Citi Double Cash® vs U.S. Bank Cash+®

Citi Double Cash®
VS
U.S. Bank Cash+®
The short answer: The Citi Double Cash® delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the U.S. Bank Cash+® if you spend more on gas, streaming.

Side-by-side comparison

Citi Double Cash®U.S. Bank Cash+®
Annual feeNo annual feeNo annual fee
Welcome offer$200 cash back$250 rewards bonus
Dining2x2x
Groceries2x2x
Gas2x5x
Travel2x1x
Streaming2x5x
Everything else2x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$583$492
Points typePools with Citi → transferableCash back only
NetworkMastercardVisa

*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 timeCiti Double Cash®U.S. Bank Cash+®
Welcome bonus$200 cash back$250 rewards bonus
To earn it$1,500 in 6 months$1,000 in 90 days
Est. first-year value*$783$742
Est. ongoing value / yr*$583$492

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

PerksCiti Double Cash®U.S. Bank Cash+®
Lounge accessNoneNone
Annual creditsNoneNone
Points & redemptionsTransferable (paired with a premium card)Cash back only

On perks and redemptions, the Citi Double Cash® earns transferable points with a higher redemption ceiling, while the other is capped nearer a flat cent. Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.

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 U.S. Bank Cash+® 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 U.S. Bank Cash+® about $492, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi Double Cash® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The U.S. Bank 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 $91 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and travel. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Double Cash® earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the U.S. Bank Cash+® pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Double Cash® if you will use travel transfers, the U.S. Bank Cash+® if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the U.S. Bank 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 travel, everything else. Pick the U.S. Bank Cash+® if your spending leans toward gas, streaming.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Citi Double Cash® or the U.S. Bank Cash+® better?
On typical household spending, the Citi Double Cash® comes out ahead, by roughly $91 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the U.S. Bank Cash+® can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Citi Double Cash® and the U.S. Bank Cash+®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Citi Double Cash® or the U.S. Bank Cash+®?
As of August 2026, the Citi Double Cash® offers $200 cash back and the U.S. Bank Cash+® offers $250 rewards bonus. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.