Citi Double Cash Card vs. Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card [Detailed Comparison]

Whether it’s your daily coffee, a work lunch, or purchases at the grocery store and gas station, using a card (whether debit or credit) has become the norm over using cash.

For this reason, using an everyday spending card that earns rewards on daily purchases now makes more sense than ever.

If selecting such a rewards-earning card is a priority, you’ll be interested in our card comparison choice today.

We’ll look at 2 options for maximizing rewards earning on daily expenses, the Citi Double Cash^® Card and the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express.

Join us as we look at how each card earns rewards, your options at redemption time, and the associated protections and benefits.

Citi Double Cash Card vs. Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card — Overview

Before we get into the details of the Citi Double Cash card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, let’s look at this overview of the key highlights for each card.

The Value of a Welcome Offer

Card welcome offers typically allow you to earn a lump sum amount quickly by meeting minimum spending requirements.

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card comes with a modest welcome bonus offer you can start earning immediately after card approval. The Citi Double Cash card does not currently offer a welcome bonus.

We’ve included both card snapshots below so you can see the current welcome offer and additional card information.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

$200 cash back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No annual fee

Cons

• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This 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.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, 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).
• Citi Double Cash^® Card Travel Portal Limited Time Offer: Earn a total of 5 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel^SM portal on ThankYou.com or by calling 1-800-Thankyou and saying “Travel.” Offer is valid through 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) 12/31/2024.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

This cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cash-back credit cards, there are dozens of options to choose from. So what sets the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express apart from the rest?

This card is excellent at earning cash-back on your everyday purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases. So if you regularly spend money on everyday purchases, this could be the perfect card to add to your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3% back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases on online retail purchases on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.

Cons

• Rewards are not flexible and can only be redeemed for cash-back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday^® Card. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday^® Card.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Earning Potential

The Citi Double Cash card earns cash-back in the form of ThankYou Points while the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card earns cash-back in the form of Reward Dollars. These reward currencies are points that can be redeemed for cash-back and more.

We’ll cover your options at redemption time next, but first, let’s look at all the ways you can earn rewards when making purchases with either card.

You’ll notice that the Citi Double Cash card earns a flat 2% cash-back on every purchase (1% when making the purchase, 1% when paying for the purchase). The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card has bonus categories where you can earn an elevated 3% cash-back.

The better card for earning will depend on your spending mix. Let’s explore how different spending mixes can affect how you earn rewards.

Earning Examples

When selecting an everyday spending card, you’ll want to choose a card that best rewards your highest purchases. Here are 2 simple annual spending scenarios that quickly illustrate this important point.

If you spend $6,000 each year at the supermarket, at gas stations, and for online retail purchases, you’ll earn the most on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card. You may do better with the Citi Double Cash card if you have significant additional expenses that do not fall under these bonus-earning categories.

This is a simplified example that also ignores the possibility of having multiple everyday spending cards. A combination of cards can be the answer to maximizing overall earnings on your entire spending mix.

Redemption Options

While earning rewards is exciting, redeeming rewards can be even more so. The Citi Double Cash card and Amex Blue Cash Everyday card differ in your choices at redemption time.

Here are your options for redeeming the rewards earned on both of our featured cards.

When comparing redemption options for both of our featured cards, we find that the Citi Double Cash card has greater flexibility.

Unlike the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, you can redeem points earned on the Citi Double Cash card for travel via the Citi Travel portal. You can also transfer points to JetBlue, Wyndham, or Choice to secure award flights or free hotel nights.

For example, you can transfer 14,000 ThankYou Points to Choice Privileges and receive 21,000 Choice points with a 1:1.5 transfer ratio. Using those points, you can book the Clarion Hotel at Copenhagen Airport for just 20,000 points. It’s a delightful upscale hotel that can cost $250 per night or more.

If you have a premium Citi card such as the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, your transfer options expand with redemption access to a greater list of airline and hotel partners and the potential for even greater value.

While the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card earns cash-back, the most liquid type of rewards currency, you’ll be limited to 1-cent per point fixed-value redemption options. Cash-back can accumulate and be redeemed as a statement credit to offset the cost of anything from family travel to new appliances.

Travel Protections and Benefits

The Citi Double Cash card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card are designed to fit your daily purchasing routine and help you earn rewards on common purchases. Neither card is meant to be a travel rewards card.

For this reason, you won’t see many travel protections or benefits on our featured cards.

