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Amex Green vs Citi Double Cash: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Green Card is a strong choice for earning bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining expenses. Terms apply.
- The Citi Double Cash® Card is ideal for simple, flat-rate cash back on all purchases and for paying down debt with its long 0% intro APR on balance transfers.
American Express® Green Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at the features that make the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) a top choice for travel rewards.
- It earns bonus rewards on an exceptionally broad range of travel purchases, including everyday transit like rideshares and subways.
- The card offers valuable statement credits for popular travel services that can enhance your journey.
- Membership Rewards® points are flexible and can be transferred to a wide variety of airline and hotel partners.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- Earns bonus points across a broad definition of travel—including transit and rideshares—plus dining worldwide.
- Annual statement credits for travel-enhancing services like CLEAR Plus membership and airport lounge access.
- Points can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, offering flexible and potentially high-value redemption options.
Cons
- The annual fee is on the higher side for a mid-tier travel card and may be hard to justify if you don't use the travel credits.
- Getting the best value from your points requires transferring them to travel partners; other redemption options like statement credits are less valuable.
- Some of the card's travel benefits are less flexible than what competitors offer, and a key lounge access perk is being discontinued.
Citi Double Cash® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Below, we'll break down exactly what makes the Citi Double Cash® card a standout choice for earning straightforward cash back.
- It offers a simple, flat-rate cash back structure that applies to every purchase you make, without the need to track rotating categories.
- The card provides a generous introductory offer on balance transfers, making it a great tool for consolidating and paying down existing debt.
- You can enjoy all of the card’s benefits without having to worry about an annual cost.
Pros
- Earns a high, flat-rate cash back on every purchase, making it easy to accumulate rewards without tracking bonus categories.
- Provides a lengthy introductory 0% APR period on balance transfers, which is ideal for managing existing debt.
- Comes with no annual fee and offers flexible reward redemption options, including cash back or points.
Cons
- Charges a foreign transaction fee, making it less suitable for international travel.
- The introductory 0% APR offer applies only to balance transfers, not new purchases.
- Lacks bonus reward categories and premium travel benefits found on other cards.
Citi Double Cash® vs American Express® Green Card
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Green or Citi Double Cash, starts with understanding what each card is designed for. Each excels in a different area, catering to distinct consumer needs.
- American Express® Green Card is a top choice for travel and dining rewards. It's designed for consumers who spend frequently in these categories and want to earn flexible points from a well-regarded travel card.
- Citi Double Cash® Card is best for balance transfers, offering a way to manage existing debt. It also provides straightforward cash back rewards on all purchases, making it a strong contender for everyday spending.
Redemption
American Express® Green Card: Points earned with this card are highly flexible and can be transferred to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. You can also redeem them directly for travel, gift cards, or statement credits through the American Express portal.
Citi Double Cash® Card: This card provides straightforward cash back that can be redeemed as a statement credit, a direct deposit into a bank account, or a check. The redemption process is designed for simplicity, giving you direct monetary value from your rewards.
Travel Perks
- American Express® Green Card: This card provides access to the American Express travel portal for booking trips. It also offers statement credits for both CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy to improve your airport experience. A foreign transaction fee applies to purchases made abroad.
- Citi Double Cash® Card: Cardholders can book travel through the Citi ThankYou portal. However, the card does not include benefits like lounge access or travel-specific credits. It also has a foreign transaction fee, which can make it more costly for international use.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos is a financial platform that helps you compare top-rated cards using your own spending data to find the best match.
- Test drive credit cards before you apply by simulating your potential earnings based on your actual transaction history.
- Receive personalized card recommendations and compare options side-by-side using your real spending data.
- Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
- Unlock extra rewards through Kudos Boost and a welcome offer guarantee on select cards.
- Monitor your credit score, track spending, and manage all your cards in one place.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers and diners who want to maximize rewards on their everyday spending. Cardholders earn 3x points on a broad range of travel and restaurant purchases worldwide, with the flexibility to transfer those points to numerous airline and hotel partners. This card is best suited for someone willing to actively leverage its benefits, such as the up to $189 annual statement credit for a CLEAR Plus membership, to more than offset its $150 annual fee (Terms apply).
Who Should Choose the Citi Double Cash®?
The Citi Double Cash® Card is an excellent choice for consumers who want a straightforward, high-earning cash back card without an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for individuals with consistent spending across various categories who prefer not to track rotating bonuses. Additionally, those looking to consolidate and pay down high-interest debt will find significant value in its industry-leading 18-month 0% intro APR balance transfer offer.
Alternatives to Consider
The Amex Green vs. Citi Double Cash comparison highlights two very different approaches to rewards, but what if neither card is the right fit? We've rounded up a few other top contenders that might better suit your spending habits.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit profile for approval.
- Plan your spending - Make sure you can meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer without overspending.
- Understand the rewards - Know how you will use the card's benefits to maximize your returns.
Application Strategy
- Time your application strategically - Apply before a large purchase to help meet the welcome offer spending requirement.
- Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of application restrictions, like American Express's once-per-lifetime welcome offer policy.
- Try different application methods - If you do not see the best offer at first, try applying through a different browser or device.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual fee for the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card comes with a $150 annual fee. This fee helps cover the cost of the card's various travel credits and bonus rewards on transit, travel, and dining worldwide.
Does the Citi® Double Cash Card have foreign transaction fees?
Yes, the Citi® Double Cash Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on all purchases made outside of the United States. This can make it a less-than-ideal choice for frequent international travelers.
How do I earn cash back with the Citi® Double Cash Card?
You earn cash back in two parts with the Citi® Double Cash Card. Cardholders receive 1% unlimited cash back on every purchase, plus an additional 1% cash back as they pay for those purchases.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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