The Citi Double Cash® Card and Chase Slate Edge℠* both offer low introductory APRs on balance transfers and have no annual fee. At first glance you might think the Citi Double Cash® Card is the obvious choice as it offers rewards and has a longer introductory 0% offer on balance transfers, but the Chase Slate Edge serves up some additional value that may not be obvious from the marketing headlines.
Which card is right for you?
Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
First, you earn 1% unlimited cash back on every purchase you make. Then, as you pay for those purchases, you earn an additional 1% cash back on those credit card payments
Welcome Bonus
Earn $200 cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Score
Excellent, Good, Fair
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Chase Slate Edge℠
Chase Slate Edge℠
The Slate Edge does not offer rewards on purchases.
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
Citi Double Cash Card vs. Chase Slate Edge Overview
For rewards, the answer is obvious: The Citi Double Cash earns 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off. This earning rate bests many of the market’s offerings and competes only with the cards on our list of the best cash-back credit cards.
The Chase Slate’s Edge lack of rewards doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its usefulness for the right user, though—its low introductory APR offer extends to purchases the Citi Double Cash’s offer does not. The Chase Slate Edge also offers more travel and protection benefits while the Citi Double Cash offers just a few.
| Citi Double Cash® Card | Chase Slate Edge℠* | |
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Annual fee
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$0
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$0
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Rewards
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2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off
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This card does not earn rewards
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Welcome bonus
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$200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points
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This card does not offer a welcome bonus
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APR
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0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5)
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0% intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24% applies. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater applies
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Extra benefits
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Welcome Bonus
The Citi Double Cash® Card offers $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, while the Chase Slate Edge does not offer a welcome bonus.
Annual Fee
Neither card in this matchup charges an annual fee.
Earning Rewards
The Citi Double Cash earns 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off. The Chase Slate Edge doesn’t earn rewards on spending, so if rewards are a must, the Double Cash is the clear choice between the two. The rewards that the Citi Double Cash does offer are among the best flat-rate cash-back rewards cards available.
Low Introductory APR Benefits
Low Introductory APR on Purchases
The Chase Slate Edge offers an introductory APR offer of 0% intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater applies.
While the Citi Double Cash® Card’s introductory APR applies only to balance transfers, the Chase Slate Edge’s 0% offer applies to both balance transfers and purchases.
If your main goal in applying for a new card is to finance a large purchase at a 0% introductory APR, the Chase Slate Edge is a better option.
Low Introductory APR on Balance Transfers
The Citi Double Cash Card comes with an appealing introductory offer on balance transfers of 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
The introductory rate on the Citi Double Cash Card only applies to balance transfers and not purchases. If you are looking for an introductory APR on purchases, the Chase Slate Edge is the better option.
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash card’s simple cash back structure and long-lasting balance transfer APR offer make the Citi Double Cash a favorite among those who want to set it and forget it. It offers a solid cashback rate on all purchases and 0% intro APR on balance transfers, all without an annual fee.
Not everyone wants to chase bonus categories or shuffle cards in their wallet, which makes the Citi Double Cash the perfect “set it and forget it” credit card. It’s one of the only cards around that not only earns 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off but also offers a path to using that cash back in the form of more valuable travel points down the road when you’re ready to take the next step.
- Earn up to 2% cash back—1% when the purchase is made and 1% when payment is made on the account
- No cash-back cap—no limit on the amount of cash back that can be earned
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR period for balance transfers
- Foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee
- Lack of benefits seen in other no annual fee cards
- No introductory 0% APR on purchases
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Redemption Options
The Citi Double Cash earns ThankYou Points, which may be redeemed in several ways. Cash back may be the simplest option and can be redeemed as a statement credit, check or direct deposit. With cash-back redemptions, 1 point is worth 1 cent.
You can also redeem points for gift cards and use points for online shopping at participating merchants. Points can also be shared with other Citi ThankYou members.
Transfer Partners
Citi ThankYou Points may also be transferred if you have an eligible Citi travel card. Partners include Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Singapore Airlines, JetBlue and others. If you carry only the Citi Double Cash Card, the only travel partners you can transfer to are Choice Privilege Rewards, JetBlue TrueBlue and Wyndham Rewards.
Other Perks and Benefits
Travel and Insurance Protections
The Chase Slate Edge offers an above-average suite of consumer and travel insurance protections when compared to other no-annual-fee credit cards. The card comes with purchase protection that covers new purchases against damage or theft and extended warranty protection that extends manufacturer’s warranties by up to an additional year. If you rent cars when you travel, you will also benefit from secondary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance when you pay for your rental with your card.
The Citi Double Cash® Card doesn’t offer consumer or travel insurance benefits.
Automatic Credit Line Increases
If you are working on building your credit, strengthening your credit score or increasing your spending power, the automatic credit line increase offered by the Chase Slate Edge may be an interesting feature for you. Chase says it will consider you for an automatic credit line increase after your first six months of card membership when you make on-time payments and spend at least $500 on the card.
