Who it's for
Cash backNo annual fee
Citi Double Cash
Best flat-rate cash back card in the market under $0 AF. The hidden ThankYou Points feature means it can also be the foundation of a transfer-partner strategy when paired with Citi Strata Premier.
$1,739/yrest. value at typical spending
$0annual fee
$0yearly credits
$0fee after credits
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| Category | Rate | Typical spend |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 2x | $400/mo |
| Groceries | 2x | $600/mo |
| Flights & hotels | 2x | $300/mo |
| Rent | 2x | $2,500/mo |
| Gas & transit | 2x | $150/mo |
| Streaming | 2x | $80/mo |
| Online shopping | 2x | $200/mo |
| Everything else | 2x | $600/mo |
Rates are what our model counts per dollar. Brand-specific bonuses (like a hotel card at its own hotels) are blended, since most people don't put all category spending with one brand. Typical spending here means our quiz defaults: $4,830 a month, including $2,500 rent or mortgage. Points are valued at 1.5¢ each (travel portal redemption); transferring to airline or hotel partners can be worth more.
Rewards and perks
Points, 16 transfer partners
- Earn 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy, 1% when you pay (must pay at least the minimum on time)
- Plus 5% total on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
- No annual fee, no caps, no rotating categories
- Cash back earned as ThankYou Points behind the scenes — can be transferred to airline/hotel partners if paired with a Citi Strata Premier or Strata Elite
- 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers
- 3% foreign transaction fee — not for international use
Transfer partners
Air France-KLM Flying BlueAvianca LifeMilesCathay Pacific AsiaMilesChoice PrivilegesEmirates SkywardsEtihad GuestEva Air Infinity MileageLandsJetBlue TrueBlueQantas Frequent FlyerQatar Privilege ClubSingapore KrisFlyerThai Royal Orchid PlusTurkish Miles&SmilesVirgin Atlantic Flying ClubWyndham RewardsAmerican AAdvantage
Head-to-head
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