Citi Double Cash Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash Card [Detailed Comparison]

There are several key reasons to choose a card that earns cash-back. Simplicity is near the top of the list, but earning well on nonbonus-category purchases and utilizing the associated card benefits are equally important.

The Citi Double Cash^® Card and Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card are 2 popular cards that consistently earn rewards on every purchase and offer some of the most liquid redemption options.

In this article, we’ll compare these attributes and discuss the cards’ valuable introductory 0% APR benefits that can help you save money on interest charges.

Card Comparison Overview

Before we discuss the details of the Double Cash card and the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, here is a quick overview for comparison purposes.

Welcome Offer Comparison

The Double Cash card and the Wells Fargo Active Cash card each come with a welcome offer that can be earned after meeting minimum spending requirements in the specified period following card approval.

Here are the latest welcome offers and other important card information:

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Citi Double Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

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Citi Double Cash^® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

$200 cash back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

17.49% to 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No annual fee

Cons

• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees

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Card Highlights

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% – 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.49% to 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases with no annual fee.

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases with no annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

$200 cash rewards bonus

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49% or 28.49% Variable APR thereafter.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
• No annual fee
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49% or 28.49% Variable APR thereafter

Cons

• No bonus categories for those who want to optimize certain purchases

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Card Highlights

• Select “Learn More” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49% or 28.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
• $0 annual fee.
• No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature^® Concierge.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49% or 28.49% Variable APR thereafter.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction converted to U.S. dollars.

Earning Potential

The Double Cash card earns rewards in the form of Citi ThankYou Points that can be redeemed for cash-back, while the Wells Fargo Active Cash card earns cash-back rewards.

We’ll discuss redemptions next, but first, let’s look at how you earn rewards on our featured cards:

For those who pay their card balance in full each statement period, either card earns 2% cash-back. If you tend to carry a balance, you would earn more with the Wells Fargo Active Cash card. The difference is that the Double Cash card earns 1% on initial purchases and an additional 1% on the balance when paid off each statement period.

If you purchase significant qualifying travel through Citi Travel, including hotels, rental cars, and attractions, the 5% cash-back could be a compelling reason to choose the Double Cash card. An important note: The card does not include travel insurance benefits to support those purchases.

Redemptions

When it’s time to redeem your rewards, you have several options with each card:

With the Double Cash card, you have the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners. However, the transfer ratio is not ideal, with 1,000 points equaling 700 airline miles, for example. Transferring points to a Citi premium card, such as the Citi Strata Premier^® Card, results in higher redemption values.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card does not allow transfers to travel partners, but you can transfer rewards earned on the card to premium cards, such as the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card, to use with Wells Fargo Rewards transfer partners.

The cash rewards earned on either card have a base value of 1 cent each at redemption time and can easily be redeemed directly for cash.

Balance Transfer and Purchase Offers

Earning and redeeming rewards are important benefits of the Double Cash card and the Wells Fargo Active Cash card.

However, the purchase and balance transfer offers on the cards can deliver extraordinary value for those with high-interest credit card debt or consumers who have large purchases coming up.

Here is an overview of the introductory 0% APR offers on each card:

Double Cash Card

The Double Cash card offers an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers for 18 months when transfers are made within the first 4 months after card approval. If you have high-interest credit card balances (non-Citi cards), you can transfer them and repay them over time without incurring interest charges.

After that, the variable APR is from 17.49% to 27.49%, depending on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers incur a 3% fee (minimum of $5) for transfers completed within the first 4 months and a 5% fee on each transfer after that (minimum $5). Terms apply.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

The introductory 0% APR for 12 months applies both to purchases and eligible balance transfers. Large purchases made with the card can be paid back over 12 months without incurring interest charges.

Balance transfers must be made within 120 days from card approval to qualify for the 0% APR. After the 12-month 0% APR period has expired, a variable rate of 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% applies, depending on your creditworthiness.

The introductory 0% APR fee for balance transfers within the first 120 days is 3% or a minimum of $5, whichever is higher. After that, the transfer fee is 5% or a minimum of $5, whichever is higher.

Bottom Line:

Introductory 0% APR offers can save you money on interest rate charges. It’s important to pay off any qualifying purchases or balance transfers within the specified 0% APR period to avoid high interest rates applying to any unpaid balances.

Travel Protections and Benefits

The Double Cash card and Wells Fargo Active Cash card are not designed to function as travel rewards cards. In fact, both cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on the amount of any foreign purchase.

However, each card offers a few useful protections and benefits.

Here are the useful travel protections and benefits on our featured cards:

Double Cash Card

• Mastercard Luxury Hotels & Resorts: Book with your card at over 3,000 properties worldwide and receive complimentary breakfast for 2 guests and an on-site amenity worth $100.
• Lyft ride credit: Use your card to book 3 or more Lyft rides in a month and receive a $5 Lyft credit.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

• Automobile rental collision damage waiver: Pay for your rental car with your card, decline the agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive secondary car rental coverage in the U.S. for up to 15 days and primary coverage outside the U.S. for up to 30 days.
• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: Receive room upgrades (when available), Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast for 2 guests, a $25 food and beverage credit, VIP status, late checkout on request (when available), and a best-rate guarantee. You must use your card to book your stay.
• Roadside dispatch: Pay 1 set price for the service call, which includes limited towing, tire changes, jump-starts, lockout services, and emergency fuel. Limits apply.

For more information on Wells Fargo Active Cash card benefits, access the benefits guide (Source: Wells Fargo).

Shopping Protections and Benefits

There aren’t many shopping protections and benefits on the Double Cash card or the Wells Fargo Active Cash card. However, a few key protections and benefits can provide value:

Double Cash Card

• Extended warranty: For eligible items purchased with your card, with manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less, the warranty will be extended by 24 months.
• Citi Merchant Offers: Enroll in offers in your account and make the required purchase with your card to receive a statement credit.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

• Cell phone protection: Pay for your monthly cell phone service with your card and receive up to $600 per claim for damage, involuntary and accidental parting, or theft. There is a $25 deductible per claim and a maximum of $1,200 or 2 claims per 12-month period.
• My Wells Fargo Deals: Get personalized cash-back offers for purchases at retailers and service providers.

Final Thoughts

The Double Cash card and the Wells Fargo Active Cash card each earn 2% cash-back. Additionally, the Double Cash card earns 5% cash-back on bonus categories such as hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel.

If you typically carry a card balance, you’d earn more on the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, as you would not receive the entire 2% on the Double Cash card (1% when making the purchase, 1% when paying the balance).

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card is best for those who have large purchases they want to pay back over time using the introductory 0% APR for purchases.

The Double Cash card is better for balance transfers because its introductory 0% APR period is 18 months, compared with 12 months on the Wells Fargo Active Cash card.