Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs Citi Double Cash®
Side-by-side comparison
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Citi Double Cash® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $200 cash bonus | $200 cash back |
| Dining | 3x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $361 | $583 |
| Points type | Pools with Chase → transferable | Pools with Citi → transferable |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified September 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Citi Double Cash® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $200 cash bonus | $200 cash back |
| To earn it | $500 in 3 months | $1,500 in 6 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $561 | $783 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $361 | $583 |
The Citi Double Cash® wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Citi Double Cash® |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable (paired with a premium card) | Transferable (paired with a premium card) |
The two are closely matched on perks and redemptions, so the welcome offer and everyday earning above are what should decide it.
Transfer partners and point value
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns Chase Ultimate Rewards, which transfers to World of Hyatt, United, Air Canada, Southwest, and British Airways Avios. The Citi Double Cash® earns Citi ThankYou, reaching American Airlines, Turkish, Avianca, and Air France-KLM. Most transfers are 1:1 on both, so the partners themselves, not the ratios, are what separate them.
The standout difference is the crown-jewel partner: for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ it is World of Hyatt at 1:1, widely considered the single best hotel transfer in points; for the Citi Double Cash® it is American Airlines AAdvantage at 1:1, one of the only ways to transfer points to AA. Pick the program whose best partners match the trips you would actually book.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns about $361 a year in rewards and the Citi Double Cash® about $583, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Citi Double Cash® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the Citi Double Cash® delivers more total value, about $222 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. Both earn points that only unlock airline and hotel transfers once you pair them with a premium card in the same family, so it comes down to which ecosystem you are building: Chase for the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Citi for the Citi Double Cash®. On the sign-up bonus, the two are currently comparable in size. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Chase Freedom Flex℠ if your spending leans toward dining. Pick the Citi Double Cash® if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, travel.