Wells Fargo Active Cash vs Citi Double Cash

Very Similar Cards But Also Very Different

Both the Citi Double Cash and the Wells Fargo are 2% cash back credit cards (in fact they allow you to earn 2% cash back on all purchases). From a rewards perspective, they are similar though as we will highlight in this report, there are some important though subtle differences that will affect your choice if you are deciding between these two cards. When the Citi Double Cash was first introduced and launched in 2014, the only other available 2% cash back credit card was the Fidelity Cash Rewards Card which required you to have a Fidelity account to get one. The Citi Double Cash quickly became the go-to 2% cash back all purpose credit card since it did not require you to have a Citi bank account to get one. But since then, more 2% cash back credit cards have been launched and one of their fiercest competitors is the Well Fargo Active Cash.

Both Citi and more recently, Wells Fargo have airline and hotel partners in their reward program. Both the Double Cash and Active Cash allow you to transfer the rewards you earn to all their transfer partners if you combine it with another "partner transfer" card in their line up.

In this review, we will examine these two cards cards, contrast their differences and see under which circumstances will one card be better than the other for you.

Similarities

No Annual Fee - Both cards have no annual fee (which is typical of most flat rate cash back credit cards).

Both charge foreign transaction fees - Both cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, which does not make it an ideal card to use when you travel abroad outside the US.

2% unlimited cash back/rewards - Both cards have no cap on the amount of cash back you can earn.

Differences

2% Straight Cash Back versus 1% + 1%

One of the main difference between the two cards is that the Active Cash is a straight 2% cash back card and you can see your 2% cash back earning the next month in your statements. In contrast, the Citi Double Cash is technically 1 + 1 = 2% cash back card in that you earn 1% when you spend on the card and another 1% when you pay off in full your balance. Hence, there is a lag for the other 1% which you have to pay off the balance to earn it. Many of you are very particular over this.

One is a Visa, the other a Mastercard - Important if you are a Costco member

The Wells Fargo Active Cash is a Visa card and this may be an important factor in your choice if you are a Costco member because Costco only accepts Visa cards. In contrast, the Double Cash is a Mastercard and is not accepted in Costco.

Cell Phone and Auto Collision Damage Waiver Insurance

One of the unique features of all Wells Fargo credit cards is that they offer cell phone protection to their cardholders as long as they pay their cellular plan with the card. They also have auto CDW insurance. Though Citi DC is a World Elite Mastercard, Citi does not to include both these featues in the Double Cash.

Easier to request credit limit increases with Citi

Requesting a credit limit increase with Citi is much easier than Wells Fargo. Every 6 months, you can request a credit limit increase (CLI) through the Citi mobile app and it will only result in a soft pull. In contrast, you have to call out Wells Fargo's customer service to request a CLI and this results in a hard inquiry on your credit report.

Citi Double Cash has 3 transfer partners as a standalone card

If you have the Citi Double Cash without any other Citicards, you can transfer the TY points you earned to Wyndham, Choice Hotels and JetBlue. You cannot transfer the rewards you earn on the Wells Fargo Active Cash to any of their airline or hotel partners. To do so, you need to also get either the Wells Fargo Autograph or Autograph Journey to unlock this benefit.

Both have different airline transfer partners and ecosystem

Both the Citi and Wells Fargo have different airline and hotel transfer partners and hence their ecosystem is sligtly different. To fully unlock the full potential and transferablity of the points you earn on these 2 cards, you need certain additional cards from the same issuer to enable you to pool the points into one main account. In Citi's case, you need to have the Citi Strata Premier Card. For the Active Cash, you need to combine it with either the Wells Autograpph or Autohgraph Journey.

Citi's transfer partners include Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Wyndham Rewards, AeroMexico, All-Acorm Ava=uanca Lifemiles, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Emirates Skywards, Ethihad Guest, EvaAir, Flying Blue, Jetblue Trueblue, Leaders Club, I Preferred Hotels and Resorts, Qantas, Qatar Privilege CLub, Shop Your Way, Singapore KrisFlyer miles, Thai Airways, and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.

