Aspiration Zero vs. Citi® Double Cash Card
The Citi® Double Cash Card is a great example of a rewards card that easily outperforms Aspiration Zero. The card earns 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when purchases are made and an additional 1% when paid) and does not charge an annual fee. Although there is no welcome bonus, it does come with an introductory APR of 0% on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 16.24% to 26.24%, depending on creditworthiness. There is also an introductory balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, made within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Although Citi Double Cash offers greater earning potential, Aspiration Zero is issued by a bank with no poor fossil fuel investment record. Citi was called out by Forbes in 2021 for funding 100 companies with “the worst fossil fuel expansion plans,” so environmentally conscious cardholders — the people most likely to be interested in the Aspiration Zero card in the first place – can see why Aspiration Zero might win any other way.
Aspiration Zero vs. Green America Rewards Platinum Visa®*
The Green America Rewards Platinum Visa®* is issued by TCM Bank and offers no annual fee, earns 1 point per dollar on every purchase, 0% introductory APR for 12 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a variable APR from 9.99% to 19.99% on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of each balance transferred, whichever is greater, applies and some additional benefits such as $0 fraud liability, travel accident protection and collision damage waiver for car rentals.
While the Green America Map doesn’t incentivize spending on the map through an app to track your tree planting, it does support nonprofits targeting specific climate and energy sustainability issues. This card might not be quite as high-tech, but it does offer some additional benefits and an introductory APR that the Aspiration Zero does not.
Aspiration Zero vs. Verity Signature Rewards Visa®*
Verity Signature Rewards Visa®* earns 1.5 points per dollar on qualifying purchases, charges no annual or foreign transaction fees, and offers collision damage waiver for car rental, extended warranty protection and more. The card also offers an introductory APR of 0% for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a variable APR of 10.74% to 20.74% on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of 3% of the total transfer amount applies. Verity Signature Rewards Visa®* does not offer a welcome bonus.
Although Verity Small Credit Union is based in Washington State and applicants must be members of the credit union, it provides a great example of what buying your revolving credit locally can do for you. Verity Credit Union does not invest in fossil fuels, is committed to providing solar loans and making financing for other sustainable community development projects more accessible. Many local credit unions are making similar efforts to support community-related financing and offer cards that can compete with the Aspiration Zero card.
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