Best Citi Credit Cards

of June 2024

Best Citi Credit Cards

In This Article

Step into a world of incredible financial opportunities with the Best Citi Credit Cards. Whether you love to travel, shop smart, or enjoy special perks, Citi has the perfect card for you. Elevate your lifestyle, take charge of your money, and unlock a world of privileges that cater to your unique aspirations.

Citi is one of the largest and most reputable banks in the world, and it offers a variety of credit cards to suit different needs and preferences. Know that there is always a Citibank credit card for you — whether you want to earn cash back, points, or miles, enjoy low-interest rates, pay no annual fees, or access exclusive perks and discounts. Peruse this article to know some of the best Citi credit cards and why they are worth applying for. 

  1. Citi® Double Cash Card
  2. Citi Rewards+® Card
  3. Citi Premier® Card
  4. Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
  5. Citi Simplicity® Card

Overview of Citi Credit Cards 

How to Choose the Best Citi Credit Cards 

Pros & Cons of Best Citi Credit Cards 

What to Watch Out For

Pro Tips

1. Best cash-back card: Citi® Double Cash Card

Best cash-back card: Citi® Double Cash Card

Get a high and flat rewards rate of 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy something and 1% when you pay it off. This means you can earn more rewards than most other cash-back cards without having to worry about bonus categories or spending limits.

Pros

  • Charges zero annual fee
  • Has no limit on cash back
  • Offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
  • Has convertible cash back which you can convert to Citi ThankYou® Points
  • Has compatibility with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay.

Cons

  • Offers zero sign-up bonus
  • Offers 0% intro APR on purchases
  • Charges foreign transaction fee of 3%
  • Charges balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, (whichever is greater)
  • Nullifies cash back if there is no activity for 12 months
  • Requires excellent, good, or fair credit to qualify for this card. The regular APR is 18.99% – 28.99% (Variable).
  • Allows you to redeem your cash back as a statement credit, direct deposit, check, or convert them to Citi ThankYou® Points.
  • Allows you to access your FICO® Score for free online.
  • Enjoy Citi Entertainment® benefits such as presale tickets, VIP packages, and exclusive access to concerts, sporting events, and more.
  • Get protection benefits such as Citi® Identity Theft Solutions, $0 Liability on Unauthorized Charges, and Citi® Quick Lock

2. Best no-annual-fee card: Citi Rewards+® Card

Best no-annual-fee card: Citi Rewards+® Card

Choose this credit card to get bonus rewards at gas stations and supermarkets, and a unique feature that rounds up your points to the nearest 10 on every purchase. For example, imagine yourself buying coffee for $2 and earning 10 points instead of 2 points. Yes, this card is a great card for small purchases that can add up to big rewards.

Pros

  • Has no annual fee
  • Earn 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 you spend per year. Then, earn 1X points thereafter
  • 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
  • Get 10% points in return for your first 100,000 ThankYou® Points you redeem per year
  • Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening.

Cons

  • Charges foreign transaction fee of 3%
  • Deducts balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Places more value on gift cards or travel than cash or statement credit during points redemption.
  • Has no additional bonus categories or benefits
  • Nullifies rewards if no activity for 12 months
  • Check if you have excellent or good credit to qualify for this card. The regular APR is 15.49% – 25.49%.
  • Redeem your points for gift cards, travel, merchandise, statement credit, or shop with points at Amazon.com or BestBuy.com.
  • Transfer your points to participating airline loyalty programs such as JetBlue TrueBlue®, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club®, and more.
  • Access your FICO® Score for free online.
  • Enjoy Citi Entertainment® benefits such as presale tickets, VIP packages, and exclusive access to concerts, sporting events, and more.

3. Best travel rewards card: Citi Premier® Card

Best travel rewards card: Citi Premier® Card

Do you know this card comes with generous rewards on travel, dining, groceries, gas, and entertainment purchases? You can also enjoy a big sign-up bonus and an annual hotel savings benefit.

Pros

  • Earn up to 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months of account opening. You can also get points for $800 in gift cards or $1,000 for airfare at thankyou.com.
  • Earn 3X points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and entertainment; 1X points on all other purchases.
  • Enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, through thankyou.com, once per calendar year.
  • Don’t worry about foreign transaction fees.
  • Transfer points to participating airline loyalty programs such as JetBlue TrueBlue®, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club®, and more.

