Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express vs Citi Double Cash Card

Both cards cost $0/yr. The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express leads on gas stations; the Citi Double Cash Card on hotels.

Card data as of October 12, 2026.

Overview

Annual fee
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$0
Citi Double Cash Card
$0
Welcome offerCurrent public offer
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
As high as $200 cash back — offers vary
Citi Double Cash Card
$200 cash back
Rewards
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Cash back
Citi Double Cash Card
Cash back
Foreign transaction fee
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
2.7%
Lowest
Citi Double Cash Card
3%
Network
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
American Express
Citi Double Cash Card
Mastercard

Earn ratesPer $1 spent

Gas Stations
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
3%
Highest
Citi Double Cash Card
2%
Grocery Stores
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
3%
Highest
Citi Double Cash Card
2%
Online Shopping
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
3%
Highest
Citi Double Cash Card
2%
Department Stores
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
2%
Citi Double Cash Card
2%
Everything else
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
1%
Citi Double Cash Card
2%
Highest

Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record

Entertainment & streaming
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • $7/mo Disney+ · $7 monthly
Citi Double Cash Card
—

Perks & access— means none on record

Other perks
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • Amex Offers
  • Early access to concerts and events
  • 24/7 global travel assistance
Citi Double Cash Card
  • Early access to concerts, sports, and theater tickets
  • Tap to pay with contactless and digital wallets
  • Pay no interest on balance transfers for 18 months
  • No annual fee ever on this card

Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record

Rental car
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Citi Double Cash Card
—
Purchase & returns
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • Up to $1,000 per item against damage or theft
Citi Double Cash Card
  • Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
Extended warranty
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
—
Citi Double Cash Card
  • Extended warranty (secondary coverage)
Other protections
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Citi Double Cash Card
  • Check your FICO score free every month
  • 24/7 fraud monitoring with zero liability protection
  • Free help resolving identity theft issues
  • Quick card replacement if your wallet is lost or stolen
  • Free identity monitoring service from Mastercard network
  • Create virtual card numbers for safer online shopping
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  • 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide

Pros & cons

Pros
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • No annual fee with solid category rewards
  • 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000/year ($180 max annual value)
  • Up to $84/year Disney Bundle credit for streaming subscriptions
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (3 months longer than Preferred)
  • As high as $200 cash back welcome offer after $2,000 spend in 6 months (offers vary)
Citi Double Cash Card
  • 2% flat rate on all purchases with no caps
  • No annual fee
  • 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers
  • Simple earning structure - no tracking categories
  • Points can combine with other Citi ThankYou cards
Cons
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • 3% grocery rate is half of Blue Cash Preferred's 6%
  • 2.7% foreign transaction fee makes it unsuitable for travel
  • 3% rates on gas and online retail are capped at $6,000/year each
  • 1% back on non-category purchases is below average
  • $6,000 annual cap on grocery bonus limits heavy spenders
Citi Double Cash Card
  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • Must pay bill to earn second 1% cash back
  • No travel insurance or trip protection
  • Relatively modest $200 welcome bonus
  • No bonus categories for high spenders
Add a 3rd or 4th card to this comparison →

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Double Cash Card wins in 4 of 4 categories. The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express leads in 0. 3 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.

?

Gas Stations

Depends: up to $6,000/yr

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Citi Double Cash Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)

?

Grocery Stores

Depends: up to $6,000/yr

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Citi Double Cash Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)

?

Online Shopping

Depends: up to $6,000/yr

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Citi Double Cash Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)

W

Hotels

Citi Double Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

5X via issuer travel portal

W

Car Rentals

Citi Double Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

5X via issuer travel portal

W

Attractions

Citi Double Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

5X via issuer travel portal

W

Everyday purchases

Citi Double Cash Card earns 2X on all other spending vs 1X

Year One vs Ongoing Value

Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.

Both scenarios favor the Citi Double Cash Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).

ScenarioBlue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressCiti Double Cash CardOngoing winnerYear-one winner
Light spender: $1,000/month
Rewards: $120
Credits (our usable estimate): $42
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $162
Year one: $162
Rewards: $384
Credits (our usable estimate): $0
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $384
Year one: $584
Citi Double Cash CardCiti Double Cash Card
Heavy spender: $4,000/month
Rewards: $480
Credits (our usable estimate): $42
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $522
Year one: $522
Rewards: $1,536
Credits (our usable estimate): $0
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $1,536
Year one: $1,736
Citi Double Cash CardCiti Double Cash Card

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express if you:

  • +Do most of your spending at grocery stores

Get the Citi Double Cash Card if you:

  • +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending

The Bottom Line

Both scenarios favor the Citi Double Cash Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).

Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 2X on the Citi Double Cash Card vs 1X on the other card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card earns more rewards, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express or Citi Double Cash Card?
The Citi Double Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
Should I get the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express or the Citi Double Cash Card?
Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.