The Citi Double Cash® Card and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are built with big spenders in mind, though they reward cardholders differently. If you're stuck trying to decide between the two, let's compare both cards on fees, intro 0% APRs, welcome offers, and rewards.
Citi Double Cash vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred annual fee
One of the most significant differences between these credit cards -- and the one that may make or break it for some people -- is the annual fee on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. It offers: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. (See rates and fees.) Although American Express charges a $0 annual fee for your first year, the Citi Double Cash® Card has no annual fee -- ever.
It's worth noting that the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can more than make up for the annual fee in its higher cash back rates (terms apply). Even so, if we're comparing cards on upfront costs, the Citi Double Cash® Card is cheaper and starts netting rewards immediately.
Winner: Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred welcome offer
Both cards come with welcome offers, but, between the two, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a higher welcome bonus.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express lets you earn $250 in statement credits when you spend $3,000 within the card's first 6 months (terms apply). While $3,000 isn't the lowest spending requirement we've seen, American Express gives you twice as long as most cards to spend it.
For its part, the Citi Double Cash® Card will give you 20,000 ThankYou® Points when you spend $1,500 within your card's first 6 months. Those points have a cash value of $200.
While the welcome bonus here is $50 less than the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, Citi also requires half the spending within the same timeframe. For those who can't spend $500 monthly to hit the threshold on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, the Citi Double Cash® Card will let you earn $200 with $250 of monthly spending.
Winner: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Citi Double Cash vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred intro APR
The Citi Double Cash® Card gives you 18 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers only (new purchases will still fall under the card's regular APR). The go-to APR of 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) applies at the end of the balance transfer intro period.
Meanwhile, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express will give you 12 months of 0% intro APR for balance transfers and purchases. The go-to 19.24%-29.99% Variable APR applies at the end of 12 months.
It's tough to decide a winner in this category. While the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a zero-interest period for new purchases, the Citi Double Cash® Card gives you half a year longer to pay down existing debt. If you're looking to make a large purchase on a new 0% intro APR card, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express might be the better choice. But if you want to transfer a balance to save on interest, the Citi Double Cash® Card would give you more time to pay down the debt.
Winner: Tie
Citi Double Cash vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred rewards
For big grocery spenders, this is where the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express takes a massive stride.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent each calendar year), 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back at U.S. gas stations, 3% back on transit (including taxis, rideshare, parking, tools, trains, buses, etc.), and 1% everywhere else. Terms apply. If you were to spend roughly $1,583 annually at U.S. supermarkets (or $132 monthly), you would earn back the card's annual fee in rewards.
Meanwhile, the Citi Double Cash® Card earns 1% back on every purchase and another 1% when you pay off the purchase. That's a total of 2% back. While it doesn't have any bonus rates like the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, the flat 2% back on all purchases is as high as you'll get for a base rate on a cash back credit card.
Your annual spending will be the main factor that decides which of these cards is going to be more lucrative for you. If you spend $6,000 annually at U.S. supermarkets (or an average of $500 monthly), the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express would net you $265 -- $360 in rewards minus the annual fee. Meanwhile, the same spending on the Citi Double Cash® Card would only earn $120. But run the numbers for yourself, however, as 2% cash back on all non-grocery spending might be the prudent choice for if you dine out more or spend very little at grocery stores.
Winner: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
