Table of Content
The Citi® Double Cash Card and Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card have been designed to offer rewards for all your spending with no complicated category system.
On the surface, these cards appear to be the same, but there are some crucial differences which will influence which card is the better choice for you.
General Comparison
Simulation: Which Card Gives More Rewards?
Although we’ve looked at a variety of comparison areas, it can still be difficult to appreciate the real world benefit of each card. So, here we’ve created a scenario comparison with typical every day spending to help you see what you could earn with a similar spending pattern.
As you can see, the cash rewards for these two cards are the same.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Citi® Double Cash Card | Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | $300 | $300 |
$3,000 – Restaurants
| $60 | $60 |
$1,500 – Airline | $30 | $30 |
$1,500 – Hotels | $30 | $30 |
$4,000 – Gas | $80 | $80 |
Estimated Annual Value | $500 | $500 |
* The Citi Double Cash calculated according to 2% cash back - please keep in mind you'll get the additional 1% upon payment.
Compare Fees
The fees for both these cards are remarkably similar. Both cards have no annual fee, the same foreign transaction fee, and balance transfer fees including a promotional period for the first four months. One difference is that Wells Fargo offers a shorter 0% introductory rate.
However, the most significant difference is in the card APRs. While Citi has an APR range, Wells Fargo has three possible rates, depending on your credit. Generally, Wells Fargo has higher rates, so in combination with the shorter 0% rate period, Citi is more attractive in terms of fees.
Compare The Perks
Citi® Double Cash Card
- Special Ticket Access: Citi Entertainment provides special access to purchase tickets including exclusive experiences and presale tickets. This includes concerts, dining experiences and sporting events.
- Lost Wallet Service: If you lose your card, Citi will not only replace it within 24 hours but provide you with emergency cash.
- Protections – Citi offers protections such as 24 Hour fraud protection and $0 liability on unauthorized charges. If you suffer from an identity theft attack, the Citi team can help you to resolve the matter.
- No Caps and No Category Restrictions – Citi® Double Cash has no restricting categories to keep track of or to enroll in. There are also no caps on the amount of cash back you earn.
Wells Fargo Active Cash℠
- Cell Phone Protection: If you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card, you can get up to $600 of protection against damage or theft subject to a $25 deductible.
- Zero Liability Protection: Like Citi, Wells Fargo also offers built in protections against unauthorized transactions with additional security features such as Voice verification.
Compare The Drawbacks
Before you make any financial decisions, it is important to be aware of the potential drawbacks and credit cards are no exception.
So, we’ll also examine any possible negatives of these two cards.
Citi® Double Cash Card
- Delay for the additional 1%
While in theory, both cards offer 2% rewards, the Citi Double Cash offers 1% immediately and you need to wait to receive the other 1%. So, unless you set up auto pay, if your bill is delayed in the post or you’re on vacation, you could easily miss out.
- No Sign up Bonus
Although this card appears very similar to the Wells Fargo Active Cash, you don’t get a sign up bonus, which is certainly a drawback.
- Good Credit Needed
While both cards considered as a decent option for good credit customers, a lot of people don't pass the minimum requirements.
Wells Fargo Active Cash℠
- $25 minimum redemption
Although this is a common factor between the two cards, Citi does allow its customers to convert rewards to Thank You Points from $1. So, if you are struggling to reach that $25 balance, it can be frustrating.
- Lack of Bonus Categories
You will get 2% cashback across the board, with no higher cashback rates being available.
- No Customer Support Chat
While there is a toll free number, it can be tricky to access customer support, as there are no live chat functions.
Compare Redemption Options
Citi also has several reward redemption options that include:
- Checks: You can request a check payment or take a credit into your Citi checking or savings account.
- Statement credit: You can also apply your rewards as statement credit.
- Convert to ThankYou Points: You can convert your cash back to ThankYou points to redeem against other rewards from $1. One of things you can do besides getting great rewards with your ThankYou points, is to donate your Citi rewards to charity. Citi has a number charitable organization participating, so you can easily pick one and help people in need.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash redemption methods are:
- Offset Eligible Purchases: You can use your rewards to offset eligible purchases on your credit card account from $1.60.
- Account Credit: You can redeem your rewards as a credit to your Wells Fargo credit card, checking or mortgage account.
- Gift Cards: There are gift cards options from a variety of retailers in $25 increments.
- Cash: You can withdraw your rewards as cash via a Wells Fargo ATM in $20 increments.
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How to Maximize Cards Benefits?
