Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs. the Citi Double Cash Card (2024)

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If you’ve been searching for a flat-rate cash-rewards card, you’ve likely come across the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and the Citi Double Cash® Card. They’re two of the best, but the Double Cash card comes out on top thanks to its added bonus category.

However, the Active Cash wins in nearly every other category. It has a better welcome offer, more card features and an introductory purchase APR. But in terms of earning potential, the Double Cash card inches ahead.

Comparing reward programs

Both credit cards offer simple yet lucrative rewards programs -- you’ll earn 2% cash rewards with the Active Cash and 2% cash back with the Citi Double Cash (earn 1% when you make a purchase and the other 1% when you pay for that purchase).However, for a limited time, the Double Cash earns 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.

With these added rewards, the Double Cash could overtake what the Active Cash is capable of earning, provided you’re able to book some aspect of your travel with Citi.

The other major difference is when these rewards hit your account. The Active Cash applies the 2% whenever the balance is paid off, but you’ll earn 1% cash back with the Double Cash when you make the initial purchase and the other 1% once you paid it off.

Since we recommend paying your balance in full each month, this shouldn’t make much of a difference, but can be confusing at first.

Neither card has an annual fee, which means you could pair either with another card that earns greater rewards in specific categories to maximize your rewards potential.

Welcome bonus

The winner here is the Active Cash card as the Double Cash has a higher spending threshold for the same payout.

With the Active Cash, you’ll essentially need to spend $167 monthly to qualify in time, compared with $250 each month for the Double Cash. Despite offering a longer window to reach the spending requirement, you’d end up spending less each month with the Active Cash for the bonus amount.

Additional card perks

The Active Cash offers cardholders more than the Double Cash in terms of extra perks. The Double Cash doesn’t have a lot of additional card perks outside of the fraud protections that come standard with most credit cards.

The Active Cash offers cell phone protection against damage or theft, roadside assistance, and a variety of hotel and travel benefits offered through Visa Signature® Concierge and Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection. While it doesn’t offer many additional benefits, it still provides a few extra bells and whistles compared with the Double Cash card.

Introductory APR offer

The Active Cash offers cardholders an introductory 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable). Comparatively, the Citi Double Cash provides cardholders with an introductory 0% APR for balance transfers for 18 months (then 19.24% to 29.24% variable); balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening.

Since both of these credit cards are primarily designed to earn rewards for new purchases, the introductory purchase APR is more useful on them than the balance transfer APR. With the Active Cash, you can finance a large, planned purchase and then pay it down while avoiding interest charges for 15 months.

While the Citi Double Cash does provide a longer balance transfer offer, it doesn’t offer a 0% introductory APR for new purchases. For this reason, the Active Cash has a more versatile introductory offer.

Balance transfer offer

If you need to mitigate some credit card debt (and aren’t interested ina dedicated balance transfer credit card) the Citi Double Cash Card will be the better option. Just hold off on making new purchases on this card until your transferred debt is repaid.

The Double Cash Card provides three extra months for its introductory balance transfer offer over the Active Cash’s, but both cards have the same introductory balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) for the first four months from account opening (120 days from account opening on the Active Cash). With the Citi Double Cash, the balance transfer fee increases to 5% ($5 minimum) if completed after four months of account opening. With the Active Cash, the balance transfer fee increases to up to 5% (with a $5 minimum) after 120 days from account opening.

A balance transfercan help to improve your credit score and your finances. Just be sure you’re able to pay off the transferred balance within the provided time frame in order to avoid any interest charges.

All information about the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

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