We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our
goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you
with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original
and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare
information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with
confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to,
American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and
Discover.
Tim is a freelance personal finance writer and blogger with a particular focus on credit cards and consumer lending. In 2002, he stumbled upon a copy of "The Millionaire Next Door," by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, which ignited a passion for learning and sharing fact-based money principles. Tim has a passion for demystifying personal finance and helping people live their best lives.
Raina is a freelance personal finance writer and editor whose work has appeared in CNET Money, Newsweek Vault, NextAdvisor with TIME (now merged with CNET Money), MarketWatch, Forbes Advisor and more.
The advice in this article is offered by the
team independent of any bank or credit card issuer.
This article may contain
from our partners, and terms may apply to offers linked or accessed through this page.
as of posting date, but offers mentioned may have expired.
The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in
your journey — and make it one
you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros
to data analysts and, most importantly,
people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we
keep close tabs on the credit
card industry year-round to:
Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you
understand your options.
Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make
confident decisions.
Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the
right decision for you.
At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR,
and overall customer experience.
Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of
these levels. At each step of the way,
we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next.
Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first.
Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right
financial decisions.
Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we
have
editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check
editorial
content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our
advertisers and
our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Our recommendations and card ratings are produced independently without influence by advertising
partnerships with issuers.
Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice
to help you
make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content
is not influenced
by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is
thoroughly fact-checked
to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting
credible and
dependable information.
How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master
your money for over four decades.
We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to
succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict
editorial
policy,
so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and
reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial
decisions. The content created by our editorial
staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and
useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison
service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and
services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore,
this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within
listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity
and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary
website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your
self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear
on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not
include information about every financial or credit product or service.
The Citi Double Cash® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited® both offer cash back without an annual fee.
Chase Freedom Unlimited offers boosted rewards in a number of categories, while the Citi Double Cash earns a flat rate on all purchases.
Both cards are great for earning rewards on everyday purchases, but which card is better for you depends on your spending habits.
For those looking to focus on paying down previous balances, Citi Double Cash Card may be a great fit with its intro APR offer.
Citi is an advertising partner.
The Citi Double Cash® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited® both offer simple cash back earning opportunities on all purchases for no annual fee. The Double Cash is a true flat-rate card, meaning you earn the same 2 percent cash back on everything no matter your purchase category. The Freedom Unlimited, on the other hand, offers at least 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase — higher than the typical 1 percent back on bonus category cards — and boosted rewards in some everyday categories.
The best option for you depends on your spending habits.
15-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (18.99% - 28.49% Variable APR thereafter)
Annual fee
$0
$0
Citi Double Cash Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited highlights
Here’s a closer look at the similarities and differences between these two cash back credit cards to help you determine which is a better choice for your lifestyle.
Both the Citi Double Cash and the Chase Freedom Unlimited offer a $200 bonus after meeting spending requirements — a typical bonus for a no-annual-fee credit card. However, the two cards differ in their spending requirements. The Double Cash requires you to spend $1,500 in 6 months to earn the bonus ($250 a month on average) while the Freedom Unlimited requires you to spend only $500 in 3 months ($167 a month on average).
While the actual bonuses for both cards are the same, the Chase Freedom Unlimited’s welcome bonus wins for being easier to obtain.
While the Citi Double Cash’s up 2 percent cash back rewards rate (1 percent as you buy and an additional 1 percent as you pay) is one of the highest you’ll find for flat-rate cards, it’s hard to compete with Freedom Unlimited’s slightly lower 1.5 percent on all purchases combined with its additional everyday bonus categories.
The Freedom Unlimited earns 5 percent back on Chase Travel purchases, 3 percent back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3 percent back on drugstore purchases. The card also earns 2 percent back on eligible Lyft purchases through Sept. 30, 2027.
The Double Cash technically has one bonus category, offering 5% total cash back on car rentals, hotels and attractions purchased through Citi Travel, But, the transactions that fall into that category are relatively limited. By contrast, the Freedom Unlimited’s bonus categories are broader and applicable to a wider audience. For cardholders who spend a lot on dining and drugstores, the Freedom Unlimited’s extra rewards on those purchases can be more rewarding than the Double Cash’s higher base rate on everything else.
Still, the Citi Double Cash is a good choice for cardholders who only want to maximize a flat-rate card or who need a little extra motivation to pay off their credit card bill each month. Remember, you won’t earn the full 2 percent back with the Double Cash Card until you pay for the purchases.
Annual fee winner
Tie
Neither the Citi Double Cash nor Chase Freedom Unlimited charges an annual fee.
Some similar rewards credit cards charge annual fees of around $95 per year while offering decent perks. That’s not the case here; you can try out either card for free and still enjoy a multitude of benefits.
The Freedom Unlimited offers a 0 percent introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (18.99% – 28.49% Variable APR thereafter) with a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% (whichever is greater) in the first 60 days. After that, the balance transfer fee is $5 or 5 percent (whichever is greater).
If you transfer your balances to the Citi Double Cash, you’ll get one of the longest balance transfer offers available on a rewards card: 0 percent intro APR for 18 months (18.24% – 28.24% (Variable) APR thereafter). Keep in mind you’ll also owe a balance transfer fee of 3 percent (for balance transfers made within 4 months of account opening) or 5 percent (for balance transfers made after 4 months), with a $5 minimum for both.
As noted above, the Freedom Unlimited carries a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months (18.99% – 28.49% Variable APR thereafter), while the Citi Double Cash does not offer an intro APR offer on purchases.
Which card earns the most?
To make a decision about which card would allow you to maximize your cash back, it’s best to look at true-to-life scenarios that represent typical spending patterns.
