Citi Double Cash® Card
vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express

Q: Is there an annual fee for either card?

The Citi Double Cash has no annual fee , whereas the Blue Cash Preferred has a $0 introductory fee for the first year, then $95.

Q: Do these cards offer introductory APR periods?

Yes, both cards have introductory APR periods . The Blue Cash Preferred offers 0% on purchases for 12 months, while the Citi Double Cash provides 0% on balance transfers for 18 months.

The Citi Double Cash offers a simple 2% cash back on all purchases and a longer balance transfer period. The Blue Cash Preferred provides high rewards on groceries and gas but has an annual fee after the first year.

By Doug Milnes, CFA

Edited by Denise Cristobal

Updated: November 25, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.

Both the Citi Double Cash® Card and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express cater to those who value cash back rewards. However, they shine in different scenarios. The Citi Double Cash offers 2% cash back on all purchases, making it the better option for straightforward, across-the-board rewards.

However, the Blue Cash Preferred offers 6% cash back on supermarket purchases and streaming services, making it a strong contender for those who spend heavily in these categories. While the Blue Cash Preferred Card has an annual fee after the first year, its targeted rewards can outweigh this cost for the right user.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express

MoneyGeek Rating

4.4/ of 5

Rates & Fees

MoneyGeek Rating

4.2/ of 5

Rates & Fees

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

Regular APR
18.49% - 28.49% variable
18.24%–29.24% variable
0% APR Offer
-
0% on purchases for 12 months
Intro Offer
Earn $200 Cash Back
Earn $250 statement credit
Rewards Summary
Earn 1%–5% cash back
Earn 1%–6% cash back
Balance Transfer Offer
0% for 18 months on balance transfers
0% on balance transfers for 12 months
Balance Transfer Fee
3 percent intro balance transfer fee ($5 minimum; 5 percent after the first four months)
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Annual Fee
$0
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95*
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
670–850 (Good to Excellent)
Penalty APR
Up to 29.99% variable
29.99% variable
Not sure?
The Citi Double Cash and the Blue Cash Preferred cater to different spending styles. The Citi Double Cash is ideal for those seeking simple, flat-rate rewards with its 2% cash back on all purchases and no annual fee.
In contrast, Blue Cash Preferred provides 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and select streaming services, making it better for high spenders in these categories despite its $95 annual fee after the first year.
Choose Citi Double Cash for broad earning potential or Blue Cash Preferred for bonus categories.

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Citi Double Cash if you value simplicity and consistent rewards across all your spending. With no annual fee and a flat 2% cash back on every purchase, it's a straightforward choice for those who want to earn cash back without tracking bonus categories or spending caps.

You might prefer the Blue Cash Preferred if your spending aligns with its bonus categories. With 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and on select streaming subscriptions, plus additional rewards on gas and transit, this card can offer significant value, especially if you can offset the annual fee with the cash back earned.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and other features will clarify the differences between the Citi Double Cash and Blue Cash Preferred. Choose the card with benefits that align with your spending habits, such as Citi Double Cash for flat-rate rewards or Blue Cash Preferred for higher cash back on supermarket purchases.

Regular APR: Citi Double Cash

For regular APR, the Citi Double Cash edges out slightly with a lower maximum APR of 29.24% than the Blue Cash Preferred card's APR of up to 29.99%.

Annual Fee: Citi Double Cash

The Citi Double Cash is better for avoiding annual fees as it doesn't impose one. The Blue Cash Preferred has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

For balance transfers, the Citi Double Cash offers a 0% APR for 18 months, with a 5% transfer fee. The Blue Cash Preferred offers a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, with a 3% transfer fee. Depending on your needs for balance transfers or new purchases, either card could be beneficial.

Rewards: Citi Double Cash

The Citi Double Cash outperforms in rewards, offering a straightforward 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you buy and another 1% as you pay. Additionally, it features a limited-time 5% cash back on travel booked through the Citi portal. In contrast, the Blue Cash Preferred card provides 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit and 1% on other purchases.

