Citi Double Cash earns 2% on every purchase (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay), with no annual fee. Amex Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% at U.S. supermarkets, online retail, and gas stations (each capped at $6K/year) — also no annual fee. Pick Double Cash if your spending is diverse with no dominant category. Pick Blue Cash Everyday if supermarket and online retail spending regularly exceeds $500/month. Source: citi.com, americanexpress.com, Q2 2026.
Citi
Best no-annual-fee flat-rate cash-back card.
Pros
American Express
No-annual-fee cash back on U.S. supermarkets, online retail, and gas.
Pros
| Spec | Citi Double Cash Card | Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express |
|---|---|---|
| Origination fee | $0 | $0 |
| Best for | Cardholders who want 2% back on everything with zero annual fee and no categories to track. | Grocery and online shoppers who want solid cash back with no annual fee. |
◈ marks the stronger option for that row.
Pick Citi Double Cash Card if: Cardholders who want 2% back on everything with zero annual fee and no categories to track.
Pick Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express if: Grocery and online shoppers who want solid cash back with no annual fee.
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See all picks, methodology, and side-by-side comparison in Best Personal Credit Cards 2026.
On its own, no — Citi Double Cash earns ThankYou Points (at the 2% rate) redeemable at 1 cent each for cash back or gift cards. However, if you also hold a Citi Strata Premier card, you can combine your ThankYou balances and transfer to 15+ airline and hotel partners. Without a companion card, Double Cash is a cash-back card. Verify current redemption options at citi.com.
Blue Cash Everyday wins for grocery. On $500/month at U.S. supermarkets, BCE earns $180/year vs Double Cash's $120/year — a $60 annual advantage, and both cards are free. Double Cash wins if your grocery spend is under ~$250/month (below which the flat 2% on total spend across all categories outperforms BCE's concentrated grocery rate) or if your spending is too diverse to benefit from BCE's three 3% categories.
Citi Double Cash has periodically offered a sign-up bonus for new cardholders — typically a cash back offer after meeting a minimum spending threshold. Historically, the bonus has been more modest than premium rewards cards given the card's strong ongoing 2% earn rate. Whether a bonus is currently available depends on the active offer at the time of application; Citi updates promotions regularly. Verify the current sign-up offer at citi.com. (Verify current terms/offers at citi.com)
Citi Double Cash charges no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid flat-rate card for international purchases. Amex Blue Cash Everyday also charges no foreign transaction fees on international purchases. Both cards earn their standard rates on foreign purchases with no surcharge. Note that Amex acceptance internationally is narrower than Visa/Mastercard in some markets — Blue Cash Everyday is a Mastercard in some versions but confirm your card network at americanexpress.com. Source: citi.com, americanexpress.com. (Verify current terms/offers at each issuer)
Amex Blue Cash Everyday wins at the pump. BCE earns 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (up to $6,000/year in that category, then 1%). Citi Double Cash earns 2% on gas (flat rate — 1% at purchase, 1% when you pay). On $200/month in gas, BCE earns $72/year vs Double Cash's $48/year — a $24 annual advantage at no annual fee for either card. If gas is a meaningful monthly spend, BCE's dedicated 3% category outperforms Double Cash's flat rate. Verify current category definitions at americanexpress.com.
Amex Blue Cash Everyday includes purchase protection against accidental damage or theft for eligible items within a limited period after purchase, plus extended warranty protection that can add up to one additional year on eligible manufacturer warranties. Citi Double Cash's purchase protection and extended warranty benefits have changed over time — Citi has scaled back certain benefits on some cards. Verify the current benefit guide for each card at citi.com and americanexpress.com before relying on card protections for a specific purchase. (Verify current terms/offers at americanexpress.com and citi.com)
Both cards have offered welcome bonuses periodically, though neither card consistently leads with a large signup offer given their strong ongoing earn rates. Citi Double Cash has offered cash back or ThankYou Point bonuses after a minimum spend threshold. Amex Blue Cash Everyday has offered statement credit bonuses for new applicants. Welcome bonus amounts change frequently — verify the current offers at citi.com and americanexpress.com at the time of application rather than relying on historical amounts. (Verify current terms/offers at each issuer)
Amex Blue Cash Everyday has offered a 0% intro APR on purchases for a promotional period (typically 15 months) for new cardholders — after which a variable APR applies. Citi Double Cash has offered 0% intro APR on balance transfers (not always purchases) for a promotional period. These offers change; verify current intro APR promotions at americanexpress.com and citi.com before applying. The BCE intro APR can make it useful for financing a large planned purchase (home goods, back-to-school) paid off over the promotional window. (Verify current terms/offers at each issuer)
Citi Double Cash earns ThankYou Points (at 2% — 1 point per dollar when you buy, 1 per dollar when you pay). On its own, these points cannot transfer to airline or hotel loyalty programs — they redeem at 1 cent per point for cash back or statement credits. However, if you also hold a Citi Strata Premier or Citi Prestige card in the same ThankYou account, you can combine balances and transfer to 15+ airline and hotel partners including Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, and Wyndham Rewards. Without a companion card, Double Cash is effectively a 2% cash-back card. Source: citi.com.
Amex Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000/year in that category, then 1%) — making it one of the few no-fee cards with a dedicated online retail bonus. This includes Amazon.com purchases. Citi Double Cash earns 2% on all purchases including Amazon — its flat rate applies without category restrictions or caps. For cardholders who spend heavily on Amazon or other online retail, BCE's 3% on up to $6,000/year outperforms Double Cash's 2%. Above $6,000/year in online retail, BCE reverts to 1% and Double Cash's 2% wins. Source: americanexpress.com. (Verify current terms/offers at each issuer)
Independent editorial comparison. ClearValue Lending is not the issuer of any product compared here; affiliate links may pay a referral commission at no cost to you — selection is independent of compensation.