Citi Double Cash vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited spending example
Say you spend the following in your first year of owning the Freedom Unlimited:
$100 a month ($1,200 annually) on flights purchased through Chase Travel
$100 a month ($1,200 annually) on hotels, rental cars and attractions purchased through Chase Travel
$500 a month on dining ($6,000 annually)
$100 a month on drugstore purchases ($1,200 annually)
$100 a month on Lyft purchases ($1,200 annually)
$500 a month on all other purchases ($6,000 annually)
In doing so, you’ll earn about $450 in cash back (in the form of 45,000 Ultimate Rewards points), plus an additional $200 in cash back (20,000 Ultimate Rewards points) from the welcome bonus. That’s $650 (65,000 Ultimate Rewards points) total.
If your total spending and purchase categories remain the same as the above example, but you book the $100 a month ($1,200 a year) of car rentals, hotels and attractions through Citi Travel instead of Chase Travel, you’ll earn $372 in cash back over the year once you’ve paid off your entire balance. Combined with the welcome bonus, that’s $572 total in the first year. Similar to the Chase Freedom Unlimited, the Citi Double Cash’s rewards are in the form of Citi ThankYou points, which can be pooled with a premium Citi card (such as the Citi Strata Premier® Card) to unlock more redemption options and potentially greater value.
Why should you get the Citi Double Cash?
The Citi Double Cash is extra beneficial to those who have debt on other high-interest credit cards and hoping to pay it off with a balance transfer strategy.
The card comes with a generous intro APR offer on balance transfers. Still, you should be prepared to end the debt cycle and pay your balances in full if you want to maximize the card’s up to 2 percent in cash back rewards and enjoy its other perks.
The main appeal of Citi Double Cash is its 2 percent cash back and intro APR offer, but you may qualify for extra Mastercard benefits. Cardholders also get 24/7 customer service, 24-hour fraud protection, and access to exclusive event ticket purchases through Citi Entertainment.
The Citi Double Cash has a few different ways to redeem rewards. You can redeem your points for cash back as a statement credit, direct deposit or check at a value of 1 cent per point. There’s no minimum when redeeming for a statement credit or direct deposit. You can also redeem your points for gift cards, Shop with Points at Amazon, travel and more. The redemption values for those options may vary.
Additionally, the rewards you earn are technically ThankYou points, which you can combine with ThankYou points earned with other Citi cards. Use your points to book travel or transfer them to travel loyalty programs if you have a premium Citi card.
To apply for this card, you should have a good to excellent rating on your credit history (typically a FICO score of 670 or better).
Why should you get the Chase Freedom Unlimited?
One of the reasons cardholders love the Chase Freedom Unlimited is because it offers plenty of benefits alongside a great rewards structure, and gives you access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem with no annual fee.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers six months of complimentary DashPass (giving you $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible DoorDash and Caviar orders). After that, you’ll be automatically enrolled in a paid DashPass subscription at the current monthly rate until you cancel. This benefit must be activated by Dec. 31, 2027. You’ll also get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders while you have an active DashPass membership through Dec. 31, 2027.
Outside of branded partner perks and Visa benefits, the Freedom Unlimited card comes with a rich platter of purchase and travel protections. These include purchase protection against damage and theft, extended warranty protection, auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and more.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited lets you redeem your points for cash back (via statement credit or direct deposit) with no minimum, gift cards, travel booked through Chase Travel or shopping with Amazon. Cash back is worth 1 cent per point, while the values of other redemption options may vary. Chase points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
If you already have the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve in your wallet, remember you can boost your rewards by combining them under those cards. That also opens the door so you can transfer your points to one of Chase’s many travel partners or receive a value boost on select redemptions through Chase Travel.
To qualify for the Freedom Unlimited, it’s best to have a good to excellent credit score of 670-850 (FICO).
The bottom line
The choice of which card is best for you – the Citi Double Cash or Chase Freedom Unlimited – may come down to your overall rewards strategy. Can you maximize the Freedom Unlimited’s bonus categories, or would you benefit from the Double Cash’s higher flat rate on all purchases? Do you want to earn rewards in the Ultimate Rewards or ThankYou points ecosystem?
Another consideration is whether you need the lengthier promotional balance transfer period offered by the Double Cash card, or if you prefer the Freedom Unlimited’s shorter 0% APR period that applies to new purchases as well as balance transfers.
In terms of rewards and card benefits, the Freedom Unlimited will likely offer more long-term value than the Citi Double Cash for most people. But, if you’d rather have an uncomplicated cash rewards card with an impressive overall cash back rate and no categories to deal with, the Citi Double Cash may be worth it for you. Or, you can get both cards and pair them together for maximum rewards by using the Freedom Unlimited exclusively for purchases in its bonus categories and the Double Cash for everything else.
Did you find this page helpful?
Why we ask for feedback
Your feedback helps us improve our content and services. It takes less than a minute to
complete.
Your responses are anonymous and will only be used for improving our website.
Help us improve our content
Thank you for your
feedback!
Your input helps us improve our
content and services.
Quick citation guide
Select a citation to automatically copy to clipboard.
APA:
Maxwell, T. (2025, September 03). Citi Double Cash Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited. Bankrate. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from https://venture-ascend.live/credit-cards/reviews/citi-double-cash-card-vs-chase-freedom-unlimited/
Copied to clipboard!
MLA:
Maxwell, Tim. "Citi Double Cash Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited." Bankrate. 03 September 2025, https://venture-ascend.live/credit-cards/reviews/citi-double-cash-card-vs-chase-freedom-unlimited/.
Copied to clipboard!
Chicago:
Maxwell, Tim. "Citi Double Cash Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited." Bankrate. September 03, 2025. https://venture-ascend.live/credit-cards/reviews/citi-double-cash-card-vs-chase-freedom-unlimited/.