Welcome Offers: Citi Double Cash

For welcome offers, the Citi Double Cash outperforms with a higher return on investment (ROI) of 13.33% than Blue Cash Preferred's ROI of 8.33%, making it the better choice for those prioritizing introductory rewards.

Recommended Credit Score: Tie

Both the Citi Double Cash and the Blue Cash Preferred cater to individuals with credit scores ranging from 670 to 850, indicating good to excellent credit. With identical recommended credit score requirements, choosing between these cards on this basis results in a tie.

Penalties and Fees: Blue Cash Preferred

When comparing penalties and fees, the Blue Cash Preferred edges out slightly ahead due to its lower foreign transaction fee of 2.7% than Citi Double Cash's 3%. The Blue Cash Preferred also has a marginally lower late fee. Both cards have similar cash advance fees and penalty APRs.

Issuer Satisfaction: Blue Cash Preferred

The Blue Cash Preferred's issuer, American Express, leads with an issuer satisfaction rating of 5.0. Citibank, which issues the Blue Cash Preferred card, has a rating of 4.1.

Other Features & Perks: Tie

Both cards offer unique perks beyond their rewards programs. The Blue Cash Preferred provides benefits like a $0 introductory plan fee on the Plan It® feature and a $84 Disney Bundle Credit, enhancing its value for specific spending habits. The Citi Double Cash offers $0 liability, protecting you from unauthorized charges, ID Theft Protection and access to Citi Entertainment®. Choosing between them depends on which perks align best with your spending patterns.

Rewards Comparison

The Blue Cash Preferred is better for those who frequently spend at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming services. It offers an impressive 6% cash back in these categories. It also provides 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, which can benefit daily commuters.

However, Citi Double Cash is a strong contender for its simplicity. It offers a flat 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you buy and another 1% as you pay for those purchases — without the need to track specific categories. While it doesn't offer the same high rewards rate on groceries or gas, its consistent reward structure across all spending makes it a versatile choice for those who prefer a straightforward rewards program.

The table below outlines bonus categories to help you compare the rewards programs of both cards at a glance.

Category	Citi Double Cash	Blue Cash Preferred
U.S. Supermarkets	2%	6% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter
U.S. Streaming Subscriptions	2%	6%
U.S. Gas Stations	2%	3%
Transit	2%	3%
Travel Booked Through Issuer Portal	5% through December 31, 2024	1%
All Other Purchases	2%	1%

Redeeming Rewards

The Citi Double Cash allows for cash back redemption via direct deposit, statement credit or check, with no expiration for the life of the account.

The Blue Cash Preferred offers redemption as a statement credit or for purchases at Amazon.com, also without expiration.

Methodology

MoneyGeek provides in-depth reviews of credit cards like the Citi Double Cash and Blue Cash Preferred using a tailored scoring system for various use cases. In this comparison, both cards are assessed based on their performance in the cash back category. The largest factors influencing their scores include the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers.

FAQ: Citi Double Cash vs. Blue Cash Preferred

What are the cash back rewards for each card?

The Citi Double Cash offers 2% on all purchases, while the Blue Cash Preferred provides up to 6% in specific categories like supermarkets and streaming services. Earning cash back can vary based on your spending habits.

Is there an annual fee for either card?

The Citi Double Cash has no annual fee, whereas the Blue Cash Preferred has a $0 introductory fee for the first year, then $95.

Do these cards offer introductory APR periods?

Yes, both cards have introductory APR periods. The Blue Cash Preferred offers 0% on purchases for 12 months, while the Citi Double Cash provides 0% on balance transfers for 18 months.

How do the balance transfer terms compare between the two cards?

The Citi Double Cash offers 0% introductory APR for 18 months on balance transfers, followed by 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum). The Blue Cash Preferred offers 0% APR for 12 months, followed by either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer.

Which card is better for grocery shopping?

The Blue Cash Preferred offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, making it a top grocery credit card.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express, please click here.

About Doug Milnes, CFA

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.

Read Full Bio »

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.

Citi Double Cash® Card vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express