Apple Card vs Citi Double Cash Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Apple Card leads on everyday spending; the Citi Double Cash Card on hotels.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Apple CardGoldman Sachs · No annual fee
Citi Double Cash CardCiti · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Apple Card$0Citi Double Cash Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Apple Card—Citi Double Cash Card$200 cash back
- Rewards
- Apple CardCash backCiti Double Cash CardCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Apple CardNoneLowestCiti Double Cash Card3%
- Network
- Apple CardMastercardCiti Double Cash CardMastercard
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Everything else
- Apple Card1%Citi Double Cash Card2%Highest
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Apple Card
- Extra 2% Booking.com Travel Credits · $2 per transaction
Citi Double Cash Card— - Rideshare & transit
- Apple Card
- $60 Uber One trial · $60 one-time
Citi Double Cash Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Car rental
- Apple Card
- 5%+ off Hertz rentals + perks
Citi Double Cash Card— - Other perks
- Apple Card
- Share card with family and teens
- Interest-free payments on Apple gear
- Color-coded spending insights
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
- Purchase & returns
- Apple Card
- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
- No fees on international purchases
- Biometric security on every purchase
Citi Double Cash Card- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
- Extended warranty
- Apple Card—Citi Double Cash Card
- Extended warranty (secondary coverage)
- Other protections
- Apple Card
- No late fees or penalty APR
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
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
- Apple Card
- No annual fee, no late fees, and no penalty APR
- Daily Cash deposited immediately rather than monthly
- 3% back at Apple and select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, Nike, etc.)
- 2% back on all Apple Pay purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
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
- Apple Card
- Only 1% back when using physical card (non-Apple Pay)
- Requires iPhone to apply and manage the card
- No sign-up bonus
- No travel-related benefits or protections
- Limited 3% merchant list compared to category cards
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
Category-by-Category Winner
The Citi Double Cash Card wins in 4 of 4 categories. The Apple Card leads in 0.
Hotels
Citi Double Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal
Car Rentals
Citi Double Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal
Attractions
Citi Double Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal
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).
| Scenario | Apple Card | Citi Double Cash Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $35 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $155 Year one: $185 | Rewards: $384 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $384 Year one: $584 | Citi Double Cash Card | Citi Double Cash Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $35 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $515 Year one: $545 | Rewards: $1,536 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,536 Year one: $1,736 | Citi Double Cash Card | Citi Double Cash Card |
Which Card Is Right for You?
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 Apple Card 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.
- What benefits does the Apple Card have that the Citi Double Cash Card doesn't?
- The Apple Card offers travel credits. The Citi Double Cash Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
- Should I get the Apple Card 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.