Goldman Sachs Apple Card vs Citi Double Cash
On an illustrative household's spending, Citi Double Cash comes out about $318 a year ahead once both annual fees are paid.
The short version
- Over a year: Apple Card nets $529 and Double Cash nets $847, after fees of none and none.
- Where it flips: Double Cash stays ahead at every level of spending this looks at, from a fraction of that household's to many times it.
- Category by category: Apple Card earns more on 0, Double Cash on 27 — the table below. Pick by where most of your money goes.
- What they pay in: Apple Card earns Cash Back (1.00¢ each) and Double Cash earns Citi ThankYou Points (1.60¢ each) — which is why everything here is in dollars.
Priced on a household spending $2,205 a month on a card — the assumption, in full. Credits, perks and welcome offers are not priced; each card's page lists them.
Where each one earns more
| Spending on | Apple Card per $100 |
Double Cash per $100 | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Restaurants & Bars | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Gas Stations | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Flights | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Hotels | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Online Shopping | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Streaming | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Food Delivery | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Rideshare & Taxis | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Public Transit | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Superstores | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Wholesale Clubs | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Home Improvement | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| EV Charging | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Grocery Delivery | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Parking & Tolls | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Car Rental | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Vacation Rentals | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Department Stores | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Sporting Goods | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Beauty | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Entertainment | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Gyms & Fitness | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Phone & Internet | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Utilities | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Drugstores | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
| Everything Else | $2.00 2% |
$3.20 base rate |
Double Cash |
Only categories where the two differ and at least one pays a bonus, plus everything else. No rotating or chosen categories are switched on, and a rate that needs the issuer's travel portal is not counted.
Side by side
| Apple Card | Double Cash | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Goldman Sachs | Citi |
| Annual fee | none | none |
| Foreign transaction fee | none | 3% |
| Earns | Cash Back | Citi ThankYou Points |
| A year, before the fee | $529 | $847 |
| A year, after the fee | $529 | $847 |
| Rates checked | 2026-08 | 2026-08 |
Each card on its own
- Goldman Sachs Apple Card — every rate, where it ranks, what the issuer lists besides rewards
- Citi Double Cash — every rate, where it ranks, what the issuer lists besides rewards
- Every travel card, ranked
- Which card adds the most to your own wallet
Carry both? Use the right one.
Cardful picks between them at every checkout, store by store.