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Citi credit cards: Which one is best for you?

See the best Citi cards of July 2022, compare Citi cards, and browse our list of unbiased reviews.

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Megan Horner
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Compare Citi credit cards

Citi is one of the largest credit card issuers in the United States, offering a variety of credit cards. Use our table to see how they compare in terms of annual fee, rewards and intro APR period. Hit Show filters to narrow your options to products that fit your credit score range and best suit your financial needs.

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1 - 5 of 10
Name Product Filter values Rewards Purchase APR Annual fee
Citi Custom Cashâ„  Card
Citi Custom Cashâ„  Card
5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle on up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back thereafter and on all other purchases
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 15.49% to 25.49% variable)
$0
View details
A unique cashback card that automatically awards 5% to your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle, on up to $500 (then 1%).
Citi® Double Cash Card
Citi® Double Cash Card
Up to 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay)
15.49% to 25.49% variable
$0
View details
Earn up to 2% on every purchase with no annual fee. This is the highest flat-rate cashback card on the market.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
N/A
0% intro for the first 12 months (then 15.24% to 25.24% variable)
$0
View details

Best of Finder 2021

 One of the longest intro APRs on balance transfers at 21 months and a solid 12 months on purchases make this one of the top 0% intro APR cards available.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
4% at eligible gas stations on up to $7,000 annually (then 1%), 3% at eligible restaurants and on travel, 2% at Costco snd Costco.com and 1% on all other purchases
16.74% variable
$0
View details
An impressive cashback card that offers up to 4% back on everyday purchases like gas, travel and dining all for the cost of a Costco membership.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®
2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1x miles on everything else
17.49% to 26.49% variable
$450
View details
The card for premium AAdvantage flyers: Enjoy Admirals Club® Membership, priority check-in, early boarding and statement credits for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.
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The best Citi credit cards

Finder’s credit card experts reviewed all of these cards and compared them against one another based on several factors, including: the value they offer versus their annual fee, additional card features and APRs.

We’ve ranked the eight best Citi credit cards based on our unbiased evaluations to help you make the right choice for your financial needs. Unlike our competitors, Finder’s credit card experts research and write about all credit cards, including those from providers who aren’t partners on our site.

Quick look at the best Citi credit cards

Best for balance transfers

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Finder rating 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has long been the balance transfer card of choice for consumers that need a long intro period. While there are more cards on the market these days offering comparable intro lengths, the simplicity of the card, lack of annual fee and opportunity for intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers means this card should remain high on your list for balance transfer cards.

Best for 2% cash back

Citi® Double Cash Card

Finder rating 3.8 / 5 ★★★★★

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Though it lost some of its shine thanks to stiffer competition from Chase, the Citi® Double Cash Card remains a no-annual-fee favorite for cash back. Earning up to 2% back on purchases — 1% when you buy plus 1% when you pay your balance — is still higher than the industry average for flat-rate cards and you'll often find an intro APR on balance transfers with this card.

Best for 5% cash back

Citi Custom Cashâ„  Card

Finder rating 4.9 / 5 ★★★★★

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Citi's newest cashback credit card was directly influenced by the evolving consumer spending habits we saw during the pandemic: a bigger focus on flexibility and simplicity. The Citi Custom Cashâ„  Card is both of those things, offering the maximum value you'd earn on a 5% category card but without the need to monitor those categories. The end result is a card that makes it simple to achieve maximum value.

Best for general travel

Citi Premier® Card

Finder rating 4.3 / 5 ★★★★★

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As far as mid-tier travel cards go, the Citi Premier® Card offers just enough perks to make up for the cost of the card each year. And since it earns in a variety of everyday categories such as restaurants and gas stations, this is a something of a 'do-no-wrong' pick. Plus if you redeem points through the ThankYou Travel Center, your points are worth 25% more.

Best for gas

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Finder rating 3.4 / 5 ★★★★★

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This is an excellent all-around cashback product, provided you don't mind — or prefer — receiving your rewards in the form of Costco statement credits. Notably, it earns 4% back at all gas stations, not just Costco gas stations. Your 4% cash back will be capped at $7,000 in eligible gas purchases, followed by 1%. The card also offers 3% back on restaurant and travel purchases, rounding out its role as an overall solid pick for consumers on the go.

