Citi Simplicity^® Card vs. Citi Double Cash^® Card: Balance Transfer, Cash Back, or Both?

These two Citi cards are both good options, but one comes out ahead. (Citi is a FinanceBuzz partner.)

By Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®
and Lisa Dammeyer

Edited by Jess Ullrich

Updated Sept. 13, 2024

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4.5

4.8

Our view

The Citi Simplicity^® Card(Rates and fees) and the Citi Double Cash^® Card(Rates and fees) are similar in that they are both Citi cards with long intro APR balance transfer offers. But the similarities mostly stop there.

I personally prefer the Citi Double Cash due to its cashback rewards and long intro APR balance transfer offer. Its rewards rate is very competitive, and it has several redemption options, which I always look for in a cash back card.

With that said, if your main goal is paying off debt and you want a balance transfer credit card with an introductory APR offer for purchases too, the Citi Simplicity may be a good choice for you.

How we evaluate products

Citi Simplicity vs. Citi Double Cash

	Citi Simplicity^® Card(Rates and fees)	Citi Double Cash^® Card(Rates and fees)
FinanceBuzz star rating	4.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
FinanceBuzz Year 1/Year 2 values¹	Year 1: $0 Year 2: $0	Year 1: $950 Year 2: $750
Annual fee	$0	$0
Welcome bonus	Long introductory APR period on balance transfers	Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back
Intro APR	0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, then 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable) 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)	0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Balance transfer fee	3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends	3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends
Earning rate		2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24
Other benefits	Citi Identity Theft Solutions Digital wallet technology No late fees	Citi Entertainment Citi Identity Theft Solutions Digital wallet technology
Foreign transaction fee	3%	3%
Credit needed	Excellent, Good	Excellent, Good, Fair
	Apply now	Apply now

What both cards excel at

Both the Citi Simplicity and Citi Double Cash were created with a particular consumer in mind, so you aren’t going to see too much overlap in their strengths. Still, they do have a few shared benefits that offer value to cardholders.

No annual fees

The Citi Simplicity has a $0 annual fee and the Double Cash has a $0 annual fee.

Introductory APR balance transfer offers

Both cards come with introductory APR balance transfer offers. If you have debt that’s accruing interest, you might consider a balance transfer credit card with no annual fees to help you pay it off.

When you have a card with a high interest rate, a big portion of your monthly payment goes toward interest instead of paying your balance down. With a balance transfer, you can move your debt to a card with a 0% intro APR offer for a set time period. During that period, since you're not accumulating interest, all of your monthly payment can go toward paying off your balance.

This is often a smart way to get out of debt faster. For more information, check out our list of the best balance transfer cards.

Security solutions

You also have Citi Identity Theft Solutions and digital wallet technology on both cards. Digital wallets allow you to get through the checkout process faster and help protect you from identity theft because you don’t physically use your credit card. If there is an issue with identity theft, Citi Identity Theft Solutions can help resolve the matter.

Citi Entertainment access

When you have a Citi card, you also have the ability to use Citi Entertainment. With Citi Entertainment, you can get special access to purchase tickets to premiere events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences, and more.

How are these cards different?

For the most part, each of these cards will appeal to different consumers. Take a close look at the differences between them to see which one might be more beneficial for you.

Citi Double Cash earns rewards

One of the biggest differences between these cards is that the Citi Double Cash is a cash back card, offering 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. This makes the Double Cash much more appealing to me than the Simplicity.

I also appreciate that you have multiple redemption options with the Double Cash card. You can redeem your rewards for statement credit, a direct deposit into an account of your choice, or as a check that’s mailed to you. You can also convert your cashback rewards into Citi ThankYou points.

Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed in multiple ways. You can use them to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more through the Citi Travel Center. If you want to use your points to book a flight on an airline directly, consider booking with Citi’s transfer partners. You can transfer your ThankYou points to more than a dozen partners, including Air France, JetBlue, and Virgin Atlantic. You can also redeem them for gift cards. And, if you’re enrolled in a Citi checking account, you can use your points to pay certain bills.

