Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. Citi Double Cash: Which 2% Cash Back Card Reigns Supreme?

• Written by Jasmin Baron
  

  Jasmin Baron

  Credit Cards, Travel Rewards, Loyalty Programs, Family Travel, Credit Building, Credit Scores

  Jasmin Baron is CardCritics’ senior SEO editor, responsible for editing and writing credit cards, travel rewards, loyalty program, and other credit-related content. She is passionate about personal finance education and enjoys sharing tips and tricks for making the most credit card points and miles with her readers. Her expertise in maximizing credit card travel rewards originated from over two decades of aviation industry experience, including 18 years working as a pilot and college professor/flight instructor in her native Canada. Her work has appeared on sites such as CNN Underscored Money, Business Insider, The Points Guy, and point.me. When she’s not planning her next trip with credit card rewards, you’ll probably find her tinkering around in the kitchen, hanging out with her three kids, or playing with her dog, Benji.

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• Edited by Emily Gadd
  

  Emily Gadd

  Credit Cards, Personal Finance, Health & Wellness

  Emily Gadd is an SEO editor, responsible for writing about personal finance and credit cards. She got her start writing and editing at Healthline. She is passionate about creating educational content that makes complex topics accessible. Emily lives in Seattle with her husband and two cats.

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• Last Updated Aug 19, 2025

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and Citi Double Cash® Card, an advertising partner, are considered two of the best cash-back credit cards, which means every time a cardholder makes a purchase, they’ll earn rewards back. For these credit cards, the earning rate is effectively the same, and neither has an annual fee. However, the way the rewards are awarded and redeemed, the card benefits available and the annual percentage rates (APRs) are different. 

We’ll help you decide which card is a better fit for your lifestyle.

How the Cards Compare: Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. Citi Double Cash

Side By Side Comparison

Welcome Bonuses

Not all credit cards have welcome offers, but both the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card and the Citi Double Cash Card do, albeit with different minimum spending requirements. Additionally, Wells Fargo credits the bonus as cash rewards, whereas Citi awards the bonus as ThankYou® Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash back as well as toward travel, gift cards and more. 

Wells Fargo Active Cash Welcome Bonus 

The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers a $200 welcome bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening. However, not all purchases or transactions apply to this offer, including money orders, P2P payments, prepaid gift cards and gambling transactions. 

Cardholders can expect to have access to the $200 welcome bonus within one to two billing periods after it’s earned. 

Citi Double Cash Welcome Bonus 

The Citi Double Cash Card offers new cardholders a similar welcome bonus: Earn $200 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. Certain transactions or purchases, including balance transfers, money orders and lottery tickets, don’t apply. 

Bonus points may take one to two billing cycles to credit after meeting requirements. 

CardCritics™ Opinion 

Although the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card and Citi Double Cash Card cards have similar welcome bonuses, the Active Cash Card has the better offer. In fact, I consider it one of the best Wells Fargo cards because of this. Cardholders only have to spend $500, versus the $1,500 spend the Citi Double Cash Card requires. 

I was able to meet the bonus requirements during the first week after I received my Active Cash Card, and my bonus was credited within the next couple of billing cycles. Keep in mind, however, that the period to meet the Citi Double Cash card’s minimum spending requirement is twice as long.

Earning Rewards 

Both the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card and Citi Double Cash Card allow new cardholders to earn cash rewards. Here’s a breakdown of each credit card’s reward program. 

How To Earn Rewards With Wells Fargo Active Cash 

Earning cash rewards with the Active Cash Card couldn’t be more simple: The unlimited card earns 2% cash rewards on all purchases, so no planning ahead or activating categories is needed. Instead, cardholders can swipe and earn with every purchase.

How To Earn Rewards With Citi Double Cash 

Racking up Double Cash Card rewards is also relatively easy, and many consider this card to be one of the best Citi credit cards. Cardholders earn 2% unlimited cash back, in the form of ThankYou points — 1% (1 point per dollar) when they make a purchase, and 1% when they pay it off. 

Also, cardholders can earn a total of 5% cash back when they book hotels, car rentals and attractions through the Citi Travel Portal.