There are a few useful protections that come with the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card:

• Car Rental Insurance — Reserve and pay for the entire rental with your card and decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW protection to receive coverage for damage or theft. Coverage is secondary, so you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage applies.
  • Access to Premium Protection — Premium Protection includes primary car rental insurance for 1 low price that covers the entire rental period, up to 42 days. The total cost of coverage ranges from $12.25 to $24.95, depending on coverage selection and your state of residence.
• Global Assist Hotline — When traveling more than 100 miles from home, you’ll have 24/7 access to assistance with emergency transportation, translation referral services, help retrieving lost luggage, emergency currency, and more.

The Citi Double Cash card comes with these travel benefits:

• Mastercard Luxury Hotel and Resorts Benefits — Receive complimentary daily breakfast for 2 and an onsite amenity worth $100 at over 3,000 properties worldwide.
• Lyft Ride Credit — Use your card to book 3 or more rides in a month and receive a $5 Lyft credit.

Shopping Protections and Benefits

Shopping protections can provide economic relief should something go wrong with an eligible purchase you make with your card. Benefits can save you money on select purchases.

Here are the shopping protections and benefits you’ll find on the Citi Double Cash card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card that are unique to each card.

Citi Double Cash Card

• Citi Merchant Offers — Log in to your online card account and choose offers from select retailers and service providers. Once you’ve made the associated purchase, you’ll receive additional cash-back.
• DoorDash DashPass — Cardholders can get a complimentary 3-month DoorDash DashPass membership and up to $5 in credits each month after activation.
• Introductory 0% APR on Balance Transfers — Utilize a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Terms and transfer fees apply to these transactions.

Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card

• Purchase Protection — Eligible items purchased with your card get purchase protection including damage or theft for up to 90 days from the purchase date. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per item, up to $50,000 per year.
• Amex Offers — Check your online account for up to 100 Amex Offers that, once added to your card, can save you money and help you earn additional cash-back.
• Disney Bundle Credit — When you spend at least $9.99 on an auto-renewable The Disney Bundle subscription, you’ll receive a statement credit for up to $7 each month, up to $84 in credits each year. Enrollment is required.
• Home Chef Credit — When you use your card to purchase a Home Chef auto-renewable subscription, you can receive up to $15 back each month, up to $180 in credits each year.
• Introductory 0% APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers — If you have a large purchase coming up, you could save money with the card’s 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% - 29.99% variable APR (rates & fees). Terms and transfer fees apply to these transactions.

Fees and Authorized Users

The Citi Double Cash card charges an annual fee of $0 and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card charges an annual fee of $0.

Both cards do charge foreign transaction fees. The Citi Double Cash card charges 3% of the total transaction and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card charges 2.7% (rates & fees). For this reason, it’s better to select a travel rewards card with no foreign transaction fee when traveling abroad.

Additional card users can help you earn rewards faster. Neither card charges a fee to add authorized users.

Alternative Everyday Spending Cards

When it’s time to select a card for everyday purchases, you have plenty of options. You can check out our list of recommendations in this article featuring several of the best everyday purchase cards.

Here are just 2 additional options for cards that earn well on common daily purchases.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Chase Freedom Flex^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Freedom Flex^®

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex^® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Freedom Flex card offers quarterly rotating bonus categories that earn 5% cash-back on up to $1,500 in purchases and 5% cash-back on Chase travel portal purchases. With additional elevated earnings at gas stations and drug stores, plus cell phone protection, the card is a worthy everyday earning option.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

HIGHEST CASH BACK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$250

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

APR

19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express is a stellar cash-back credit card for those looking to maximize every purchase they make.

With bonus categories like U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. streaming services, U.S. gas stations, and transit purchases, this card rewards you for the items you spend the most on in a big way! For those looking to earn up to 6% cash-back on their purchases, this could be the card for you!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year)
• 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% cash-back on U.S. gas stations and transit (including rideshares, parking, etc.)

Cons

• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee (rates and fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It^® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%.
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
• 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Rewards Center

Redeem cash-back through your American Express account

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card takes bonus earnings at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, and U.S. gas stations/transit to a higher level.

The card also comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99% (rates & fees).

Final Thoughts

If most of your spending falls within the bonus categories on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card and does not exceed $6,000 each year, you’ll receive greater earnings with that card.

If you have heavy non-bonus spending such as home repairs, school tuition, medical bills, or other large purchases, the Citi Double Cash card could be the better earning card for you.

The Citi Double Cash card is the better card at redemption time as you can select cash-back or choose from several travel redemption options. If you have, or plan to have a premium Citi card, you’ll get additional redemption choices that can create even greater potential value.

When it comes to everyday spending cards, having more than 1 may ensure that all your greatest expenses are earning rewards. With that in mind, don’t rule out the possibility of having a team of cards that can work for you.

For the global assist hotline benefit of the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express, you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase with their eligible card, purchase protection can help protect their covered purchases for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.