Citi Double Cash® vs Rakuten American Express® Card
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Double Cash® | Rakuten American Express® Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $200 cash back | $100 Cash Back |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 2x | 2x |
| Gas | 2x | 1x |
| Travel | 2x | 1x |
| Streaming | 2x | 1x |
| Everything else | 2x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $583 | $382 |
| Points type | Pools with Citi → transferable | Transfers via Amex MR |
| Network | Mastercard | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Citi Double Cash® | Rakuten American Express® Card |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $200 cash back | $100 Cash Back |
| To earn it | $1,500 in 6 months | $1,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $783 | $482 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $583 | $382 |
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 | Citi Double Cash® | Rakuten American Express® Card |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable (paired with a premium card) | Transferable to airline & hotel partners |
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
Only the Citi Double Cash® earns transferable points. Its Citi ThankYou move to American Airlines, Turkish, Avianca, and Air France-KLM, where a point can be worth several cents on a premium-cabin redemption, far above its cash value. The Rakuten American Express® Card pays flat cash back, worth about a cent, so its ceiling is nearer a penny per point no matter how you redeem.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Citi Double Cash® earns about $583 a year in rewards and the Rakuten American Express® Card about $382, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi Double Cash® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Rakuten American Express® Card has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the Citi Double Cash® delivers more total value, about $202 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and gas. Both earn transferable points rather than flat cash, so the deciding factor is whose transfer partners reach the airlines and hotels you would actually book. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Double Cash® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Citi Double Cash® if your spending leans toward gas, travel, streaming.