BEST OF
Best Citi Credit Cards of January 2021
Citi-branded credit cards include a fantastic flat-rate cash-back card, cards with extra-long 0% APR periods for balance transfers and even an outstanding store card.
Citi-branded credit cards include a fantastic flat-rate cash-back card, cards with extra-long 0% APR periods for balance transfers and even an outstanding store card.
Best Citi Credit Cards From Our Partners
Our pick for
Travel rewards
Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
15.99% - 23.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
720-850
Excellent
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- NEW! Earn 3 Points at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- NEW! Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 60,000 Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Pros
The sign-up bonus and ongoing rewards make the Citi Premier® Card an attractive travel card. The card also comes with no foreign transaction fees, concierge service, early ticket and VIP access to events, and the ability to transfer points to participating airline loyalty programs.
Cons
The annual fee is $95. And as with other Citi cards that earn ThankYou points, the value of the points varies depending on how you redeem them; choosing cash back gives you less bang for your buck. The list of airline transfer partners is lacking in good domestic options.
Why We Like It
The rewards on the Citi Premier® Card are generous. It earns 3X points on airfare, hotels, gas stations, and restaurants and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. It also offers a good sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Our pick for
Balance transfers
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
14.74% - 24.74% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 18 months
Rec Credit Score
720-850
Excellent
- 0% Intro APR for 18 months on purchases from date of account opening and 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer. After that the variable APR will be 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
- With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
- Shop with confidence knowing that you have dependable protection benefits, including $0 Liability on Unauthorized Purchases and Citi® Identity Theft Solutions.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
Pros
The long 0% period for transfers is this card's defining feature, giving you more than a year to whittle down debt.
Cons
Because this card doesn't earn rewards, there's not a lot of ongoing value to the card once that 0% period runs out.
Why We Like It
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is all about the long 0% intro APR period. It's about as much breathing room as you'll find anywhere for transferring debt.
Our pick for
Cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months
Rec Credit Score
720-850
Excellent
- 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.
- Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% - 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% - 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
Pros
The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer stands out for both for its simplicity and relative generosity. You don’t have to worry about keeping track of rotating rewards categories or opting into quarterly offers. You can get a high ongoing rewards rate on all purchases. Another upside? The $0 annual fee.
Cons
The card has no sign-up bonus. The 0% introductory APR offer applies only to balance transfers, so it's not ideal for financing a purchase — nor is it ideal for using abroad, thanks to its foreign transaction fee. Plus, there's a $25 minimum redemption threshold for rewards.
Why We Like It
The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer offers one of the highest flat cash-back rates available. You get 2% back on everything you buy: 1% when you make purchases and 1% when you pay them off. The introductory 0% APR period for balance transfers also appeals to anyone looking to consolidate credit card debt.
Our pick for
Outsize rewards on small purchases
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
13.49% - 23.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Rec Credit Score
720-850
Excellent
- The Citi Rewards+® Card - the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase - with no cap.
- Earn 15,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $150 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.49% - 23.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfer fee - either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.49% - 23.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
Pros
You earn 2 points per dollar spent at supermarkets and gas stations (for the first $6,000 spent per year) and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Every purchase is rounded up to the next 10 points. So a $4 coffee earns 10 points, and a $54 bill at the supermarket becomes 110 points (54 x 2 = 108, rounded up to 110). You get 10% of your points back when you redeem, on up to 100,000 redeemed points per year. There's a decent sign-up bonus and a good 0% intro APR period.
Cons
The rewards earning system is rather complicated, and rewards redemption isn't as straightforward as cash back. If you spend a lot on groceries and gas, in particular, you can find more lucrative options.
Why We Like It
The Citi Rewards+® Card is an intriguing choice for people who make a lot of small purchases because it automatically rounds up the number of points you earn when you buy something.
Our pick for
Wholesale shoppers
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
15.24% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
720-850
Excellent
- Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members.
- 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter.
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases.
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases.
- Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.24%. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
Pros
The ongoing rewards are rich: 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases on up to $7,000 in spending a year (1% after that); 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com; and 1% back on all other purchases. The annual fee is $0 (though you do have to be a Costco member, which requires a yearly membership fee). The card charges no foreign transaction fee, so it's a good travel companion.
Cons
The card offers no sign-up bonus, and cardholders are limited in how and when they can redeem their rewards. You receive a rewards certificate once a year in your February billing statement. That certificate can then be taken to a Costco store before the end of the year; it can’t be used elsewhere. Also, for a store card, 2% back at Costco and Costco.com is a surprisingly low rate. Other store cards can offer better incentives for shopping specifically with that retailer.
Why We Like It
If you’re already a Costco member and spend a lot on gas, restaurants and travel, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi could make a lot of sense for you. And it can be used anywhere, not just at Costco.
Our pick for
Building credit
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
22.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
630-689
Average
- The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a no annual fee credit card that helps you build your credit when used responsibly.
- Unlike a debit card, it helps build your credit history with monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus. Once available, you will also have free access to your FICO score online.
- Use your card anywhere Mastercard® is accepted - worldwide.
- A security deposit is required. Once approved, your credit limit will be equal to your security deposit (minimum of $200).
- Get help staying on track with Auto Pay and account alerts.
- With Flexible Payment Due Dates, you can choose any available due date in the beginning, middle or end of the month.
- Manage your account 24/7 online, by phone, or in our mobile app.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 22.49%. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
Pros
With an annual fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $200, this is a low-cost, low-maintenance, no-fuss option for someone looking to build credit. When your credit improves, you may be able to graduate to one of the issuer's regular cards.
Cons
This is a secured card, meaning you must put down a cash security deposit. But unlike many secured cards, it's not available to people with damaged or "bad" credit. It's for those building credit for the first time rather than rebuilding their standing after past mistakes.
Why We Like It
The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a low-hassle card: Get it, use it to build credit, then move up to a product with better terms.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CITI CREDIT CARDS
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Cash back
Year after year, the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer has been our choice for the best flat-rate cash-back card. You earn 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy something and 1% when you pay it off. There's no 0% intro period for purchases and no sign-up bonus, but the high rewards rate more than makes up for the lack of bells and whistles. Read our review.
Our pick for: Travel
The Citi Premier® Card earns bonus points on airfare, hotels, supermarkets, dining and gas stations. There's a solid sign-up bonus as well. Read our review.
Our pick for: Balance transfers + late fee waiver
The Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever has one of the longest available introductory 0% APR periods for balance transfers, and a decent one for purchases as well. It doesn't charge an annual fee, late fees or penalty APRs either. Read our review.
Our pick for: Balance transfers
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card offers a long 0% introductory APR period on balance transfers and a shorter (but still pretty good) one for purchases. It doesn't have the late-fee forgiveness of Citi's other balance-transfer card, but it's still a great option. Read our review.
Our pick for: Outsize rewards on small purchases
The Citi Rewards+® Card might not be right for everyone, but its unique rounding-up feature means that every purchase will earn at least 10 points. The card offers bonus rewards at gas stations and supermarkets and has no annual fee. And the 0% intro APR period shouldn't be overlooked. Read our review.
Our pick for: College students
The Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card offers bonus rewards at gas stations and supermarkets, and its rounding-up feature means you can earn outsize rewards on small purchases. A good option for students with a lot of little expenses. Read our review.
Our pick for: Building credit
The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a straightforward card for people new to credit — put down a security deposit, use the card to establish a positive credit history and then move up to a better card (and get your deposit back). One note: This card is for people just starting out with credit, rather than people with bad credit from past mistakes. Read our review.
Our pick for: Wholesale club shoppers
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi turns everyday spending into rewards you can redeem at Costco (although you can only redeem them once a year). You earn bonus rewards on gas, at restaurants, on travel and at Costco itself. There's no annual fee for the card, but you have to be a Costco member (which does require a fee). Read our review.
Other cards issued by Citi
Citi issues branded credit cards in partnership with American Airlines. Learn more about these cards by reading the reviews linked below:
Last updated on December 21, 2020
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen in multiple categories.
