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

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partnersโ€™ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIMEโ€™s direction and produced in accordance with TIMEโ€™s editorial guidelines and overseen by TIMEโ€™s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

updated: September 5, 2024

If cash back rewards are at the top of your priority list for credit cards, the card_name and the Citi Double Cashยฎ Card are worth a look. You donโ€™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 wonโ€™t get with the Citi Double Cashยฎ Card.

How the cards stack up

Hereโ€™s a quick look at what each card offers:

card_name
Citi Double Cashยฎ Card
Bonus rewards
bonus_miles_full
bonus_miles_full
Annual fees
annual_fees
annual_fees (Rates & Fees)
Foreign transaction fees
foreign_transaction_fee
foreign_transaction_fee

Welcome bonus

Whilst Citi Double Cashยฎ 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 Cashยฎ 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 Cashยฎ 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_nameโ€™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 Cashยฎ 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. 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 Cashยฎ Card offers donโ€™t quite compare. Youโ€™ll get exclusive access to entertainment experiences and standard fraud protection against unauthorized charges. However, there isnโ€™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 youโ€™d earn if you spent $750 in each category:

General travelDrugstoreDiningAll other purchasesTotal cash back earned
$11.25
$22.50
$22.50
$11.25
$67.50
Citi Double Cashยฎ Card
$15
$15
$15
$15
$60

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, youโ€™d earn an additional $37.5 in cash back rewards. But as shown above, youโ€™d only earn $15 with the Citi Double Cashยฎ Card.

Our recommendations

Why we recommend publisher-pdp-url

card_name

card_nameโ€™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, itโ€™s the obvious choice to maximize your cash back rewards.

Why you would still opt for Citi Double Cashยฎ Card

Citi Double Cashยฎ Card could work if you prefer a card with a simple rewards program. Youโ€™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.

Itโ€™s also ideal if youโ€™re looking to consolidate debt. Youโ€™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 Cashยฎ 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 Cashยฎ Card the better choice for balance transfers.

Learn more from our full review.

Bonus categories vs. flat rate

card_name and the Citi Double Cashยฎ 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 youโ€™d prefer a flat-rate earning system, the Citi Double Cashยฎ Card could be a good fit. And if you plan to do a balance transfer, you could save a bundle in interest.

Ultimately, you canโ€™t go wrong with either card. And you wonโ€™t pay an annual fee regardless of which you choose.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is the Citi Double Cashยฎ Card hard to get?

Generally, the Citi Double Cashยฎ Card requires a fair to excellent credit score. Youโ€™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.

The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.

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