Chase Freedom Flex vs. Citi Double Cash: Flex Stronger For Most
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Both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Citi® Double Cash Card are stellar no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards. But they work in different ways, and your choice will hinge on how much effort you want to put into managing a credit card.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers higher ongoing cash-back potential, as well as a lucrative sign-up bonus. But it requires a lot of effort to manage.
The Citi® Double Cash Card, on the other hand, is as straightforward as cards get, offering a solid 2% back on all purchases: 1% when you buy, 1% when you pay it back.
If you’re willing to put in some effort and your spending patterns match up with the Flex's bonus categories, then it may be the card for you. If you're looking for a no-muss, no-fuss card that earns good rewards no matter where you spend, then the Double Cash is the better pick.
How they compare at a glance
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Citi® Double Cash Card | |
|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
Sign-up bonus | Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. | None |
Rewards |
| 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy, 1% when you pay it back. |
APR | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.49%-28.24% Variable APR | 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-28.49% Variable APR |
Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% |
Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a World Elite Mastercard , which means it comes with cell phone insurance, discounts and incentives like Shoprunner, and hotel perks through the Mastercard Luxury Hotel and Resorts program.
Why the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is better for optimizers
Impressive sign-up bonus
The sign-up bonus is large for a card with a $0 annual fee: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
The standard offer for the Citi® Double Cash Card does not include a sign-up bonus.
Rotating 5% bonus categories ...
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories, on up to $1,500 in combined spending each quarter. (You must activate those categories online.)
That means you have the potential to earn up to $300 each year if you max out those bonus categories. Here's a look at Chase's 5% calendar:
Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus rewards categories for 2023 | |
|---|---|
Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31) | • Target. • Grocery stores. • Fitness clubs and gym memberships. |
Q2 (April 1-June 30) | TBD (In 2022: Amazon.com; select streaming services). |
Q3 (July 1-Sept. 30) | TBD (In 2022: Gas stations; car rentals; movie theaters; select live entertainment). |
Q4 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31) | TBD (In 2022: PayPal; Walmart). |
The Double Cash has no 5% cash-back opportunities.
... On top of fixed bonus categories
But with the Chase Freedom Flex℠, there's more. Cardholders also earn 5% back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3% back on dining, including takeout and delivery; 3% back on drugstore purchases; and 1% back on all other purchases. (Also, through March 31, 2025, the card also earns 5% back on qualifying Lyft services).
The Double Cash, again, does not feature bonus categories, but simply a flat rewards rate on everything.
Better opportunities to maximize point value
With the Chase Freedom Flex℠, cash back is always an option, and points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed this way. You can also redeem rewards at the same penny-per-point value for things like gift cards and for travel booked through Chase.
And speaking of travel, you may be able to get more bang for your points if you have another Chase card that offers higher-value redemption options. For example, if you also hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you could move points earned on your Flex to that card, which allows you to redeem rewards for travel through Chase at a 25% higher rate.
Cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® also feature about a dozen travel partners (major airlines and hotel chains) to which you can transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio.
The Citi® Double Cash Card offers a version of this. It allows you to turn your cash rewards into Citi ThankYou points, and you can redeem those rewards for things like gift cards and travel, too. And similarly, owning another ThankYou-rewards-earning card like the Citi Premier® Card or the Citi Prestige® Card would allow you to combine your points and redeem with Citi's travel transfer partners, in some cases at elevated point values.
But for many, Citi's travel partners will be less desirable. For example, there's only one domestic airline (JetBlue).
A 0% intro APR on purchases
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.49%-28.24% Variable APR. So if you need some breathing room to finance an expensive purchase upfront, it can help.
The Double Cash does not offer a 0% promotional APR rate on purchases.
» MORE: Best 0% APR credit cards
Where the Citi® Double Cash Card shines
Low maintenance, solid rewards on everything
If you prefer credit cards that don’t require active management, then the Citi® Double Cash Card is probably the better fit for you.
It offers a cumulative 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you pay it off). That's high for a flat-rate card, and it means you don’t have to worry about activating any bonus categories or tracking them throughout the year.
A 0% intro APR on balance transfers
The Citi® Double Cash Card could be a slightly better tool for getting you out of some existing debt.
It offers an intro 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-28.49% Variable APR. That's among the lengthiest balance transfer offers on the market.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers a shorter 0% promotional APR window on balance transfers.
Why not both?
In this case, it doesn't have to be one or the other. Why not use these cards in tandem, for the best of both worlds?
You could use the Chase Freedom Flex℠ whenever you spend in bonus categories, and pull out the Citi® Double Cash Card for use everywhere else.
That way, you'll never have to settle for anything less than 2% back in rewards, all the time. Or, check out NerdWallet's best credit cards to see all your options.
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