Citi Double Cash vs Amex Business Gold
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Citi Double Cash wins 3-2. Set-it-and-forget-it 2% on everything Amex Business Gold is still the right call if small businesses — 4x on top 2 spend categories from a list of 6..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Citi Double Cash | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $375 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 2% (general) | 4% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 2% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | · 3% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in first 6 months | = 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.5/5 | = 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Citi Double Cash
- 1% cash back when you buy + 1% when you pay
- No annual fee
- No category restrictions or rotating bonuses
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
- Convert cash back to ThankYou Points (transferable to airline partners)
Amex Business Gold
- 4x on top 2 categories ($150K cap): airfare, gas, advertising, tech, restaurants, US shipping
- $20 monthly FedEx + Grubhub credit
- $240 Amex Business Line of Credit access
- No foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›Citi Double Cash vs Amex Business Gold: which is better?
Citi Double Cash wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Citi Double Cash for its best categories, Amex Business Gold for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Citi Double Cash: $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in first 6 months. Amex Business Gold: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months.