Cons

  • Prepare for an annual fee of $95.
  • Do not expect 0% intro APR on purchases or balance transfers.
  • Ready for a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Expect a reduction in value when you redeem points for cash or statement credit instead of gift cards or travel.
  • Has limited travel protection benefits compared to other travel cards.
  • Have excellent or good credit to qualify for this card. The regular APR is 17.99% – 25.99%.
  • Redeem your points for gift cards, travel, merchandise, statement credit, or shop with points at Amazon.com or BestBuy.com.
  • Access your FICO® Score for free online.
  • Enjoy Citi Entertainment® benefits such as presale tickets, VIP packages, and exclusive access to concerts, sporting events, and more.
  • Get protection benefits such as Citi® Identity Theft Solutions, $0 Liability on Unauthorized Charges, and Citi® Quick Lock.

4. Best for balance transfers: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Best for balance transfers: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Take this card if you need a long 0% intro APR period on both purchases and balance transfers and more time to pay off your debt or finance a large purchase. It also has no annual fee and access to Citi Entertainment® benefits.

Pros

  • Has no annual fee
  • Has 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months from the date of account opening
  • Gives you access to Citi® Identity Theft Solutions, $0 Liability on Unauthorized Charges, and Citi® Quick Lock

Cons

  • Offers no rewards program
  • Has no sign-up bonus
  • Charges foreign transaction fee of 3%
  • Offers high regular APR of 16.99% – 26.99% (Variable) after the intro period ends
  • Has limited travel protection benefits compared to other cards
  • Have excellent or good credit to qualify for this card.
  • Gives you the liberty to choose your payment due date.
  • Get discounts on eligible purchases at participating retailers through Citi Easy Deals℠.
  • Get access to personalized assistance 24/7 through Citi® Concierge

Overview of Citi Credit Cards

Bear in mind that Citi is one of the biggest and most trusted banks in the world, and it has a lot of credit cards you can choose from. However, it depends on what you want from a credit card. Find one that suits your needs and preferences. For example, if you like to get cash back on everything you buy, you might like the Citi® Double Cash Card. With this card, you can get  2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy something and 1% when you pay it off. That’s pretty awesome, right?

Or maybe you want to earn points that you can use for gift cards, travel, or shopping. In that case, you may want to check out the Citi Rewards+® Card. With it, you can get 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 spending per year and then 1X points thereafter. But that’s not all. It also rounds up your points to the nearest 10 on every purchase. So if you buy a coffee for $2, you earn 10 points instead of 2 points. That’s a nice bonus, don’t you think? These are just some of the best Citi credit cards that I picked for you. There are more options that you can explore on the Citi website.

How to Choose the Best Citi Credit Cards

How to Choose the Best Citi Credit Cards

Check out the below steps to know how you can choose the best Citi credit cards for yourself. 

  • Identify your credit card goals and preferences. 
  • Compare the different Citi credit cards based on their rewards, benefits, features, and fees. 
  • Narrow down your choices and apply for the best Citi credit card for you.
  • Wait for the approval decision from Citi.
  • Activate your new Citi credit card and start using it.
  • Manage your account and enjoy the benefits of your best Citi credit card.

Pros & Cons of Best Citi Credit Cards

  • Offers a wide range of rewards, benefits, and features that can suit different needs and preferences. 
  • Has competitive interest rates, fees, and terms.
  • Has generous sign-up bonuses and ongoing promotions. 
  • Has flexible redemption options and transfer partners.
  • Has easy and convenient account management and customer service.
  • Has some limitations and restrictions on its rewards, benefits, and features. 
  • Has some eligibility and qualification requirements that may be hard to meet for some applicants. 
  • Has some drawbacks and disadvantages compared to other credit cards from other issuers.
  • Has some risks and challenges that may affect your financial health and security. 
  • Has some trade-offs and opportunity costs that may affect your satisfaction and happiness. 

What to Watch Out For

Watch out for these few things before you choose a Citibank credit card.

  • The Annual Percentage Rate (APR). 
  • The fees. 
  • The rewards and benefits. 
  • The credit limit and utilization ratio. 
  • The sign-up bonus and promotions. 

Pro Tips

  •  Consider your credit card goals and preferences. 
  • Compare the different Citi credit cards based on their rewards, benefits, features, and fees. 
  • Check your eligibility and qualification requirements for the Citi credit cards you are interested in.
  • Apply for the best Citi credit card for you online, by phone, or in person at a Citi branch. You can apply for a Citi credit card online, by calling 1-800-950-5114, or by visiting a Citi branch near you.
  • Manage your account and enjoy the benefits of your best Citi credit card.

Recap

Choosing a credit card is an important decision that can affect your financial health and happiness. Consider your credit card goals and preferences, compare the different options available, check your eligibility and qualification requirements, apply for the best card for you, manage your account, and enjoy the benefits. You must also watch out for the pros and cons of each card, and the things you need to be aware of when using a credit card.

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