Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ($95/yr) and the Citi Double Cash® Card (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Blue Cash Preferred needs about $200 a month in groceries, counting that spending alone, to make up its $95 higher annual fee over Citi Double Cash Card. Below that, Citi Double Cash Card comes out ahead. Enter your monthly spending above to see which comes out ahead for you.
Strongest in groceries at 6% (up to $6,000/yr). 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.
Perfect if: Your monthly spending stays within the bonus cap for maximum value.
Apply NowUnlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. Earns a solid 2.0% on everything else.
Perfect if: You're comfortable booking through the issuer's own site for the best rate.
Apply Now| Feature | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | Citi Double Cash Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 | $0 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months | $200 after $1,500 spend in 6 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.7% | 3% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 2% |
| Other travel Rewards | 3% | 2% |
| Groceries Rewards | 6% (up to $6,000/yr) | 2% |
| Gas Rewards | 3% | 2% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
None |
5% through Citi Travel Earns 5% only on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi Travel, Citi's own booking site. Travel booked anywhere else earns the flat 2%. |
| Key Benefits | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas. | Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. |
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pulls ahead for groceries, gas spending.
Citi Double Cash Card wins on travel, dining.
The $95/year fee difference means Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express carries $120/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.