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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

Citi Double Cash vs Rakuten American Express® Card

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

Citi Double Cash card art
Citi ThankYou Points
Citi Double Cash
Citi
More Info
Rakuten American Express® Card card art
Rakuten
Rakuten American Express® Card
Imprint
More Info
Annual Fee
No annual fee
No annual fee
Foreign Fees
3%
None
Signup Bonus
$200 credit
Spend $1,500 in 6 months
20,000 points + $200 credit
Spend $2,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Citi Travel 5x
  • All Other Purchases 2x
  • Rakuten Dining 10x
  • Rakuten purchases 5x
  • Groceries and restaurants 2x
Reward Type
cashback
miles
Key Credits
None
None
Transfer Partners
  • AAdvantage
  • AAdvantage
  • Aeromexico Club Premier
  • Aeromexico Club Premier
  • Accor Live Limitless
  • +35 more
  • Bilt Rewards
  • American Express Membership Rewards
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Common Questions: Citi Double Cash vs Rakuten American Express® Card

Is the Citi Double Cash or Rakuten American Express® Card better for dining?

Citi Double Cash has no dining bonus; Rakuten American Express® Card earns 10x on dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Citi Double Cash currently offers $200 signup bonus (spend $1,500 in 6 months). Rakuten American Express® Card offers 20,000 pts signup bonus (spend $2,000 in 3 months). Both bonuses are roughly equal in value.

Which card is better for international travel?

Rakuten American Express® Card charges no foreign transaction fees — the better pick for international use. Citi Double Cash charges 3% on foreign purchases.

Can I hold both the Citi Double Cash and the Rakuten American Express® Card?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Citi Double Cash is from Citi and Rakuten American Express® Card is from Imprint, so they're governed by separate bank policies.