Citi® Double Cash Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

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Two popular cards in the 2% cash back world are the Citi^® Double Cash Card and the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. Both offer 2% cash back on every eligible purchase, and neither of them have an annual fee. Here’s our comparison to help you decide which card (or both!) is best for you.

Citi Double Cash Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Welcome Offer

The Citi^® Double Cash Card has this welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of your Citi Double Cash® card account opening. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has this welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Both cards offer the exact same amount of cash; the only difference is in how much you have to spend and how long you have to spend it. Percentage-wise, the Active Cash card is the better deal.

Cash Back Rewards

The Citi^® Double Cash Card  pays 2% cash back, but it’s split: you’ll earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase and an additional 1% when you pay the bill. The Wells Fargo card is more straightforward: 2% cash back on all eligible purchases.

Here are the details.

Citi^® Double Cash Card 

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Rates and Fees

Both cards offer a 0% introductory APR. However, the Citi® Card offers 0% for 18 months on balance transfers only. The Active Cash Card offers 0% for purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from account opening months after account opening. After the introductory period is over, both cards have similar APRs.

If you want to transfer a balance, the Citi® Double Cash Card offers a longer 0% introductory APR for balance transfers. But if you’re looking to make a big purchase and pay it off over a few months, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is the better option.

Both cards charge foreign transaction fees, so neither is a good option if you’re traveling internationally.

Who the Citi^® Double Cash Card is Best For

Since you get 1% cash back when you make a purchase and 1% cash back when you pay the bill, the Citi^® Double Cash Card is best for those who pay their bills in full every month. This card has simple rewards, so for those who don’t want to figure out rotating categories or caps, this card is a great option for everyday purchases. It’s also best if you need to pay off a high-interest credit card. You can transfer your balance to the Citi® Double Cash Card and pay it off within 18 months.

Who the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card  is Best For

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a great card that also has a simple rewards structure. If you’re looking to make a large purchase, the 0% introductory rate on purchases for 12 months from account opening months is a great deal, especially for a card with no annual fee. You can get 0% on balance transfers as well, so if you do carry a balance or want to pay off higher-interest credit cards, this card is a good choice. And one feature of the Wells Fargo card is that it offers cell phone protection, which is a nice benefit that’s becoming harder to find.

Does it make sense to get both cards?

Maybe. They both offer similar cash back rewards, but since there’s no annual fee for either card, you could get both. You can use the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card  to get the welcome bonus and to make a large purchase and use the Citi^® Double Cash Card  for a balance transfer. Both cards have unlimited rewards, but if you want to maximize your rewards, there are other cards that might suit you better.

Approval Odds

Both cards require excellent credit.

The credit score data provided for some of the cards listed below came from publicly available information in a number of forums. The accuracy of the information cannot be verified. Keep in mind that credit card issuers consider more than an applicant’s credit score and that underwriting standards change over time.

Approval Odds

Citi^® Double Cash Card 

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card 

Wells Fargo might be a little less conservative than Citi. In the data above, we do see more denials from the Citi® Double Cash Card. While both cards are excellent options, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a bit more. You can get a welcome bonus and 0% intro APR on purchases. But if you need an everyday credit card with a long 0% intro APR balance transfer period, the Citi^® Double Cash Card may be the better choice for you.