The Double Cash is the card for people who want one simple rate and no calendar of categories. It has no annual fee and earns 2 percent on every purchase, in two halves. The twist is the other half: Citi pays it as you pay the bill. This guide goes through what Citi lists in October 2026, the Citi Travel bonus that the card's reputation hides, and who should pick another card.
The card at a glance
- 0 dollars
- Annual fee
- 2%
- On every purchase
- 5%
- Citi Travel
- 0
- Categories to enrol in
Citi lists none
1 percent when you buy, 1 percent as you pay
Hotels, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel
And no caps on what you earn
How the two halves work
Citi describes the earning as cash back that arrives in the form of ThankYou points. In each billing cycle you earn 1 point per dollar spent on purchases, and 1 more point for every dollar you pay on your purchase balance, as long as there is a matching balance in your Purchase Tracker. A point is worth a cent in cash.
- ThankYou points
- Citi's points currency. On the Double Cash they redeem for cash at one cent each.
- Purchase Tracker
- Citi's record of how much of your purchase balance you have paid, which decides the second 1 percent.
- Citi Travel
- Citi's booking portal, where the extra 3 percent on hotels, car rentals and attractions applies.
The second half needs a payment. Citi says to earn cash back you pay at least the minimum payment on time, and balance transfers do not earn. Because interest on a carried balance is far larger than 1 percent, the card only makes sense if you pay in full. See how credit card interest works.
What you can redeem for
| Option | What Citi lists | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Statement credit | Any amount | Applied to your card account. |
| Direct deposit | To any checking or savings account | Through the Citi app or website. |
| Check | 5-dollar minimum | Made out to you. |
| Gift cards, travel, Shop with Points | Available | Value per point varies by option. |
Citi's example is that 10,000 points are a 100-dollar statement credit, check or direct deposit. The card also has no authorised user fee, a free FICO score in the Citi app, and Citi Flex Pay for eligible purchases of 75 dollars or more. Citi points to a Guide to Protection Benefits, with cover it describes as secondary, so read it before you rely on any protection.
Does it beat another 2 percent card?
On ordinary purchases it earns the same as other flat 2 percent cards, including the Wells Fargo Active Cash. The difference is the Citi Travel bonus on hotels, cars and attractions.
For the head-to-head with the closest rival, see the Citi Double Cash compared with the Wells Fargo Active Cash. To combine ThankYou points across Citi cards, see the Citi ThankYou lineup in 2026.
Eligibility and the application
Citi's page shows a welcome offer, and the amount changes, so this guide does not quote it. What is stable is the 48-month rule above.
Check your Citi history
List the Citi cards you have held and any new account bonuses you received.
Read the offer on Citi's page
Read the amount, the spending required and the time allowed.
Decide the role of the card
Use it for everything outside your own bonus categories, and pay in full.
Is it right for you?
Fits you
- You want one rate that needs no activation, no categories and no calendar.
- You pay in full every month, so the second 1 percent always arrives.
- You sometimes book hotels or attractions and can use the Citi Travel portal.
Think twice
- You spend a lot abroad, where Citi lists a foreign purchase fee.
- You want lounge access or statement credits, which Citi does not list for this card.
- Your spending sits in a category that a bonus-category card pays more on.
See also which US cards are worth getting by spending style.
Questions people ask
How does the 2 percent work?
Citi says you earn 1 percent when you buy and an additional 1 percent as you pay for those purchases. In points terms that is 1 ThankYou point per dollar spent and 1 point for every dollar paid on your purchase balance.
Do I still earn if I carry a balance?
Citi says to earn cash back you pay at least the minimum payment on time. You earn the first 1 percent on purchases and the second as you pay, but interest on a carried balance costs far more than the 1 percent, so pay in full if you can.
What can I redeem the points for?
Citi lists a statement credit in any amount, direct deposit, a check with a 5-dollar minimum, gift cards, travel and Shop with Points. Citi's example is 10,000 points for a 100-dollar statement credit, check or deposit.
Is there a welcome bonus I can get twice?
No. Citi's page says bonus ThankYou points are not available if you received a new account bonus on a Double Cash account in the past 48 months, or converted another Citi card that earned a bonus in that time. The offer amount is shown on Citi's page and changes.
Does the Double Cash charge foreign transaction fees?
Citi's page lists a fee for foreign purchases next to the annual fee, which it shows as none. Check the rate in Citi's pricing box before you spend abroad, or pick a card from the no foreign fee list.
Sources
Written from these pages and checked against them on October 9, 2026. Programs and rules change, so check the provider’s current terms before you decide.
Cards in this guide
General information, not financial, legal or travel advice. Your own card terms and the provider’s current rules always come first.