Wells Fargo Active Cash or Citi Double Cash: Which Cash-Back Card is Better?

When it comes to earning rewards, you can earn up to 2% unlimited cash back on all purchases with no categories to track or quarterly activations to worry about. This applies to both the Wells Fargo Active Cash card and the Citi Double Cash card. However, with Citi, you only earn 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill. If you cannot pay off your card entirely, you won’t reach the full 2%. This makes the Wells Fargo Active Cash card the winner in this category, as it has no restrictions on earning. That said, if you plan to pay off your card in full every month, you’ll earn the same 2% cash back rewards with both cards.

Wells Fargo allows you to redeem rewards in a variety of ways, including:

1. As a credit to a qualifying Wells Fargo credit card, checking account, or mortgage

2. For travel, including flights, car rentals, and hotel stays

3. As a statement credit

4. Gift cards

5. To shop for merchandise and gifts from participating merchants and retailers

For the Citi Double Cash, cash back is earned as ThankYou Points, which can be redeemed in the following ways:

1. As a statement credit

2. Direct deposit or check

3. Gift cards

4. Shop with Points at Amazon.com

5. For travel, including flights, car rentals, and hotel stays

You can also transfer ThankYou points to one of Citi’s airline or hotel partners, which includes more than a dozen airlines and three hotel chains: Accor, Wyndham, and Choice privileges. This is a benefit that Wells Fargo does not offer.

Wells Fargo allows you to earn a $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in the first three months, compared to Citi Double Cash, which offers $200 back if you spend $1,500 in the first six months. While the bonus is the same, Wells Fargo allows you to earn it faster and has a relatively low spending limit to reach.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card has 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. Alternatively, the Citi Double Cash has a more extended intro APR period (18 months) but only on balance transfers, making Wells Fargo the better option for cardholders looking for a more flexible intro APR offer.

If using the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, balance transfers must be made within 120 days to qualify for the 0% intro rate and intro 3% fee. After that, you will pay up to 5% for each transfer ($5 minimum).

With the Citi Double Cash card, however, you’ll have 0% APR for 18 months with a 3% balance transfer fee ($5 minimum) when completed within the first four months of account opening. After that, the cost will be 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum). The longer 0% intro APR rate makes the Citi Double Cash card a winner for cardholders who need to transfer a balance from another credit card.

Regarding additional credit card perks, the Wells Fargo Active Cash offers cardholders more value. Perks include:

• Cell phone protection (up to $600 against damage or theft; subject to a $25 deductible).
• Auto rental collision damage waiver.
• Travel and emergency assistance services.
• Roadside dispatch.
• 24/7 concierge services providing assistance finding tickets, booking travel, making reservations, and more.
• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection provides premium benefits at select hotels.

The Citi Double Cash offers more limited additional perks, including:

• For a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on select Citi travel bookings.
• Access to Citi Entertainment, which provides access to tickets and experiences.
• Lost wallet services (including replacement card within 24 hours and emergency cash).