Of course, if you have a history of on-time payments, you can ask any credit card issuer for a credit line increase. Often, this takes a phone call to customer service and can frequently be done without generating a hard inquiry on your credit report. If you want to get started, check out the Forbes Advisor guide on how to get a credit card limit increase.
Chase Slate Edge℠
No Rewards
The Slate Edge does not offer rewards on purchases.
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
Credit Score
Excellent, Good (700 - 749)
The Chase Slate Edge is a reasonable option for those looking to consolidate debt.
- Introductory APR
- Get an automatic, one-time review for a higher credit limit when you pay on time, and spend $500 in your first six months.
- No annual fee
- Doesn’t earn rewards
- High balance transfer fee
- High foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- Low introductory APR offer
- Access to monitor credit score with Chase Credit Journey
- Automatic, one-time account review for a higher credit limit when you pay on time and spend $500 in the first six months
Fees and APR
Both the Chase Slate Edge and the Citi Double Cash® Card offer comparable ongoing APRs, though the Slate Edge’s purchase APR doesn’t kick in until after 18 months. After the promotional period, the Slate Edge card offers a 20.49% - 29.24% Variable and the Citi Double Cash offers a 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR.
The Slate Edge offers sharper terms with long-term and good payment behavior. When you spend at least $1,000 on your Slate Edge over the course of a year of card ownership and pay your bill on time, Chase will review your account and offer up to a 2% reduction in your APR on purchases and balance transfers. This rate reduction is offered once every card anniversary year.
This rate reduction benefit isn’t unlimited; your rate will only be reduced until it reaches 9.74% plus the prime rate. Still, the rate is competitive with some of the best low APR credit cards if you carry a balance.
Both cards charge foreign transaction fees. The Chase Slate Edge charges a 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars foreign transaction fee. The Citi Double Cash charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Consider Neither Citi Double Cash Nor the Chase Slate Edge For
A Robust Travel Card for Frequent Travelers
While Chase Slate Edge offers some travel benefits, such as secondary auto rental collision damage waiver, it really isn’t marketed as a travel credit card. If you’re a road warrior looking for a card to travel with, many better options exist.
For a credit card with strong travel insurance such as lost luggage insurance, trip delay protection or primary rental car insurance, check out the Forbes Advisor guide to the best credit cards for travel insurance benefits.
For a card offering lounge access, free baggage on your preferred airline and other travel perks, look to the Forbes Advisor guide to the best travel credit cards.
Maximizing Rewards in Category Purchases
If you’re the type of consumer who enjoys maximizing credit card rewards, consider one of the many credit cards offering increased earnings for specific categories of spending, either as rotating quarterly bonus categories or in select categories on an ongoing basis.
If you’re interested in rotating bonus categories, two cards that should be on your radar are the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Discover it® Cash Back. Both of these cards offer rotating category bonuses subject to a spending limit and require enrollment that have historically included categories like gas stations, grocery stores, Amazon.com, Walmart and wholesale clubs.
If you don’t want to be constrained by a bonus category calendar, the Citi Custom Cash® Card earns 5% cash back on purchases in a top eligible spend category up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle, 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025 and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
If you spend a lot in specific categories such as travel, restaurants or groceries, a credit card offering ongoing increased rewards in one or more bonus categories might be for you. There are many cards that offer ongoing bonus categories, but here are a few favorites:
- American Express® Gold Card: Earns 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. (Terms apply. See rates & fees)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earns 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Prime Visa: Earns 5% back on purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on other purchases.
Forbes Advisor’s list of the best credit cards can help you find a card that offers the most rewards in the categories where you do the most spending.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for maximum cash-back rewards on everyday spending or a compelling introductory offer on balance transfers, the Citi Double Cash® Card is an obvious choice. For a no-annual-fee card, earning an unlimited 2% cash-back rewards on general purchases makes the card a good addition to most people’s wallets.
However, if you’re looking to finance a future purchase or tend to carry a balance, the introductory offer and opportunity for lower ongoing interest rates make the Chase Slate Edge worth a look. The added travel and purchase protections are a nice perk for a no-annual fee card.
If you are looking for a true travel credit card, check out the Forbes Advisor list of the best travel credit cards and if you frequently carry balances on your credit cards, consider the best low APR cards that offer lower interest rates from the start.
To view rates and fees for American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Citi Double Cash worth it?
Whether or not a credit card is worth it depends on both your needs, wants and expectations. The Citi Double Cash does offer a great simple rewards rate on all purchases but other flat-rate cash-back cards with similar earning potential, such as the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, offer more benefits.
How do I qualify for the Citi Double Cash card?
You must submit an application for the Citi Double Cash® Card online or by phone. Ensure your credit is the best it can be before applying, and work to improve your credit if you have any concerns. No credit score guarantees any issuer will deem you creditworthy.
What credit score is needed for the Chase Slate Edge?
The Chase Slate Edge card is likely to need a good or better credit score rating, but no score will guarantee approval. Issuers including Chase take several factors into account (sometimes referred to as the 5 C’s of credit) when evaluating your creditworthiness.
Does the Chase Slate Edge charge an annual fee?
No, the Chase Slate Edge does not charge an annual fee.