Wells Fargo transfer partners include Aer Lingus, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Virgin Red, Choice Privileges.

Citi has more partners than Wells Fargo at this moment, but they have different partners and only you will know whether Citi or Wells program will suit you better.

You can earn 2.2% cash back on Double Cash IF....

If you pair the Citi Double Cash with the Citi Rewards+ Card, you could effectively earn 2.2% back. The reason is because the Rewards+ gives you a 10% bonus upon rewards redemption. When you have both cards, the points you earn are pooled into one account. Henece the rewards you earn from the Double Cash also benefit from the 10% bonus feature.

Different Redemption Methods

Both Citi and WF have slightly different redemption methods.

Citi allows you to use your TY points for cash back. You can redeem them for statement credits, a check written to you or a direct deposit to your bank (and it does not have to be a bank account with Citi). You can also choose to redeem your rewards by transferring points to Wyndham, Choice Hotels and Jet Blue. If in addition to the Citi Double Cash you also have the Citi Strata Premier, then you can transfer the TY points you earn with the DC to Citi's full range of airline and hotel partners. You can also redeem TY points for things like gift cards etc.

You can redeem the cash back you earn with the Active Cash as a statement credit, direct deposit to your Wells Fargo checking account or from a Wells Fargo ATM (min $20 redemption amount). You can also link your Wells Fargo card or account to Paypal and redeem it when you use Paypal to purchase something.

If you also have either the WF Autograph or Autograph Journey along with the Active, you can also transfer the points you earn to Wells' travel partners.

But one of the key differences between the two cards is that if you want your cash back deposited into your bank account, you NEED a Wells Fargo bank account if you have the Active Cash. With the Citi DC, you can direct deposit your cash back to a bank account outside of Citi or just have a check written to you.

Choose the Citi Double Cash IF...

You should choose the Double Cash over the Active Cash if the following are important to you:

If you are part of the Citi Ecosystem

As a standalone card, the Citi Double Cash already has the advantage of being to transfer Thank You Points you earn to partners like Wyndham, Choice Hotels and Jet Blue. If you also have other Citi cards that earn TY points, these will be pooled into one account and ALL points get the benefits of the other Citi cards. For example, if you also have the Citi Premier, the points you earn with the Double Cash can be transferred to more airline and hotel partners. Wells Fargo has only recently entered the airline and hotel transfer game and at this moment, they have less transfer partners than Citi.

If you pair the Double Cash with the Citi Rewards+, you can redeem your points for 10% more in value. This essentially makes the Double Cash a 2.2% card rather than just a 2% card.

If you want to redeem cash back in non-Citi bank account

If you do not have a Citibank checking or savings account, the Citi Double Cash is the better option because you can redeem your cash back as a direct deposit in any bank account. In contrast, you need a Wells Fargo bank account to direct deposit your cash back earnings.

If intuitive mobile app is important to you

Many people who have both the Citi and Wells Fargo cards have commented that Citi's app is better and more intuitive. One common comment is that you can request for a credit limit increse via Citi's app once every 6 months and it will only result in a soft pull. In contrast, you actually have to call Wells Fargo for a credit limit increase and it results in a hard pull. Redeeming cash back and requesting a new card.

Choose Wells Fargo Active Cash IF...

You should choose the Well Fargo Active Cash over the Citi Double Cash if:

If you want a straight 2% cash back rather 1 + 1

Many people prefer the Active Cash because you get to earn 2% straight up when you charge to the card. In contrast, you earn 1% with the Double Cash and another 1% when you pay. Hence, there is a lag effect. If this bothers you, you will probably end up choosing the Active Cash.

If need a Visa because you are a Costco member

If you are a Costco member looking for a flat rate 2% cash back card, then the Active Cash is better than the Double Cash because Costco only accepts Visa. Since the Citi Double Cash is a Mastercard, you cannot use it at Costco.

