First-year winner
Citi Double Cash Card
$274 Year 1 edge
$873 vs $600
Compare Cards
Stack up the better credit card
Compare two cards side by side with your real spend, credits, fees, and rewards.
Card A
Card B
Monthly spend
Start with spending categories
Monthly Total
$2,430/mo
Reward assumptions
Credits & benefits
Count the credits and perks you actually expect to use. Credit rows start with conservative default values; edit them for your own merchant, timing, or travel friction.
Card A
Citi Double Cash Card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
Citi Entertainment
Other · No listed cash value
Eligible cardholders can access select tickets, experiences, and presales through Citi Entertainment.
Perk
Citi Travel Access
Other · No listed cash value
Cardholders can book eligible travel through Citi Travel and access current portal offers.
Card B
Chase Freedom Flex
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
DashPass Membership and Quarterly Promos
Other · No listed cash value
Cardholders can receive a complimentary DashPass membership window plus rotating non-restaurant DoorDash promos.
Perk
Lyft Partner Offer
Other · No listed cash value
Eligible Lyft purchases can qualify for an elevated partner offer during the issuer's promotional period.
Perk
Cell Phone Protection
Cell Phone · No listed cash value
Can provide coverage for eligible cell phone damage or theft when the monthly bill is paid with the card.
Perk
Purchase Protection
Purchase Protection · No listed cash value
Can help protect eligible new purchases against damage or theft for a limited period after purchase.
Perk
Extended Warranty Protection
Extended Warranty · No listed cash value
Can extend the original U.S. manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases.
Perk
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Rental Car · No listed cash value
Can provide theft and collision coverage for eligible rental vehicles.
Perk
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
Travel Insurance · No listed cash value
Can reimburse covered prepaid travel expenses when a qualifying trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason.
Perk
Trip Delay Reimbursement
Travel Insurance · No listed cash value
Can reimburse eligible out-of-pocket expenses when a covered trip is delayed beyond the issuer's threshold.
Verdict
Citi Double Cash wins year 1 and long term.
Winner after year 1
Citi Double Cash Card
$274 ongoing edge
$673 vs $400
Long-term breakeven: the higher-reward option needs roughly $0 per year in this spend mix to overcome the fee and benefit gap.
Citi
Citi Double Cash Card
Year One
$873
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$673
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$673
2.31% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$1,500
6 mo window · $250/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Chase
Chase Freedom Flex
Year One
$600
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$400
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$400
1.37% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$500
3 mo window · $167/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Spend Mix Math
Where the value actually comes from
Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and the benefits you chose to count.
Dining
2%
$5,400
Citi Double Cash
$108
2.00%
Chase Freedom Flex
$162
3.00%
Groceries
2%
$7,800
Citi Double Cash
$156
2.00%
Chase Freedom Flex
$78
1.00%
Travel
5%
$3,000
Citi Double Cash
$150
5.00%
Chase Freedom Flex
$30
1.00%
Gas
2%
$1,920
Citi Double Cash
$38
2.00%
Chase Freedom Flex
$19
1.00%
General
2%
$11,040
Citi Double Cash
$221
2.00%
Chase Freedom Flex
$110
1.00%
Total annual spend
$29,160 across this mix
Citi Double Cash$673
Chase Freedom Flex$400
Raw Breakdown
Full side-by-side details
Use the spec table below when you want the literal field-by-field differences in rewards, benefits, transfer partners, fees, and approval profile.
| Metric | Citi Double Cash Card | Chase Freedom Flex |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Annual fee | Free | Free |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% |
| Rewards | ||
| Dining rewards | — | 3% |
| Other rewards | — | 5% Up to $1,500 in combined rotating-category purchases each quarter after activation. |
| Travel rewards | 5% Total 5% on eligible hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked with Citi Travel. | 5% Travel purchased through Chase Travel. |
| All rewards | 2% 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay. | 1% |
| Offer | ||
| Welcome offer | $200 credit Spend $1,500 in 6 mo | $200 credit Spend $500 in 3 mo |
| Benefits | ||
| Estimated benefits | 2 listed | 8 listed |
| Benefit highlights | Citi Entertainment · Citi Travel Access | DashPass Membership and Quarterly Promos · Lyft Partner Offer · Cell Phone Protection · +5 more |
| Profile | ||
| Credit needed | Good | Good |
| Network | mastercard | mastercard |
| Reward type | Cashback | Cashback |
Costs
Annual fee
Citi Double Cash Card
Free
Chase Freedom Flex
Free
Foreign transaction fee
Citi Double Cash Card
3%
Chase Freedom Flex
3%
Rewards
Dining rewards
Citi Double Cash Card
—
Chase Freedom Flex
3%
Other rewards
Citi Double Cash Card
—
Chase Freedom Flex
5%
Up to $1,500 in combined rotating-category purchases each quarter after activation.
Travel rewards
Citi Double Cash Card
5%
Total 5% on eligible hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
Chase Freedom Flex
5%
Travel purchased through Chase Travel.
All rewards
Citi Double Cash Card
2%
1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay.
Chase Freedom Flex
1%
Offer
Welcome offer
Citi Double Cash Card
$200 credit
Spend $1,500 in 6 mo
Chase Freedom Flex
$200 credit
Spend $500 in 3 mo
Benefits
Estimated benefits
Citi Double Cash Card
2 listed
Chase Freedom Flex
8 listed
Benefit highlights
Citi Double Cash Card
Citi Entertainment · Citi Travel Access
Chase Freedom Flex
DashPass Membership and Quarterly Promos · Lyft Partner Offer · Cell Phone Protection · +5 more
Profile
Credit needed
Citi Double Cash Card
Good
Chase Freedom Flex
Good
Network
Citi Double Cash Card
mastercard
Chase Freedom Flex
mastercard
Reward type
Citi Double Cash Card
Cashback
Chase Freedom Flex
Cashback