CardCritics™ Opinion 

Depending on the cardholder’s payment habits, the Active Cash Card may be the better deal. It features an unlimited 2% cash rewards rate with no hoops to jump through.

The Citi Double Cash Card offers the same unlimited 2% cash back rate, but it’s credited in stages: 1 point per dollar when purchasing and 1 point per dollar when purchases are paid off. Those who make a habit of carrying a balance will only earn the additional 1% rewards on the portion of the balance they pay off — not the full 2% for purchases like the Active Cash Card offers. 

For those who don’t make a habit of carrying a balance, it becomes easier to earn 2% rewards with the Double Cash Card. Also, cardholders can earn 5x ThankYou points (5% cash back) on eligible travel purchases via the Citi Travel Portal, excluding flights, which is a perk that the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card does not offer. 

Redeeming Rewards 

Cardholders who are planning to use either of these cards as a catch-all rewards card should compare their redemption processes as a deciding factor. Here’s how to redeem cash back and other helpful information for both options.

How To Redeem Rewards With Wells Fargo Active Cash 

Wells Fargo allows you to redeem cash rewards online, by phone, at a Wells Fargo ATM or at participating merchants. Cardholders can also set up automatic redemptions in limited amounts. 

I have only redeemed my rewards for cash and applied them as a statement credit to my Active Cash Card account or transferred them to my Wells Fargo banking account. I was able to choose the amount I wanted to redeem — up to my full rewards balance. 

The Active Cash Card also offers other ways to redeem rewards: 

• Redeem any amount earned for cash as a statement credit or transfer to a Wells Fargo bank account 
• Redeem for cash as a paper check ($25) or at an ATM ($20) in limited amounts
• Make charitable donations
• Redeem for merchandise (manufacturer-direct products from top brands like Apple)
• Pay with rewards at participating merchants
• Redeem for gift cards
• Redeem for travel, including airline tickets
• Transfer them to another rewards account or gift the rewards

How To Redeem Rewards With Citi Double Cash 

Citi allows cardholders to redeem rewards online and by phone in a variety of ways. However, it does not allow for automatic redemptions — all redemptions are manual. Additionally, cardholders can’t withdraw rewards from a Citi ATM. 

Here are the redemption options Citi offers: 

• Cash back as a statement credit, direct deposit or paper check
• Travel, including flights
• Transfer points to most Citi transfer partners, except American Airlines
• Online and in-store with participating merchants, like Amazon and Walgreens, using the Shop with Points program
• Charitable donations
• Gift cards

CardCritics™ Opinion 

Both Wells Fargo and Citi offer a variety of ways to redeem rewards. However, the Double Cash Card generally has better redemption options than the Active Cash Card because it offers the ability to transfer points to Citi’s airline and hotel partners. That said, with the Active Cash Card, you can set up automatic redemptions. It also allows cardholders to withdraw $20 cash rewards from Wells Fargo ATMs, whereas Citi does not offer this redemption method. 

Card Benefits 

Besides knowing a credit card’s rewards structure, it can be helpful for cardholders to review a card’s benefits before making a decision. Credit card perks can provide more value for the cardholder and include things like travel insurance, emergency cash disbursement and zero liability protection. 

Wells Fargo Active Cash Benefits 

The Active Cash Card has a variety of benefits, including the following:

• Cell phone protection: Up to $600 of cell phone protection in the event of theft or damage, with a $25 deductible when you use the card to pay your monthly wireless bill.
• Car rental insurance: Use the Active Cash Card to pay for your car rental, and decline the rental company’s collision loss/damage insurance, and you can get reimbursed for covered damage or theft that occurs.
• Travel and emergency assistance services: Access a worldwide emergency assistance hotline while traveling for help with things like translation services, prescriptions, medical referrals and emergency transportation (all costs are the responsibility of the cardholder).
• Roadside dispatch: For a set price per service call, access services like towing, tire changing and fuel delivery with no membership required.
• Emergency cash disbursement and card replacement: Cardholders can get an emergency cash advance or a card replacement within one to three business days after approval. I damaged my card and received a replacement within a couple of days after calling in. 
• My Wells Fargo Deals: Personalized deals from a wide range of merchants.
• Zero liability protection: As long as unauthorized charges are reported promptly, cardholders will have zero liability for them.
• Credit Close-Up: Complimentary FICO score updates and personalized credit insights for cardholders.