If you want to make the best use of your Citi Double Cash , there are some tips to help you:
- Set up auto pay: To earn cash back with this card, you need to make the minimum due payment on time. This means that if there is a postal delay or you’re on vacation and are late with your payment, you’ll lose out. So, if you set up auto pay, you can be sure that each minimum payment will be made on time, and you can always make an additional payment manually later in the month
- Check Citi Entertainment: If you enjoy sporting events, concerts and other ticket events, before you book, check with Citi Entertainment. You could access presale tickets and even exclusive experiences.
- Utilize Alongside Other Cards: The Citi Double Cash card is great for having a high base cashback rate. You might have another cash back card that has a premium rate available for certain purchase categories that can give you a better overall return.
If you want to make the best use of your Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ , there are some tips to help you:
Utilize the Rewards: You should look at the most optimal way in which you can use the resulting rewards for your needs.
Maximize the Signup Offer: You should make sure that you take advantage of the great signup bonus that the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers.
- Pay your cell phone bill with your card: You can enjoy up to $600 of theft and damage protection for your phone for free if you pay your bill with your card.
Customer Reviews: Which Card Wins?
Citi® Double Cash | Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ | |
|---|---|---|
App Rating (iOS)
| 4.9 | 4.8 |
App Rating (Android) | 4.7 | 4.8 |
BBB Rating (A-F) | F | N/A |
WalletHub | 3.5 | 3 |
Contect Options | phone/chat | phone/social |
Availability | 24/7 | 24/7 |
Satisfied borrowers report that Citi has excellent support in the event of unauthorized charges. There is a dedicated Identity Theft Solutions center that could help you in the event that you suffer from any fraud.
Negative reviews relate to the cash back rewards ratio, claiming that the current rate is quite low compared to other cards, especially those that offer rotating categories.
Satisfied customers report that Wells Fargo offers decent credit limits on Active Cash cards. If you have excellent credit, you should expect a high limit, which can be useful to maximize rewards and improve your credit utilization ratio.
Negative reviews highlight customer service issues. As we touched on above, Wells Fargo has limited methods to access support and there are comments that the overall service is poor. Additionally, there are reviews that discuss held payments, which means that you could incur interest even if you pay your bill in full.
When You Might Want the Citi® Double Cash?
The Citi Double Cash Card is a decent choice if:
- You are prepared to receive half your cash back immediately and half later. This can be a good way to save your rewards, but if you want immediate gratification, this is not a good choice for you.
- You need a little longer to pay down your balance transfers, as Citi gives you three months more than Wells Fargo
- You’re confident that you can make your payments on time every month or you risk your rewards.
- You enjoy concerts and other ticketed events and will appreciate the Citi Entertainment feature
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What About the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠?
Wells Fargo Active Cash may be a good choice for you if:
- You want to quickly collect rewards
- You’re looking for a sign up bonus
- You are happy to pay your cell phone bill with your card to access the free insurance.
Compare The Alternatives
.Although both cards appear similar with a simple reward structure, there are some key differences that will influence which card is the better choice for you.
However, there are a couple of alternatives that you may want to take a look before applying:
 |
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | |
Annual Fee | $0
| $95 ($0 intro for the first year)
| $95
|
Rewards |
1.5% – 5%
5% percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5% cash back on all purchases everyday.
|
1-6%
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit
and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
|
2X – 5X
5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services. 2x on other travel purchases. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
|
Welcome bonus |
$200
$200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
|
$250
$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
|
60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | 2.70% | $0
|
Purchase APR | 19.99% – 29.99% variable
| 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
| 21.24%–28.24% variable APR
|
FAQ
It isn’t too hard to get a Wells Fargo Active Cash Card once you meet the outlined requirements. Therefore, you can get started today with minimal hassle.
There is no cap in place as to how much you are able to earn when it comes to the cashback rewards that you can get through the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card.
No out and out income requirements are required when you are applying for a Wells Fargo Active Cash Card and normally you will not have to provide proof of income.
You are able to redeem the rewards in numerous ways. This includes as statement credit, as cash, withdrawn at an ATM, or redeemed as a gift card. You can also use the rewards when paying through PayPal at an online checkout.
There is no limit in place with this card on how many total rewards you can earn. Therefore, people who will be spending large sums on purchases can ideally take advantage of this offering.
The initial credit limit of this card will normally be at least $500. The exact limit is going to be depending on your personal financial situation.
Compare Citi Double Cash Card
The flat rate cash back on Citi Double Cash Card is higher – but usually, it may not be the best option. Here's The Smart Investor analysis.
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Compare Wells Fargo Active Cash
Wells Fargo has recently launched a new set of credit cards, and these two are at the top of the list. Which of them offers more and is it worth it?
The Wells Fargo Active Cash is best for cashback and everyday spending, while the Autograph is a clear winner when it comes to travel rewards.
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