Citi Double Cash vs Wells Fargo Propel: No Annual Fee Showdown

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When you’re looking for the best credit card, the Citi® Double Cash Card and some Wells Fargo credit cards may make the list. But you will still need to decide if cash or travel rewards are more valuable to you. This Citi Double Cash vs Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card comparison will help you choose the right card.

Citi Double Cash vs Wells Fargo Propel

Though this review primarily focuses on the Citi Double Cash vs Wells Fargo Propel, we will discuss a few other Wells Fargo options. We will check out the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card, Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card, and Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card for a more thorough comparison.

The information for the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card, and the Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Citi Double Cash Review

Before doing the card-by-card comparison, let’s first look at everything the Citi® Double Cash Card offers:

• Earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases – Earn unlimited 1% back when you buy, earn the other 1% when you pay for your purchase; pay at the least the minimum due on time monthly to earn cash back
• Redeem rewards for cash statement credit, check, or bank deposit
• Up to $1,000 in annual cell phone protection (provided by Mastercard)
• No annual fee

If you want a flat-rate rewards credit card, the Citi Double Cash has one of the highest cash back rates. Most flat rate cards award up to 1.5% back.

There are reasons why you may want to avoid getting the Citi Double Cash:

• Your rewards balance must be at least $25 to begin redeeming cash rewards
• Foreign transaction fees

The Double Cash isn’t a friendly option if you need a credit card for international travel. But if you only use it for U.S.-based purchases and prefer cash rewards, this is a great option.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card (Not open to new applicants)

The best Wells Fargo credit card for most will be the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card. The Propel is also one of the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

Here are the key features of the Wells Fargo Propel Card:

• Earn 3x points on travel, rideshare, transit, gas stations, dining, and popular streaming services
• Earn 1x for all remaining purchases
• Points are worth up to 50% more when redeemed for award flights
• Redeem points for cash, travel, and gift cards
• Up to $1,200 in annual cell phone protection
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fee

At its core, the Wells Fargo Propel is a travel reward credit card (it’s actually one of our picks for some of the best travel credit cards). Your points are worth 1.5 cents each for award flights on the Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards travel center.

Each point is only worth 1 cent each for other award travel, cash rewards, and gift cards.

Is the Wells Fargo Propel better than Citi Double Cash?

The Wells Fargo Propel can be a better option in these instances:

• Prefer redeeming your points for award flights
• Don’t want a foreign transaction fee
• Can earn more with the tiered 3x purchase categories

If you can earn more rewards with the flat 2% back each year, the Citi Double Cash is the better option.

Related: Best travel credit cards with no annual fee

Wells Fargo Visa Signature Card vs Citi Double Cash

If you don’t want to own an American Express credit card (i.e., Wells Fargo Propel), the Wells Fargo Visa Signature could be a worthy alternative. Your signup bonus can be equal to earning up to 50,000 bonus Go Far Rewards by spending $12,500 in the first 6 months on select purchases.

You get 5x Go Far Rewards on the first $12,500 in combined purchases in the first 6 months for:

• Gas
• Grocery stores
• Drugstores

After your first six months, every purchase earns 1x point per $1.

Your points expire after 5 years of earning them. Each point is most valuable when redeemed for award flights at 1.5 cents each. Every point is only worth 1 cent each for other travel and cash rewards.

This card doesn’t have an annual fee but has a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Is the Wells Fargo Visa Signature or Citi Double Cash better?

The Wells Fargo Visa Signature can be good if you can maximize the 6-month 5x purchase categories and redeem your points for award flights. Otherwise, the Citi Double Cash can have better long-term earning potential.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa vs Citi Double Cash

Wells Fargo claims the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa is “our best cash back card ever.” How much can you earn from this card?

• Earn unlimited 1.5% back on every purchase
• Earn 1.8% back on digital wallet purchases for the first 12 months
• Rewards don’t expire as long as the account remains open
• One-time $150 bonus cash (after spending $500 in the first 3 months of account opening)
• Up to $1,200 cell phone protection per year
• No annual fee

While the Cash Wise Visa doesn’t have an annual fee, you will pay a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Is the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa or Citi Double Cash better?

The Citi® Double Cash Card is going to be the better choice for most people.

However, if you need to transfer a balance from Citi credit card, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise is better. You can only transfer credit card balances from a different bank.

If having a flat rate cash rewards card without a foreign transaction fee is important, your best alternative to either card is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (learn more about the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card in our in-depth review). It earns an unlimited 1.5% back, has a $200 signup bonus (after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening), but doesn’t have an annual fee or foreign transaction fee. However, the Quicksilver earns unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Credit Score Needed

You will need a minimum 670 credit score to qualify for the various Wells Fargo credit cards in this comparison. You will need to have a good to excellent credit score for the Citi Double Cash.

Using the CardMatch tool is a quick and free way to gauge your approval odds without impacting your credit.

Summary of the Citi Double Cash vs Wells Fargo Propel

The Wells Fargo Propel is the one card that gives the Citi® Double Cash Card a run for its money. If you can maximize the 3x bonus categories or redeem your points for travel, get the Propel. Otherwise, the Citi Double Cash offers more long-term earning potential without charging an annual fee.

FAQs

Is Citi Double Cash a good card?

Yes, the Citi® Double Cash Card is one of the best cash rewards credit cards. It earns 2% back on all purchases, so long as you meet their payment conditions. Most flat-rate cash back credit cards only award up to 1.5% on purchases. Plus, the Double Cash doesn’t charge an annual fee.

You might be able to earn more with a tiered rewards card if your largest purchases match the bonus categories. And, the Double Cash has a 3% foreign transaction fee so it’s not a good option for international purchases.

How good is the Wells Fargo Propel card?

The Wells Fargo Propel card is one of the best travel credit cards with no annual fee or foreign transaction fee. Points can be redeemed for travel rewards, cash rewards, or gift cards. However, your points are most valuable when redeemed for award flights.

Your points are worth 1.5 cents each for award flights but only 1 cent for other travel rewards. Award travel can only be booked through the Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards travel center. There are no airline or hotel point transfers.

Each point is worth 1 cent each for cash or gift card rewards. However, the minimum redemption amount for either option is $25.

The Wells Fargo Propel Card can also be a good option if you can maximize their bonus categories for purchases. You earn unlimited 3x Go Far Rewards points per $1 spent on the following purchases:

• Travel
• Rideshares and transit
• Gas stations
• Dining and restaurants
• Popular streaming services

All non-bonus purchases earn 1x point per $1.

This card isn’t a good option if you don’t want an American Express credit card. It’s also not your best option if you can’t benefit from the 3x purchase categories or want premium travel perks like airport lounge access or free Global Entry.

What credit score is needed for the Wells Fargo Propel Card?

You will have the best approval odds for the Wells Fargo Propel with a credit score of at least 740. Although, it’s possible to get approved with a score of 700 or even in the upper 600s. Don’t apply for the Wells Fargo Propel if your current score is less than 670.

Many of the best travel and cash rewards credit cards have similar minimum credit score guidelines.