Best for rewards rounding

Citi Rewards+® Card

Finder rating 4.1 / 5 ★★★★★

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There isn't another rewards card on the market quite like the Citi Rewards+® Card. That's because rewards earned with this card will be rounded up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase. This makes it a phenomenal card for racking up points on small, numerous purchases.

Best secured credit card

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

Finder rating 4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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This is Citi's only secured credit card. It's not the best secured card you'll find, but it's a good choice if you want a product from a reputable provider. One note: this card is for those new to credit, not those with poor credit.

Best value for American Airlines flyers

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Finder rating 4.1 / 5 ★★★★★

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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is perhaps the best American Airlines credit card available at the moment thanks to the value it brings versus the price. It allows you to earn a generous signup bonus and solid miles on your purchases without putting a strain on your wallet. Plus, the card's checked baggage benefit can offset the card's annual fee after only two flights.

What’s changed in 2022?

In 2022, we added Citi’s newest cashback card to our list, the Citi Custom Cash. The card offers consumers a great way of maximizing rewards without needing to worry about monitoring categories. This simplicity earned it a spot not just on this list, but several other Finder categories as well.

We also removed the Citi Prestige from our list, as the card is no longer accepting applications.

How to apply for a Citi card

  1. Browse through our listed Citi credit cards and review their details to find one that best suits you.
  2. After making your selection, choose Apply now.
  3. Fill in the application with required information. This typically includes your full name, email address, residential address and phone number, date of birth, Social Security number and total annual income. For a business credit card, enter additional information such as your legal business name, years in business, annual business revenue and federal tax ID. You must be at least 18 years of age to apply.
  4. Review and submit your application. Once approved, you can activate your Citi card online, by phone or through the Citi mobile app.

How many Citi cards can I have?

You can have as many Citi credit cards as you can get approval for. But there is an 8/65/95 rule to keep in mind.

Essentially, this rule says you can apply for your second Citi card eight days after you applied for your first card. After that, you have to wait 65 days to apply for your third card. The number 95 means you have to wait at least 95 days between Citi business credit card applications.

Is this the same as the Citi-48-month rule?

No. The Citi 48-month rule is a policy that restricts you from gaining the signup bonus from a card more than once within a 48-month period. Not all cards are affected, so check out the full 48-month rules for more information.

Can I prequalify for a Citi credit card?

Yes, Citi gives you the option to prequalify for a card without a hard pull on your credit. All you have to do is visit Citi’s prequalification page, fill out the form and wait to receive your offer.

Once you choose your card and apply for it, Citi will do a hard pull on your credit.

How do I choose the best Citi credit card?

Citi has plenty of great card options, so you might find choosing one a little tough. To narrow down the best choice for your wallet, you’ll want to look into a few factors:

  • Consider your existing debt. Citi boasts three cards with long intro APRs of 18 months or more on balance transfers. If you want to consolidate your existing debt and pay it off within that intro period interest free, you’ll want to check out these balance transfer options.
  • Review your typical spending. You have a few solid reward options available to you through Citi, so pick a card that will earn you the most rewards on your specific spending habits. And if your spending is more spread out over various categories, the Citi® Double Cash Card is a great flat cashback pick.
  • Look for appealing travel perks. If you frequently travel, Citi has a few solid options to choose from when it comes to additional perks and features. Citi is the go-to provider for American Airlines cobranded credit cards, including favorites like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. You can also consider the Expedia cards for a more general travel card option.
  • Look at the credit requirements. Several of Citi’s cards require a good or excellent credit score to qualify. If you need help building your credit score, the Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a good choice, as you can apply with no credit score, make a security deposit and start building your credit.

Types of Citi cards

Citi is known for offering simple but effective cashback credit cards and balance transfer credit cards with some of the longest 0% intro APR periods on the market. You can also find great travel cards that use the ThankYou rewards program, and cobranded travel cards with American Airlines, Expedia and Costco.

On the downside, Citi doesn’t have a whole lot of small business cards to choose from, and no cards available for poor credit. You also only have only two cobranded credit card options — an American Airlines card and a Costco card.

