop with points: Redeem for purchases at participating retailers like Amazon.com and BestBuy.com
Travel bookings: Redeem for eligible travel bookings through the Citi Travel portal.
Travel partners: Transfer to select travel partners and book flights or hotel stays.
Some cardholders find value in redeeming their rewards by transferring them to eligible travel partners. It's worth noting that Citi Double Cash® cardholders have limited access to Citi's full list of travel transfer partners. Eligible travel partners for this card are highlighted below, along with the Citi points to partner points ratios for each:
Choice Hotels Choice Privileges: 1:1.5 ratio
JetBlue TrueBlue: 1:0.8 ratio
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Wyndham Rewards: 1:0.8 ratio
Are you a traveler who wants access to Citi's complete list of hotel and airline partners? Pairing the Citi Double Cash® Card with a premium Citi credit card, such as the Citi Strata Premier, can be beneficial. You can transfer the rewards you earn with the Citi Double Cash® Card to the Citi Strata Premier and then transfer your rewards to any of Citi's travel partners.
It’s worth noting that the Citi Strata Premier doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so it’s a solid choice to use when paying for purchases while traveling internationally. This credit card has a $95 annual fee.
Expert Intel: Sarah Cash, a points advisor with point.me, a points and miles search engine, explains why it can be beneficial to pair another Citi card, like the Citi Strata Premier, with the Citi Double Cash® Card. “Since the Strata Premier has access to more transfer partners, this is a great way to get more value from your points. With more options to transfer your points to, you increase the value of the points you already have.”
Related: Check out our Citi Strata Premier credit card review
Based on our credit card review methodology, the Citi Double Cash® Card scored 8 out of 10. This score reflects high rankings in categories like Features and Benefits, User Experience, and Security while also taking lower scores for Customer Service and Rates and Fees into account.
We explain our basis for these ratings in each category below:
The Citi Double Cash® Card has no annual fee. It also has a high variable APR on purchases. While it has an intro 0% APR on balance transfers for 18 months, the variable APR for balance transfers made outside of the promotional period is high. Balance transfer fees also apply. If you’re wondering, does Citi Double Cash® have foreign transaction fees? Yes, the Citi Double Cash® Card charges foreign transaction fees, so it’s not an ideal option for international travelers.
Considering this card’s generous rewards rate, having no annual fee is a major benefit. You can earn an unlimited 2% cash back when using this credit card. This is a stellar rewards rate compared to some other no-annual-fee rewards cards that offer flat-rate rewards.
Another perk is the card’s welcome offer. You can earn $200 after spending $1,500 within six months of account opening. This makes for a great way to earn bonus rewards.
While this is a cash back card, you’ll earn cash back rewards in the form of ThankYou points. There are many redemption options available, giving you flexibility in how you use your rewards. Some examples include redeeming for cash back, gift cards, travel bookings made through Citi Travel, or by transferring your points to select hotel and airline partners.
Citi offers 24/7 fraud monitoring. Cardholders enjoy $0 fraud liability protection for unauthorized charges. Another security feature available to cardholders is Citi Quick Lock. Through their online accounts, Citi cardholders can turn on this feature to block new credit card charges, while allowing recurring transactions to go through. This feature can be helpful when dealing with a misplaced card. Citi cardholders also have access to Mastercard’s ID Theft Protection program. It’s free to enroll.
Citi’s website has a user-friendly interface. A mobile-friendly website version is also available. The Citi Mobile app has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on the App Store and a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Google Play. Users can easily review their statements, pay their bills, and review transaction history using the Citi website or mobile app. On its website, Citi also clearly displays all credit card features, including rates and fees, and accepts online credit card applications.
Citi customers can contact customer support via phone and other communication channels, like social media. Unfortunately, many Citi customers have reported poor customer support experiences.
In online communities like r/CitiBank and r/CreditCards on Reddit, cardholders have explained that they have struggled to connect to a representative or have found it difficult to get help quickly when calling Citi’s customer service line. Some customers have also reported delays in receiving new credit cards after being approved for a new card.
Customers can reach Citi 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The primary customer support option is via phone. Cardholders can call 1-800-950-5114 for assistance. Citi also has official accounts on social media platforms, including Facebook.
We called Citi's customer service line. Unfortunately, we couldn't verify how prompt their response was because callers must provide account information to connect to a support representative. We reached out to Citi via the @Citi Facebook page, and received a prompt response within minutes of initiating a conversation.
If you struggle to get customer support when calling Citi, consider initiating contact through one of their official social media channels for better success.
It can be helpful to review first-hand perspectives as you research rewards credit card options. We compiled some feedback from current and former Citi Double Cash® cardholders. Here are some thoughts that were shared in online communities and forums:
Many cardholders use the Citi Double Cash® for everyday purchases outside of the bonus categories that the other rewards cards in their wallets offer elevated rewards. On Reddit, one user shared the following in r/CreditCards: “It’s a great catch all card for the categories that you can’t get a higher return.”
However, some Citi cardholders reported negative customer service experiences. One Reddit user shared the following remarks in r/CreditCards, “Citi is extremely frustrating to deal with. I have never seen customer service so unwilling to assist with an issue.”
The Citi Double Cash® Card can be a solid choice if you want to earn simplified cash back rewards. Since there’s no annual fee, this card is a worthwhile option for most people. However, it lacks premium perks that are included with other rewards cards with annual fees. If you want to access more card benefits and maximize the rewards you earn, pairing the Citi Double Cash® with another rewards credit card with bonus rewards categories can be worthwhile.
Related: Check out our list of the best no annual fee credit cards
While creating this guide and reviewing the Citi Double Cash® Card, we examined several factors that impact credit card users. Such factors include rates and fees, card features and benefits, security, user experience, and customer service. We also considered first-hand experiences shared by current and past Citi Double Cash® cardholders in online communities like Reddit.
Does Citi Double Cash® Charge Foreign Transaction Fees?
Yes, the Citi Double Cash® foreign transaction fee is 3%. This fee is charged every time you use your card to make a purchase in a foreign currency. To avoid unnecessary extra fees, you should use a credit card that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees while traveling abroad.
Do Citi Double Cash® Rewards Expire?
No, the rewards you earn with the Citi Double Cash® Card don’t expire as long as your account remains active and in good standing. However, if you close your Citi account or convert your Citi account to one that doesn’t participate in the Citi ThankYou Rewards program, you must use your Citi points within 90 days, or you will lose them.
Is It Hard to Get a Citi Double Cash® Card?
While there is no card approval guarantee, getting the Citi Double Cash® Card is not difficult. This rewards credit card is intended for people with fair to excellent credit. You’ll have better odds at approval with a FICO Score of at least 580.
