Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Citi Double Cash Card: Why You'll Earn More with Freedom

If cash back rewards are at the top of your priority list for credit cards, the card_name and the Citi Double Cash® Card are worth a look. You don’t have to pay an annual fee with either card, and both come with attractive introductory APR offers. Still, card_name comes out on top due to its earning potential. Plus, it offers a generous welcome bonus you won’t get with the Citi Double Cash® Card.

How the cards stack up

Here’s a quick look at what each card offers:

Welcome bonus

Whilst Citi Double Cash® Card does offer a new cardholder incentive. Earn $200 cash back when you spend $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of opening your Citi Double Cash® card account. card_name offers a more with the following offer:

• bonus_miles_full
• With the card_name, you can bonus_miles_full

Welcome bonus winner: card_name

Rewards

Citi Double Cash® Card keeps it simple for cardholders with its flat-rate rewards system where they can bonus_miles_full. Still, you can get even more out of card_name’s rewards program. Although it pays just 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases, you can earn 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases and 5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Rewards winner: card_name

Annual fee

Neither card charges an annual fee.

Annual fee winner: Tie

APR

Citi Double Cash® Card features a longer promotional APR period. However, it only applies to balance transfers.

card_name cardholders get a intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration and balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration and then reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR. However a foreign_transaction_fee fee applies to each balance transfer, making this benefit a better deal for purchases.

APR winner: card_name

Foreign transaction

Cardholders pay a 3% foreign transaction fee with both cards.

Foreign transaction fee winner: Tie

Additional perks

card_name offers a host of added perks to cardholders, including:

• An annual referral bonus of up to $500.
• Purchase, extended warranty and zero liability protections.
• Rental car collision damage waivers.
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance.
• Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart discounts.
• Free weekly credit score updates with Chase Credit Journey.

The incentives the Citi Double Cash® Card offers don’t quite compare. You’ll get exclusive access to entertainment experiences and standard fraud protection against unauthorized charges. However, there isn’t much more that comes with this card in terms of added perks.

Additional perks winner: card_name

Which card earns the most?

It depends on your spending patterns. Below is a breakdown of how much you’d earn if you spent $750 in each category:

Generally speaking, you can earn more cash back with card_name as there are more bonus categories. Furthermore, this table accounts for the 1% earned after the purchase is repaid, so card_name offers a higher reward of 1.5% at the time of purchase.

The table also excludes earnings for travel booked through Chase Rewards. Using the same spending figure of $750, you’d earn an additional $37.5 in cash back rewards. But as shown above, you’d only earn $15 with the Citi Double Cash® Card.

Our recommendations

Why we recommend card-name

card_name’s welcome bonus, generous rewards program and added perks make it the better option. Your earning potential is greater if you travel or dine out a lot. And when you consider the welcome bonus for new cardholders, it’s the obvious choice to maximize your cash back rewards.

Why you would still opt for Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® Card could work if you prefer a card with a simple rewards program. You’ll get 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you repay it. This alleviates the stress of having to make purchases in specific categories to maximize earnings.

It’s also ideal if you’re looking to consolidate debt. You’ll get a slightly longer promotional interest period of 18 months compared to the 15 months offered with card_name. The card_name has a balance transfer fee of balance_transfer_fees The Citi Double Cash® Card has a balance transfer intro fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening, then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) making the Citi Double Cash® Card the better choice for balance transfers.

Learn more from our full review.

Bonus categories vs. flat rate

card_name and the Citi Double Cash® Card are at the top of the cash back rewards cards list. The best fit for you depends on your spending habits. Still, card_name is more appealing due to its bonus categories and welcome cash back offer.

If you’d prefer a flat-rate earning system, the Citi Double Cash® Card could be a good fit. And if you plan to do a balance transfer, you could save a bundle in interest.

Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with either card. And you won’t pay an annual fee regardless of which you choose.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is the Citi Double Cash® Card hard to get?

Generally, the Citi Double Cash® Card requires a fair to excellent credit score. You’ll also need to demonstrate you have a sizable amount of steady income.

What is the max credit limit on card_name?

Some cardholders have reported credit limits of up to $14,000. However, Chase does not disclose minimum and maximum credit limits for card_name.