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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Double Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority from Chase at $229/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($640 more in estimated value) than the Citi Double Cash's. Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first; revisit the Citi Double Cash after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Citi Double Cash | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $229 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | 60,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $840 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 6 mo | $2,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Citi | Chase |
| Card category | cashback | airline |
| Best earning category (Other) | 2x | 1x |
| 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
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
$229/yr · 60,000 points
Editorial take: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
If Southwest is your airline, this is the card to have. The anniversary points and $75 travel credit help offset the annual fee, and the 4x earning on Southwest is class-leading among airline cards.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Double Cash or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority has the bigger bonus, 60,000 points, worth roughly $840, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the Citi Double Cash.
- Is the Citi Double Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Citi Double Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's $229 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's benefits to clear $229 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Citi Double Cash.
- Can I have both the Citi Double Cash and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and Chase) 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Double Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: $2,000 in 3 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.