Chase Freedom Limitless vs. Citi Double Money: Bonus Classes Give Freedom the Edge

Within the more and more crowded market of cash-back bank cards, two common playing cards stand out from the pack. The Chase Freedom Limitless® and the Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide each provide strong cash-back earnings, and neither card prices an annual price.

In case you not often eat at eating places and are searching simplicity, the Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide stands out as the more sensible choice.

However for those who’re a giant spender on eating places and might reap the benefits of the Chase card’s different bonus-reward classes, like drugstores and Chase journey, will probably be the higher choose — particularly within the first 12 months. In the long run, the Chase Freedom Limitless® presents extra probabilities for outsize rewards in classes that match the life of many individuals.

Here is methods to resolve which is best for you.

Within the close to time period, the Chase Freedom Limitless® pulls forward by providing a beneficiant sign-up bonus for brand spanking new cardholders. Its provide:

Earn a further 1.5% money again on all the things you purchase (on as much as $20,000 spent within the first 12 months) – price as much as $300 money again! (NOTE: This provide is out there if you apply by way of NerdWallet. In case you apply immediately with Chase or by way of a unique web site, you is probably not eligible for this provide.)

By comparability, the Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide presents no sign-up bonus.

That makes the Chase Freedom Limitless® a extra helpful card within the first 12 months of card possession for nearly everybody.

The Chase Freedom Limitless® presents a number of bonus classes:

• 5% again on journey bought by way of Chase Final Rewards®.

• 3% again at eating places, together with takeout and eligible supply companies.

• 3% again on drugstore purchases.

• By way of March 31, 2025, 5% again on qualifying Lyft companies bought by way of the Lyft app.

Bonus classes are tough. They’re very helpful for those who spend some huge cash at these locations, however nugatory for those who don’t. The eating places class is a extremely helpful one for most individuals and actually boosts the cardboard’s general worth.

A number of spending doesn’t match neatly into bonus-rewards classes, like eating places or drugstores. On different playing cards that function bonus classes, that “all the things else” spending sometimes earns 1% again.

However the Chase Freedom Limitless® is unusually good as a result of it presents 1.5% again on all the things else.

So meaning you’re incomes 50% greater than regular whereas spending at such locations as physician workplaces, health golf equipment and routine month-to-month payments that settle for bank cards.

In terms of rewards, it boils down as to whether the three% and 5% bonus classes on the Chase Freedom Limitless® will make up for the distinction between that card’s 1.5% base earnings charge and the two% base earnings charge on the Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide. Use our calculator to estimate your rewards in a typical 12 months.

The Chase Freedom Limitless® presents a no-interest promotion for brand spanking new cardholders: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and stability transfers, after which the continued APR of 15.24%-23.99% Variable APR.

Then again, the Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide would not provide a 0% APR on new purchases. In case you’re seeking to make a big buy and need some respiratory room to pay it off over time, the Chase Freedom Limitless® is the cardboard you need.

The Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide does have a particular intro provide for stability transfers: 0% intro APR on Steadiness Transfers for 18 months, after which the continued APR of 14.74%-24.74% Variable APR. However the Chase Freedom Limitless® does, too.

The Chase Freedom Limitless® is taken into account a cash-back card, however technically it earns Chase Final Rewards® factors. That’s vital if you wish to use a method to earn these factors and switch them to a different Chase bank card that may give you greater worth.

When paired with a premium card just like the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card, factors could be redeemed for 1.25 cents every in direction of journey, in contrast with 1 cent apiece for a money redemption. A card-pairing technique like this, known as the “Chase trifecta,” additionally unlocks the power to switch Final Rewards® to journey companions like United, Southwest, Marriott, Hyatt, IHG and JetBlue.

To be truthful, Citi has its personal model of the technique, the “Citi trifecta.” Pairing the Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide with a premium card just like the Citi Premier® Card additionally provides the power to switch to journey companions, however Citi companions with fewer lodge teams (Selection and Wyndham) and just one home airline (JetBlue).

In case you favor bank cards which can be simply simple, then the Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide might be the higher match.

It presents a cumulative 2% money again on all purchases (1% if you make the acquisition and 1% if you pay it off). That is excessive for a flat-rate card, and it means you don’t have to fret about the place you’re making purchases. You earn the identical rewards it doesn’t matter what you’re shopping for.

Against this, the “all the things else” class on the Chase Freedom Limitless® is 1.5%. (However you need to additionally contemplate its sign-up bonus and bonus-rewards classes.)

The Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide could possibly be a barely higher device for serving to to delay funds on present debt.

Once more, it presents a 0% intro APR on Steadiness Transfers for 18 months, after which the continued APR of 14.74%-24.74% Variable APR. That is among the many lengthiest balance-transfer presents available on the market.

The Chase Freedom Limitless® presents a shorter 0% promotional APR window on stability transfers (though it has the benefit of the promotional APR on new purchases talked about beforehand).

For easy money again, the Citi® Double Money Card – 18 month BT provide is among the many finest playing cards to contemplate.

However you could possibly in all probability wring extra cash-back {dollars} from the Chase Freedom Limitless®, particularly for those who dine out loads and might use its different bonus classes. While you add within the new cardholder bonus, it is a clear selection for many cardholders.