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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Citi Double Cash

These two popular cards answer different questions. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a $95-a-year travel-rewards card built around transferable points and travel credits; the Citi Double Cash is a no-annual-fee, flat-rate cash-back card. Here is how their published terms line up — each value links to the full card page, where you can see its exact source and last-verified date.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Citi Double Cash — side-by-side comparison of sourced card terms
TermChase Sapphire Preferred Card
Accepting applications
Citi Double Cash Card
Accepting applications
Annual fee$95 (no first-year waiver)$0
Purchase APR19.24%–27.49% variable (as of July 2026)Variable, tracks the Prime Rate; your exact rate depends on creditworthiness — confirm with Chase.17.49%–27.49% variable (as of July 2026)(medium confidence)Not machine-readable on Citi's page; triangulated from two reputable sources and the current Prime Rate. Confirm your exact APR with Citi.
Foreign-transaction fee$0 (no foreign transaction fee)3% of each purchase in U.S. dollars
Rewards5x on Chase Travel; 3x dining, gas & EV charging, select streaming, and online groceries; 2x on other travel; 1x on everything else (post-June 2026 refresh)Bonus categories per the 2026 refresh; sign-up bonuses are promotional and change often — confirm the current offer with Chase.2% total — 1% when you buy, 1% as you pay
AvailabilityAccepting applicationsAccepting applications
Editorial rating4.3 / 54.2 / 5
Est. interest carrying $3,000 for a year$577.2–$824.7Illustrative interest on a $3,000 balance carried for one year at the listed APR — not a quote. Your rate depends on creditworthiness; confirm with the issuer.$524.7–$824.7(medium confidence)Illustrative interest on a $3,000 balance carried for one year at the listed APR — not a quote. Your rate depends on creditworthiness; confirm with the issuer.

The bottom line

If you travel enough to use the Sapphire Preferred’s credits and you pay in full every month, its rewards can outweigh the $95 annual fee. If you want one simple card with no annual fee for everyday domestic spending, the Double Cash is hard to beat — though its 3% foreign-transaction fee makes it a poor companion abroad. Neither card’s rewards rate offsets interest, so carrying a balance on either one erases the value. Confirm current terms with each issuer before applying.

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