Best Citi credit cards of July 2024
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“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 5:07 a.m. UTC July 1, 2024
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The best Citi credit cards cater to both novice and experienced cardholders, with options ranging from secured cards to some of the market’s most lucrative cash-back options. We analyzed the options offered to curate a list of the very best Citi credit cards of 2024. Here are our selections.
Best Citi credit cards
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card *: Best Citi credit card.
- Citi Rewards+® Card *: Best for small purchases.
- Citi Custom Cash® Card*: Best for flexible cash back.
- Citi Double Cash® Card*: Best for flat-rate cash back.
- Citi Simplicity® Card *: Best for balance transfers.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 34+ cards analyzed.
- 8+ data points analyzed.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best Citi credit card
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
*The information for the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for small purchases
Citi Rewards+® Card
*The information for the Citi Rewards+® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for flexible cash back
Citi Custom Cash® Card
*The information for the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for flat-rate cash back
Citi Double Cash® Card
*The information for the Citi Double Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for balance transfers
Citi Simplicity® Card
*The information for the Citi Simplicity® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Compare the best Citi credit cards
Earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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 $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.
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The information for the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card * The information for the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers a solid welcome bonus and high rewards on every way you’re likely to travel. Frequent travelers can also take advantage of the annual hotel benefit of $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com that can offset the card’s annual fee and a handful of valuable trip protections.
Pros:
- Solid welcome bonus.
- High rewards rates on several spending categories.
- Ability to transfer points to all of Citi’s airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Cons:
- Annual hotel benefit comes with a spending requirement.
- Low base rewards rate.
- Few domestic transfer partners.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards: 10 ThankYou® points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com, 3 points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and EV charging stations and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 0%.
The information for the Citi Rewards+® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
With the Citi Rewards+® Card * The information for the Citi Rewards+® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , your earned rewards are rounded up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase you make, giving you the chance to earn outsized rewards rates on small everyday purchases. You’ll also get a solid introductory APR promotion on both purchases and balance transfers.
Pros:
- Rounds up rewards to the nearest 10 points on every purchase.
- 10% points rebate each time you redeem.
- Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Cons:
- Low standard rewards rates.
- Bonus rewards are capped.
- Few ancillary benefits.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2 ThankYou points per $1 at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 spent per year and 1 ThankYou point per $1 on all other purchases, plus earn a total of 5 ThankYou points per $1 on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.
- Welcome bonus: 20,000 points after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3%.
The information for the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
With no annual fee, plus a low introductory APR offer for purchases and balance transfers, the Citi Custom Cash® Card * The information for the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers great value for those who can make the most out of the card’s lineup of bonus categories. Unlike other cards that offer 5% cash back in various spending areas (with some rotating quarterly and requiring activation), the Custom Cash will automatically pick the top category out of 10 to earn 5% cash back on up to $500 in spending each billing cycle, based on where you spent the most that billing cycle.
Pros:
- Flexible bonus rewards.
- Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.
- Flexible redemption options.
Cons:
- Low base rewards rate.
- Bonus rewards are capped.
- Few ancillary benefits.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on purchases in a top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent each month and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/25.
- Welcome bonus: Earn $200 cash back, in the form of 20,000 ThankYou® points, after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3%.
The information for the Citi Double Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
When you want a simple cash-back rewards program from a credit card, the Citi Double Cash® Card * The information for the Citi Double Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. delivers. There are no complicated categories to track or spending caps to pay attention to, just easy-to-follow rewards earned at the same rate on all your spending.
Pros:
- High rewards rate on every purchase.
- Long introductory balance transfer offer.
- Decent welcome bonus.
Cons:
- Limited opportunities to earn bonus rewards.
- No introductory 0% APR on purchases.
- Few ancillary benefits.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: Earn an unlimited 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
- Welcome bonus: $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3%.
The information for the Citi Simplicity® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The Citi Simplicity® Card * The information for the Citi Simplicity® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. ’s main draw is its lengthy introductory APR on balance transfers, making it ideal for those seeking to pay off high-interest debt with an intro APR balance transfer period for almost two years.
Pros:
- Long introductory APR on balance transfers.
- No late fees or penalty APR.
- No annual fee.
Cons:
- No rewards.
- No welcome bonus.
- Short introductory APR on purchases.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: None.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3%.
Considering a balance transfer but don’t know where to start? Here are the steps to do a balance transfer
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered included:
- Annual fee: 15%.
- Estimated annual rewards: 31%.
- Intro APR period on purchases and/or balance transfers: 22%.
- Welcome bonus: 20%.
- Annual credits: 10%.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2%.
Guide to Citi credit cards
Citi offers several credit cards within its flagship ThankYou Rewards program, as well as some co-branded credit cards with American Airlines and Costco. Depending on the type of rewards or features you want — cash back, travel, general points or 0% APR — Citi has some solid choices.