Citi Double Cash Benefits 

The Citi Double Cash Card is lighter on benefits, but it does have a few useful features. Available perks include: 

• Extended warranty: This may double the time period of the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items purchased with your card, up to a maximum of 24 months following the original warranty’s expiration.
• Zero liability protection: Cardholders are protected against unauthorized charges on their account.
• Citi Entertainment: Access to exclusive experiences and presale tickets for concerts and events.
• Citi Merchant Offers: Cardholders can activate deals at participating merchants and save money when they make eligible purchases.
• Free FICO score: Keep tabs on your credit with monthly FICO score updates at no charge. 

CardCritics™ Opinion 

The Active Cash Card offers more benefits than the Double Cash Card, some of which might be important to people comparing the two cards. For instance, cardholders who are counting on their credit card to protect them if their cell phone is damaged or stolen, or if they have an accident while renting a car, might be better off with the Active Cash Card. 

Fees and Costs 

The fees and other costs associated with using a credit card are also an important consideration because they can add to the overall cost or offer savings. 

For example, a card that offers a 0% introductory APR might give a cardholder time to make a larger purchase or balance transfer and pay it off without interest. I did a balance transfer of $1,000 when I first opened my Active Cash Card and was able to pay it off before the introductory period ended, which saved me from paying additional interest.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Fees and Costs 

Here’s a breakdown of the fees and costs associated with the Active Cash Card:

• Annual fee: $0
• Late payment fee: Up to $40
• Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction converted to US dollars
• Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR 
• Balance transfer fee: Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening (after that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5)
• Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater

Citi Double Cash Fees and Costs 

Here’s a breakdown of the fees and costs associated with the Citi Double Cash Card:

• Annual fee: $0
• Late payment fee: Up to $41
• Returned payment fee: Up to $41
• Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in US dollars
• Intro APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable). A 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases. 
• Balance transfer fee: Introductory fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, for transfers made within four months of account opening (after that, $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater)
• Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

CardCritics™ Opinion 

Neither card has an annual fee, and other fees are similar between the two cards. However, cardholders who are interested in a card that offers a 0% introductory rate for purchases and balance transfers will want to consider the Active Cash Card. The Double Cash Card doesn’t offer an introductory rate on purchases — only balance transfers.

However, cardholders who are only interested in an introductory rate for balance transfers will want to seriously consider the Double Cash Card, which has a longer introductory period.

How To Choose Between Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. Citi Double Cash 

When choosing between the Citi Double Cash Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, it depends on what’s important to the applicant. 

Here is a breakdown of the key factors to consider:

• Welcome bonus terms: The Active Cash Card has a $500 minimum spending requirement over three months versus the Double Cash Card’s $1,500 over six months.
• Rewards rate: Unlimited 2% on everything, but Wells Fargo offers the full 2% cash rewards upon purchase, whereas Citi splits the reward equally between purchase and payment, plus it offers 5% on eligible travel via the Citi Travel Portal.
• Rewards redemption: Wells Fargo allows cardholders to set up automatic redemptions and withdraw rewards in $20 increments from its ATMs, while Citi offers neither. However, Citi allows points transfers to airline and hotel partners, which can boost the value of rewards.
• Intro APR: Wells Fargo offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR. Citi offers a 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers (then a 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)), but no introductory APR for purchases. 
• Benefits: The Active Cash Card offers more benefits than the Double Cash Card does, including cell phone protection and rental car insurance. 

Citi comes out ahead regarding the length of its balance transfer offer, slightly lower regular APR and added 5% rewards rate for travel purchases via the Citi Travel Portal. 

Applicants may want to go for the Citi Double Cash Card if they: 

• Could benefit from a longer intro APR on balance transfers 
• Won’t carry a balance on the card otherwise
• See personal value in the 5% rewards rate for eligible Citi Travel purchases
• Want the ability to transfer rewards to partners

Otherwise, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is the better deal — especially for those who bank at Wells Fargo.