Editorial take: Citi Double Cash
The OG flat 2% card. Pairs with Custom Cash + Premier to form Citi's trifecta, turns your combined cash back into transferable ThankYou Points. Rock solid for non-bonus spend.
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Side-by-side
Citi Double Cash vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Double Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire from American Express at $550/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($675 more in estimated value) than the Citi Double Cash's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first; revisit the Citi Double Cash after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Citi Double Cash | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $550 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | 175,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $875 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 6 mo | $6,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Citi | American Express |
| Card category | cashback | hotel |
| Best earning category (Other) | 2x | 3x |
| Transfer partners | citi-ty | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Citi Double Cash
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 175,000 points
Editorial take: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Pretty much a no-brainer if you stay at Hilton hotels. The $550 annual fee pays for itself with just the free night reward alone, which can be used at any standard room property, even $1,000+ per night hotels.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Double Cash or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has the bigger bonus, 175,000 points, worth roughly $875, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the Citi Double Cash.
- Is the Citi Double Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Citi Double Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's $550 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's benefits to clear $550 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Citi Double Cash.
- Can I have both the Citi Double Cash and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and American Express) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Citi Double Cash or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Double Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire: $6,000 in 6 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.