The Citi Simplicity is not a rewards credit card, so the Citi Double Cash is a much better option if, like me, you’re more interested in a card that offers cash back.

Citi Simplicity is the better 0% intro APR card

Both the Citi Simplicity and Citi Double Cash have 0% intro APR benefits. The Citi Simplicity offers 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers (then 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable) APR), and the Citi Double Cash offers 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR).

The 0% intro APR period is lengthy on both cards, so if you need a credit card with a long balance transfer period, either of these two cards would be ideal options. But, the Simplicity does offer more time to pay off debt before interest kicks in.

If you need a credit card with a 0% intro APR period on purchases, the Citi Simplicity is the better option. The Citi Double Cash does not offer a 0% intro APR on purchases. The Citi Simplicity offers 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases (then 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable) APR). If you have upcoming purchases you want to avoid accruing interest on, the Citi Simplicity could be the card for you.

Reduced fees with the Citi Simplicity

When comparing any two credit cards, I always make sure to take a close look at the fees that come attached. The Citi Simplicity has a $0 annual fee and the Double Cash has a $0 annual fee, and they both have foreign transaction fees:

Citi Simplicity^® Card foreign transaction fee: 3%
Citi Double Cash^® Card foreign transaction fee: 3%

This means an additional fee will be added to any purchase made with either of these credit cards when traveling abroad. I would take note of this and keep in mind that neither of these cards are best for travel.

They may not be the best travel credit cards, but they are among the best credit cards when it comes to balance transfers. Keep in mind that balance transfers will often have a fee attached, called a balance transfer fee. This fee can either be a flat amount or a percentage of the amount being transferred. In the case of the Citi Simplicity, the balance transfer fee is 3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends. For the Citi Double Cash, you'll also pay 3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends.

The Citi Simplicity also offers an added benefit: no late fees and no penalty rates, so if you accidentally miss a payment, you don't need to worry about extra costs. This is a perk that the Citi Double Cash doesn't provide.

Which Citi card should you choose?

When you should choose Citi Simplicity

You want a long intro APR offer on balance transfers
You want an intro APR offer on purchases

Learn more in our Citi Simplicity review.

When you should choose Citi Double Cash

You want a long intro APR offer on balance transfers
You want to earn cashback rewards

Learn more in our Citi Double Cash review.

FAQ

What credit score do you need for Citi Simplicity?

To qualify for the Citi Simplicity, you’ll likely need a good or excellent credit score. FICO states that a good credit score starts off at 670. Your credit score and overall creditworthiness are affected by factors such as total debt, late payments, age of accounts, and more.

Is Citi Simplicity a good card?

It depends on your situation. If you need a balance transfer credit card with an intro APR offer, the Citi Simplicity is one of the best available. This card offers 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers (then 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)). If you want a cashback rewards credit card, the Citi Double Cash could be a better option.

Is the Citi Double Cash hard to get?

To qualify for the Citi Double Cash, you’ll likely need a fair, good, or excellent credit score. FICO states that a fair credit score starts off at 580. Your credit score and overall creditworthiness are affected by factors such as total debt, late payments, age of accounts, and more.

How does the Citi Double Cash work?

With the Citi Double Cash, you’ll earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. There’s no limit on the cash back you can earn, and it can be redeemed for statement credits, a direct deposit into an account you choose, or as a check that’s mailed to you. You can also convert cashback rewards into Citi ThankYou points.

Bottom line

The Citi Double Cash is a cash back card, while the Citi Simplicity is a 0% intro APR card. They have a few overlapping features and benefits, but they’re mostly designed for different purposes.

If you want to earn cash back with a simple rewards rate, consider the Citi Double Cash^® Card (Rates and fees). To me, this is a much more appealing option than a card that offers no rewards, like the Citi Simplicity. Plus, you can take advantage of an intro APR offer on balance transfers and a $0 annual fee.

If you want multiple intro APR offers and a $0 annual fee, the Citi Simplicity^® Card (Rates and fees) is probably better for you. But keep in mind that you won’t have any opportunities to earn rewards with this card.

No annual fee & 0% Intro APR