Credit cards: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card vs. Citi Double Cash Card

Quick Verdict

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is a strong choice for frequent Amazon and Whole Foods shoppers who already have an Amazon Prime membership. The Citi Double Cash Card is a better option for those who want a simple, flat-rate cash back card with no annual fee and don't shop frequently at Amazon or Whole Foods, but it does come with a foreign transaction fee.

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card offers 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, while the Citi Double Cash Card offers a flat 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay).
The Amazon Prime Rewards card requires an Amazon Prime membership ($139/year), while the Citi Double Cash Card has no such requirement.
The Amazon Prime Rewards card has no foreign transaction fee, while the Citi Double Cash Card charges 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase.
Both cards have a $0 annual fee, but the Amazon Prime card effectively has a $139 annual fee if you factor in the Prime membership requirement.
The Amazon Prime Rewards card offers travel insurance benefits, while the Citi Double Cash Card's travel benefits are limited to 5% cash back on bookings made through the Citi Travel portal.
The sign-up bonus for the Amazon Prime Rewards card is an Amazon Gift Card, while the Citi Double Cash Card offers cash back.
The Amazon Prime Rewards card offers purchase protection up to $500 per claim, while the Citi Double Cash Card does not explicitly mention purchase protection.

Key features – Side-by-Side

Attribute	Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card	Citi Double Cash Card
Annual Fee	$0 (Amazon Prime membership required: $139/year)	$0
Rewards Rate on Amazon and Whole Foods Purchases	5% cash back with eligible Prime membership	The standard rewards rate applies; this card does not offer special bonus categories for Amazon or Whole Foods.
Rewards Rate on Dining and Gas	2% cash back	The standard rewards rate applies; this card does not offer special bonus categories for dining or gas.
Rewards Rate on all Other Purchases	1% cash back	Earn unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay, totaling 2% cash back on all purchases. Additionally, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on the Citi Travel portal.
Sign-Up Bonus	$50 to $250 Amazon Gift Card instantly loaded into Amazon account upon approval	Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening. This is fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou Points, redeemable for $200.
Foreign Transaction Fee	None	3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase.
APR (Annual Percentage Rate)	Variable APR of 19.49% - 28.24%	18.24% - 28.24% variable, based on creditworthiness.
Credit Score Required	Good to excellent (670-850)	Fair/Good/Excellent
Balance Transfer Fee	Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater	Intro fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).
Cash Advance Fee	Not specified in the search results	Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
Purchase Protection	Yes, up to $500 per claim	Not explicitly mentioned as a card benefit.
Travel Insurance	Travel and emergency assistance, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and baggage delay insurance	The card offers 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on the Citi Travel portal. Specific travel insurance benefits are not listed as a card benefit.

Overall Comparison

Amazon Prime Rewards: 5% cash back on Amazon/Whole Foods, No foreign transaction fee, Requires Prime membership. Citi Double Cash: 2% cash back on all purchases, 3% foreign transaction fee, No Prime membership required.

Pros and Cons

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Pros:

5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases
No foreign transaction fee
Travel insurance benefits
Rewards can be redeemed for Amazon purchases, statement credits, or deposits into a checking/savings account

Cons:

Requires an Amazon Prime membership ($139/year)
Variable APR of 19.49% - 28.24%
Balance transfer fee
Purchase protection limited to $500 per claim
Most common starting credit limit is $500

Citi Double Cash Card

Pros:

No notable advantages reported.

Cons:

No major disadvantages reported.

User Experiences and Feedback

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

What Users Love

No highlights reported.

Common Complaints

No major complaints reported.

Value Perception

No value feedback reported.

User Recommendations

Average credit limit is around $7,032, but $500 is the most common starting limit.
Some users have reported initial credit limits around $2,000 to $3,300.
Rewards can be redeemed the next day for millions of items at Amazon.com, or for cash back, gift cards, or travel at Chase.com.
Using the card responsibly, with on-time payments and low credit utilization, can help build your credit score.
Applying for the card will result in a hard inquiry, which may slightly lower your credit score.

Citi Double Cash Card

What Users Love

No highlights reported.

Common Complaints

No major complaints reported.

Value Perception

No value feedback reported.