Earning and redeeming rewards
The Citi ThankYou Rewards program offers several redemption options, including:
- Cash back (direct deposit, statement credit or paper check).
- Gift cards.
- Travel.
- Online shopping.
- Charitable contributions.
Redemption values vary depending on which card you have and how you redeem, but you can generally get 1 cent per point for cash back, gift cards and travel. With the Citi Rewards+ Card, however, cash-back redemptions give you just 0.5 cents per point unless you link the card to another eligible card, such as the Double Cash.
Citi also allows you to transfer your ThankYou points to 19 different airline, hotel and shopping loyalty programs. If you don’t have the Citi Strata Premier Card or Citi Prestige, however, your transfer options will be limited to Choice Privileges, JetBlue TrueBlue and Wyndham, and the transfer ratio may be lower. Also, the card issuer’s transfer partners are mostly international airlines, which may be less appealing for people who generally travel within the U.S.
Types of Citi credit cards
Citi offers a variety of credit cards to meet the needs of different types of consumers. The best Citi credit card for you will depend on your individual financial situation and goals.
Rewards cards offer points, miles or cash-back rewards for spending in certain categories such as gas stations, supermarkets and restaurants. This type of card is ideal if you want to earn rewards every time you use your card for purchases. Many rewards cards even come with additional perks such as travel insurance, purchase protection and extended warranties on eligible items.
Balance transfer credit cards are designed to help you pay off existing debt faster by offering an introductory 0% APR for a specified length on balance transfers made within the first few weeks after opening an account. Be sure to read all terms carefully before applying so that you understand any fees associated with balance transfers and how long the promotional interest rate period lasts — these can vary significantly from one card issuer to another.
How to get a Citi credit card
There’s a few simple steps when it comes to applying for a Citi credit card.
- Narrow down which Citi credit card is the best fit. The right card for you will be based on a combination of your spending patterns, credit standing and goals in acquiring a new card.
- Check your credit standing. Citi doesn’t offer a preapproval tool for any of its cards so it’s best to check your credit scores before applying for a new card to check if your scores are in the range needed for approval. Having the right credit score, however, doesn’t mean you’ll be approved for the card as Citi will review a whole host of factors, including your income, as part of its approval decision.
- Submit your application. Like most issuers, you can apply for a card with Citi in several ways: online, over the phone or by mailing in an application. All of these methods will require information including your full name, Social Security number (SSN), date of birth and some basic financial information. Typically applying online can result in the fastest response.
Pros and cons of Citi credit cards
Pros:
- Travel cards have the ability to transfer to multiple loyalty partners.
- Wide variety of options for a range of potential cardholders.
- Several cards offer lengthy intro APR periods on balance transfers.
Cons:
- Citi does not offer a preapproval tool for any of its credit cards.
- The cards offering an intro 0% APR charge balance transfer fees.
- Few options for those new to credit or rebuilding credit.
Is a Citi credit card right for you?
Ultimately, the right credit card for you is based on your credit score, spending habits and general feature preferences.
Citi offers credit cards for people across the credit spectrum, but most are reserved for people with good or excellent credit. Also, while the card issuer offers great rewards on some of its cards, you’ll want to make sure the next card you pick aligns well with your top budget categories.
Finally, Citi offers solid welcome bonuses and even some introductory 0% APR promotions, but it doesn’t currently offer any cards with premium travel perks, and just a few of its cards offer ancillary benefits like trip and shopping protections.
As you consider a Citi credit card, it’s important to shop around and compare against similar cards to ensure you’re getting the best card for your needs.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The best Citi credit card for you will depend on your financial needs, creditworthiness, spending habits and preferences. Citi offers a variety of credit cards with different rates, rewards and benefits for a variety of consumers. Our list can help you narrow down your options.
Citi doesn’t disclose credit limit ranges, but some online reports suggest that the card issuer has offered limits of up to $50,000 on cards that are currently available.
If your credit score needs some work, you may have an easier time getting approved for the Citi® Secured Mastercard® * The information for the Citi® Secured Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , which requires an upfront security deposit. If you’re looking for a rewards credit card, the Citi Double Cash Card is accessible for people with fair credit or better.
Many Citi credit cards are designed for people with good or excellent credit. However, you can get approved for a Citi card with fair or even poor or limited credit.
The card issuer doesn’t disclose how often it reviews your account for a potential credit limit increase. In general, though, card issuers may consider you for an increase, either automatically or by request, every six to 12 months. Cardholders can log into their accounts and request a credit limit increase by filling out an online form.
Citi doesn’t provide this information. If you’re approved for a Citi credit card, your credit limit will be based on several factors, such as your credit score, credit history, income and other debt.
Editor’s note: This article contains updated information from previously published stories:
*The information for the Citi Custom Cash® Card, Citi Double Cash® Card, Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi Simplicity® Card, Citi Strata Premier℠ Card and Citi® Secured Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