Citi card for bad or fair credit

Unlike other card providers that specialize in cards for building credit, Citi doesn’t offer a credit card specifically for those with bad credit. Instead, Citi offers a secured card for those who are new to credit. It’s an excellent card, but you won’t qualify if you have a bad credit score.

Standout benefits of Citi credit cards

  • Rewards. Most Citi credit cards offer rewards. This can either be in the form of cash back, ThankYou points or cobranded miles and points.
  • ThankYou rewards program. Some Citi credit cards are part of the ThankYou program, which is similar to Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards. If you already bank with Citi and want to get into one of the best travel rewards program, a ThankYou rewards card is the way to go.
  • Long balance transfer periods. Citi offers the longest 0% intro APR period of 21 months on two of its cards. This length occasionally dips based on market conditions but it has remained relatively consistent over the life of the two cards.
  • Virtual credit cards. Citi is one of the rare card providers that offers virtual credit card numbers to some of its cards. This is an excellent safety feature that hides your actual credit card information when shopping at shady online vendors.
  • Citi Entertainment. The Citi Entertainment program offers discounts on a variety of entertainment events when you book online with your Citi card. You also get exclusive access to presale tickets and experiences.
  • New card tracker. A newer feature for Citi cards is the ability to track the processing and shipping of your new credit card through the Citi app. Best of all, you can view your card number through the card tracker, allowing you to use your card before you receive it in the mail. 
Full list of Citi credit card reviews
Personal
Business
Cobranded
What are some alternatives to Citi credit cards?
Citi isn’t the only provider to look at if you want high-level cards. For example, American Express, Discover, or Chase are a few other examples of providers that offer the same breadth of quality and variety as Citi.    
Bottom line
While travel cards are Citi’s bread and butter, the provider offers a superb cashback product and top-notch balance transfer cards.
If you’re not sure whether a Citi product is right for you, check out market-leading credit cards to compare more options.
Frequently asked questions
How does Citi keep my credit card information secure?
Citi uses advanced technology to keep your information safe online and on mobile. It deploys 128-bit SSL encryption to secure the information you transmit, as well as an SSL certificate that helps you confirm you’re on the correct website. Additionally, the bank uses two-step verification if it needs to confirm your identity.
What should I do if I lose my Citi card?
First, lock your card with Citi Quick Lock. Then call 1-800-950-5114 to report your lost card. Citi will cancel your current account, then issue you a new account number and credit card.
Can I cancel my Citi card without calling?
To cancel your Citi card online you have to chat with a Citi representative. This may not always work, in which case you’ll need to call in to cancel.
How we rate our cards
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.
We rank card types — travel, cash back, business — on a set of factors that are most relevant to that type of card. We create these rankings to help you narrow down a credit card that best suits your spending and budget.
Learn the details of our methodology and scoring.
Read more on this topic
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4 Responses
  1. Default Gravatar
    NicoleNovember 14, 2018
    I would like to cancel my credit card account, but it is not yet activated. Can you cancel an account without activating it first? I got the card in hopes to transfer a balance off another card but decided against it and I no longer need it.
    Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      joelmarceloNovember 15, 2018
      Hi Nicole,
      Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
      You can surely cancel your credit card anytime. However, just because you didn’t activate the card doesn’t change the fact that you applied and was approved for a line a credit. You can do that with a phone call to the credit issuer. But just be aware that if it has helped your score go up because it broadened your credit utilization ratio, your scores will likely drop once you lose that credit line. But don’t worry too much about that as you can hike it back up by deleting any debt you’re carrying elsewhere and make sure to always pay your creditors on time.
      Please send me a message if you need anything else. :)
      Cheers,
      
Joel
      Reply
  2. Default Gravatar
    CheryleeJune 21, 2018
    Is my 16 year old eligible to apply for a credit card with or without me as a consignor?
    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JoanneJune 22, 2018Staff
      Hi Cherylee,
      Thanks for reaching out.
      Legally, no one can get a credit card on their own unless they’re at least 18 years old. Anyone under 18 can only be an authorized user on someone else’s — for example, their parents’ — account. You may check on credit card options for your teen. 
      If you are referring to offers from Citi, they have the Citi Thank You Preferred Card for College Students, in which the minimum age requirement is for the applicant to be at least 18 years of age and is currently an enrolled college student.
      Best Regards,
      
Joanne
      Reply
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