X1 Card Review

If you’re looking for a credit card that offers at least 2 points per dollar on everything you buy, the X1 Card is a strong contender. You can get 2X points on every purchase regardless of category, 3X points every time you spend $1,000 in a month, 4X, 5X and even 10X points for every friend who gets a card. Up to 10X points at leading online stores such as Apple, Nike and Sephora when you shop in the X1 App.

This card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or intro APR on purchases or balance transfers, but it does have a $0-annual-fee and there are no late fees. You’ll also get access to a broad range of travel and purchase benefits, including trip interruption reimbursement and extended warranty protection.

That said, if you prefer a card that offers a sign-up bonus, an interest-free period on purchases and balance transfers or more flexibility in redeeming rewards, you should look at other cards.

• Accelerated rewards rate

  You’ll get 2X points on every purchase regardless of category, 3X points every time you spend $1,000 in a month, 4X, 5X and even 10X points for every friend who gets a card. Up to 10X points at leading online stores such as Apple, Nike and Sephora when you shop in the X1 App.

  If you’re likely to spend more than $1,000 per month on the card, this is a great opportunity to earn a strong earning rate on your purchases. For example, if you charge $3,000 in one month, you’ll earn 2X points on the first $1,000, and 3X points on the additional $2,000 — for a total of 8,000 points (worth up to $80).

  Just know, the 3X rate is only available on up to $7,500 in spend per calendar month.

• $0 annual fee and no late fees

  This card charges a $0 annual fee for the primary account holder and a $0 fee for your first adult authorized user. After that, each additional authorized user is subject to a fee of $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year. Child authorized users (those under the age of 18) are subject to a fee of $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year.

  Plus, there are no late fees or overlimit fees. That said, because your payment history and amounts owed play such a big role in determining your credit score, it’s important to pay your balance on time each month and in full whenever possible.

• Foreign transaction fees: $0

  As for foreign transaction fees, this card has $0. This means you won’t be charged additional fees if you use the card to make purchases abroad.

  By contrast, some cards charge 3% to 5% of the amount of each transaction for purchases made outside the U.S.

• Ability to get preapproved

  During the application process, X1 will perform a soft pull on your credit to see if you’re approved. Just know, if you accept the card after receiving approval, a hard inquiry will be initiated, which may affect your score.

• Highest rewards value when redeemed with X1 partners

  To get the most value from your X1 Card rewards, you must redeem them for purchases at eligible merchants — including Adidas, Amazon, Airbnb, Best Buy, Hotels.com and more — through the X1 app. When used this way, points are typically worth 1 cent each.

  You can also redeem points for statement credit at a mediocre rate of less than 1 cent each. If eligible, points can also be used to purchase stocks or virtual gift cards.

  There are rewards cards available that offer more value when you redeem them for cash back, travel and more. For example, Citi Double Cash^® Card gives you 1 cent per point for statement credits. Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel^SM.

• No sign-up bonus

  While this card offers a solid rewards rate, it doesn’t come with a sign-up bonus. If you want to earn a lump sum of rewards upfront, there are a variety of $0-annual-fee cards available that offer valuable sign-up bonuses.

• No intro APR on purchases or balance transfers

  If you plan to carry a balance on your card from month to month, you’ll be subject to interest charges at an APR of 20.24% to 29.99% variable. So if you need to finance a large purchase or transfer a balance from another credit card, you should opt for a card that offers at least a 12 month interest-free period on purchases or balance transfers.

X1 Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

If you prefer a card with a simpler rewards structure and intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card is a great alternative. The card lets you earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Plus, you’ll earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. Rewards can be used:

• To cover past purchases (can be as little as $1)
• As a credit to a qualified Wells Fargo credit card, checking account or mortgage
• For cash in $20 increments at an ATM (when you use your Wells Fargo ATM or debit card)
• Toward gift cards from a variety of retailers

This $0-annual-fee card offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, then a 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR. There’s also a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR.

X1 Card vs. Citi Double Cash^® Card

 

Similar to the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card, $0-annual-fee Citi Double Cash^® Card offers a flat cash back rate on every purchase.

You’ll 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, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25. Rewards can be redeemed for cash back as a statement credit, direct deposit, check, travel or gift cards or transferred to a few of Citi’s hotel and airline partners.

The Citi Double Cash^® Card doesn’t offer an intro APR on purchases, but it does have a slightly longer intro APR on balance transfers than the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card. New cardholders get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers. After that, a 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable) APR applies.

But besides $0 fraud liability, this card lacks the robust benefits and protections offered by the X1 Card. Additionally, it charges foreign transaction fees if you use it to make purchases outside the U.S.

If you typically charge between $1,000 and $7,500 per month — and if you don’t mind redeeming your rewards for purchases at X1’s merchant partners — you can get a decent amount of value from the X1 Card.

But if you prefer a simpler rewards structure and the ability to carry a balance for more than a year without incurring interest charges, the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card will be a better fit. Or, if you need a longer time-period to pay off a transferred balance interest-free, you should consider the Citi Double Cash^® Card.