If you value cell phone insurance and auto CDW insurance

The Wells Fargo Active Cash has no cell phone insurance and auto collision damage waiver insurance. These are benefits that the Citi Double Cash does not and if they are important to you, the the Active Cash would be a better choice for you compared to the Double Cash.

Which is better? Citi Double Cash or Wells Fargo Active Cash?

Both cards are actually very good and competitive. Your decision will depend on a few things.

If you are part of the Citi ecosystem (or intend to get into the Citi ecosystem) and if you do not have either a Citi or Wells bank account, then the Citi Double Cash will be a better choice because you can earn more points and transfer points to more travel partners with Citi. Furthermore, Citi allows you to redeem cash back into a non-Citi bank account.

But if having a Visa over a Mastercard is more important to you (perhaps because you are a Costco member), and/or you value have auto CDW and cell phone insurance and if you are in the Wells Fargo ecosystem, then the Wells Fargo Active Cash would be a better choice for you.

Having said that, there is nothing stopping you from getting both. Many people have and do so primarily to take advantage of their sign up bonus (SUB) or 0% APR deals

Cardholders Comments who have had both cards

I have had bot Citi and Wells Fargo cards for many years and both are good banks. But I feel Citi has been declining recently as far as their customer services goes and now Wells is better in this regard. I prefer the Active Cash because you get the 2% right away unlike Citi DoubleCash, where you earn 1% when you spend and another 1% after you pay. So you have that 1 month lag with Citi.

Citi Double Cash is also better for partner transfers when you have other rewards cards in the Citi ecosystem compared to Wells.

I have both the Citi DC and the Wells AC. I give the slight edge to AC because you earn 2% straight up vs the 1% on spend and 1% on pay. I closed the Citi DC and converted my AC to the Wells Autograph.

I had both the Double Cash and Active but closed the Double Cash because Active Cash was a Visa and I can use it at Costco. The Double Cash is a Mastercard.

I would go with the Wells Active Cash becuase they do not have the $25 minimum redemption requirements and also because they have cell phone protection and Citi does not.

I chose the Citi DC over the Wells Fargo AC because I also have the Citi Rewards+. All my TY points from both Citi cards go into one account. Since I get 10% redemption bonus because I have the Rewards+, the Citi Double Cash is essentially a 2.2% cash back or rewards card.

I had both but chose to keep the Double Cash because I got the Citi Rewards+ as well as the Premier and hence became embedded in the Citi ecosystem. With the Rewards+, I effectively earn 2.2% on the Double Cash and can also transfer points to their airline partners. Citi also allows you to transfer your cash back to a non-Citi account whereas with Wells Fargo, you can only redeem the cash back either in a Wells bank account or as a statement credit. One thing I do miss about the Active Cash is their cell phone insurance, which Citi does not have.

I have both cards and prefer the Citi DC for every day use. I prefer the interface on their app and it is easier to request credit limit increases, redeem your cash back or simply request a replacement card through the Citi app.

Even without other Citi cards, you can transfer Double Cash points to Wyndham, Choice and Jet Blue. So it is both a cash back and airline/hotel transfer card with no annual fee. I went with the Citi Double over the Active Cash because of this.

 

I have both the Active Cash abd Double Cash. I find that Wells Fargo's customer service is so much better than Citi's. But I have also gotten credit limit increases with Citi. You can easily request a CLI through the app every 6 months with only a soft pull. With Wells Fargo, you have to call in and it results in a hard pull.

 

I have both and they are both good though I think Citi has more offers than WF.

After hours of research, I decided to go with the Wells AC over the Citi DC because of two things. Active Cash has cell phone protection insurance and also auto collision damage waiver insurance which Citi does not have. Citi is actually a Mastercard with the World Elite version and it has both these features but Citi chooses not to use them. The auto CDW insurance (or lack of it in the Citi DC) is something that is not really discussed widely.