Why I Swapped My Citi ThankYou Preferred for the Double Cash Card

I recently upgraded my old Citi ThankYou^® Preferred Card to the Citi Double Cash^® Card, and honestly, I keep asking myself: Why didn’t I do this sooner?

What seemed like a small change has actually made a noticeable difference in how I earn more rewards on everyday spending — and it’s a move that many cardholders should seriously consider as Citi continues to improve its ThankYou Rewards program.

Here’s why I switched from my Citi ThankYou Preferred card to the Citi Double Cash card and why you should, too.

The Citi ThankYou Preferred Card Isn’t What It Used to Be

Before the Citi Double Cash card existed, the Citi ThankYou Preferred card (no longer available to new applicants) was one of the most popular no-annual-fee options. Cardholders earned 2x points on dining and entertainment, which at the time felt like a strong, simple way to maximize everyday rewards. It was a go-to for anyone who didn’t want to pay an annual fee but still wanted meaningful returns on their spending.

Nowadays, 2x points on dining and entertainment won’t wow you. Plenty of no-annual-fee and premium cards offer 4x, 5x, or even 6x points on things like groceries, travel, and dining, so the Citi ThankYou Preferred card really feels a step behind. If you’re like me and most people, most of your everyday spending isn’t on restaurants or shows, which makes the old 2x categories feel kind of … underwhelming.

Why the Citi Double Cash Card Makes More Sense Today

Then there’s the Citi Double Cash card, which is actually a really solid option. As a cardholder, you can earn 2% back on everything — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. It still has a $0 annual fee, no categories to track, no rotating bonuses, and no need to activate an offer to earn elevated rates. It’s simple, predictable, and quietly strong for everyday spending.

What really sold me, though, is that you can convert that 2% cash-back on all purchases into Citi ThankYou Points. That means your everyday purchases aren’t just cash-back but can become points you transfer to airlines or hotels or combine with a premium Citi credit card like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Strata Elite℠ Card for higher value redemptions.

For a no-annual-fee card, that kind of flexibility is a huge long-term advantage.

How the Double Cash Complements Premium Citi Cards

I recently opened the Citi Strata Elite card, Citi’s exciting new premium card, and it’s been great for bonus categories and perks like elevated travel rewards, dining bonuses, and hotel benefits. But here’s the thing: Those bonuses only apply to certain purchases, which means a lot of my everyday spending still isn’t optimized.

For example, it earns Citi ThankYou Rewards at the following rates:

• 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com
• 6x points on air travel booked on CitiTravel.com
• 6x points at restaurants (including delivery) every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern Time
• 3x points at restaurants at other times
• 1.5x points on all other eligible purchases

But I don’t book travel through CitiTravel.com, and while the 6x points on Friday and Saturday evenings are a nice perk, it’s inconvenient to time every meal just to hit that rate. Earning 3x points at restaurants the rest of the time is decent, but it’s nothing special.

Basically, this card is an expensive, dining-focused card that doesn’t do much for everyday spending, such as groceries, gas, bills, or streaming subscriptions.

That’s where the Citi Double Cash card comes in. It’s my go-to for all that nonbonus spending. When I pair it with my Citi Strata Elite card, I get the best of both worlds. I rack up bonus points in the categories that matter most to me while still earning solid rewards on everything else.

Over time, this combo will add up to thousands of points, giving me stronger earning rates across a broad range of spending categories.

How I Product Changed My Citi Card

One of the things that surprised me most was how easy the upgrade process was. I first saw the option in an email from Citi, offering me the chance to product change from my Citi ThankYou Preferred card to the Citi Double Cash card, and I also noticed it when I logged in to my account.

I clicked through and completed the change in just a few steps, and that was it. No phone calls, no waiting, no complicated hoops to jump through. The new card arrived in a few days, and I was up and running immediately.

Final Thoughts

Switching to the Citi Double Cash card from my previous Citi ThankYou Preferred card is one of those moves that I keep wishing I’d done sooner. It turns everyday spending into flexible, transferable rewards, works seamlessly with my premium Citi cards, and actually earns points on the everyday purchases I make most.

Since I’d been holding onto my Citi ThankYou Preferred card out of habit, I decided a product change made sense. Switching to the Citi Double Cash card gives me a card that really aligns with how I spend my money. I earn 2% on everything (1% when I buy, 1% when I pay), which is huge for all my nonbonus spending — home improvement stores, bills, retail and online shopping, you name it. It’s not flashy, but it’s smart, simple, and exactly what I need now.