Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Citi Double Cash: Which Is Better In 2025?

Citi Double Cash® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the Citi Double Cash® card stands out.

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• It offers a straightforward 2% cash back on all purchases, with 1% earned when you buy and another 1% when you pay.
• You can enjoy all the card’s benefits without having to worry about an annual fee.
• For those with existing high-interest debt, transferring a $5,000 balance could save you around $1,350 in interest over the introductory period, easily covering the initial transfer fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• A simple, flat-rate cash back structure means you earn rewards on every purchase without tracking bonus categories.
• No annual fee, so every dollar in rewards you earn is pure value.
• Flexible redemption options, including statement credits, direct deposits, or converting your cash back to ThankYou® Points.

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Cons

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• It charges a foreign transaction fee, making it a less-than-ideal choice for international spending.
• The 0% intro APR period is exclusively for balance transfers, not for new purchases.
• Lacks premium benefits like travel insurance or purchase protection found on some competing cards.

Citi Double Cash® vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Citi Double Cash®, depends entirely on your spending habits and financial goals. These two cards are excellent choices but are designed for very different types of users.

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred®: This card is a top-tier option for entry-level travel. It's built for frequent travelers who want robust rewards and protections without committing to a premium annual fee.
• Citi Double Cash® Card: This card shines in the balance transfer category. It is an ideal choice for individuals looking to consolidate and pay down existing credit card debt while earning simple cash back rewards.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Points can be redeemed for travel through the Chase portal for increased value or transferred to various airline and hotel partners. You can also redeem them for cash back or gift cards, though travel redemptions typically offer the best return.

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Citi Double Cash® Card: This card offers straightforward cash back rewards that can be redeemed as a statement credit, direct deposit, or check. You can also convert your cash back into ThankYou® Points for more flexible redemption options.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred®: This card is built around the Chase Ultimate Rewards® ecosystem. Cardholders can book travel through the Chase portal, often at an increased value, or transfer points to a variety of airline and hotel partners. It includes key travel benefits such as no foreign transaction fees, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver, and baggage delay insurance. It does not, however, offer broad airport lounge access.
• Citi Double Cash® Card: As a straightforward cash back card, it does not have a dedicated travel ecosystem. It is not designed for international travel, as it charges a foreign transaction fee. The card lacks travel-specific perks like insurance protections or lounge access. While the cash back earned can be converted to ThankYou® Points, which can be used for travel, this is a secondary feature rather than a core part of the card's value proposition.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a more personalized comparison, tools like Kudos can help you find the best card by analyzing your unique spending habits across nearly 3,000 credit cards.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate potential earnings from different cards using your actual spending data—no application or hard credit pull required.
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Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want to earn significant rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for individuals who spend on travel and dining and want flexible options for redeeming their points, such as transferring them to airline and hotel partners. This card also serves as a strong entry point into the world of travel rewards, offering valuable travel protections and a generous rewards structure, as detailed in a comprehensive review.

Who Should Choose the Citi Double Cash®?

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The Citi Double Cash® Card is an excellent choice for consumers who want a straightforward, high-earning cash back card for their everyday spending without the hassle of tracking rotating categories. It's also particularly well-suited for individuals looking to consolidate and pay down existing credit card debt, thanks to its lengthy 0% introductory APR on balance transfers. Ultimately, as our Citi Double Cash review details, it's ideal for anyone who values strong, simple rewards and benefits without paying an annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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So you've weighed the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. the Citi® Double Cash Card and neither feels quite right? Fortunately, the world of credit cards is vast, and there are plenty of other options that might better align with your spending habits and reward goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can meet the welcome offer's spending requirement without overspending.
• Know the rules – Be aware of issuer-specific application rules, like Chase's 5/24 rule, that could affect your eligibility.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application to coincide with a large planned purchase.
• Consider issuer-specific rules, such as the Chase 5/24 rule.
• Try multiple methods if you don't receive the desired offer initially.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Citi Double Cash Card?

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Yes, it is possible to own both cards, and many people do to maximize their rewards strategy. This allows you to earn flexible cash back on general spending with one card and valuable travel points on specific categories with the other.

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Which card is better for someone new to credit card rewards?

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For beginners, the Citi® Double Cash Card is often simpler due to its straightforward cash back structure on all purchases. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can offer higher potential value but requires more effort to understand and redeem travel rewards effectively.

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How do the rewards systems for these two cards compare?

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The Citi® Double Cash Card offers a simple flat-rate cash back on every purchase. In contrast, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which are more valuable when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal or with transfer partners.

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