See the best Citi cards of March 2023, compare Citi cards, and browse our list of unbiased reviews.
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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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.
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.
Pros
Intro APR for purchases and balance transfers. Get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for an impressive 21 months after account opening, then 17.49% to 28.24% variable after that. You'll also get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months following your account opening. After the intro period passes, your rate reverts to an APR between 17.49% to 28.24% variable.
No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
Longer than average period to transfer balance. You have 4 months from account opening to transfer your balance and receive the intro offer.
Cons
No rewards. The card is excellent for saving money on interest, but you won't earn any rewards on your purchases.
No signup bonus. There's no bonus to earn upon signup.
Balance transfer fees. This card doesn't offer an intro period for balance transfer fees.
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 12 months (then 17.49% to 28.24% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 21 months (then 17.49% to 28.24% variable) Balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
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.
Pros
Earn cash back. Earn cash back twice on everything you buy — 1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you pay your balance. Similar cards let you earn 1.5% back. That's up to a $100 difference if you spend $20,000 a year with your card.
Intro APR on balance transfers. Enjoy 18 months of a 0% intro APR period for balance transfers. Compared to similar cards, this is one of the longest intro periods you can get. After that, a variable APR of 18.49% to 28.49% applies.
Citi Entertainmentâ„ . Get special access when buying presale tickets or VIP packages for concerts, sports events, dining and more.
Cons
Foreign transaction fee. All purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants cost 3% of the amount.
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
18.49% to 28.49% variable
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 18 months (then 18.49% to 28.49% variable) Intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5)
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.
Pros
Flexible rewards. The Citi Custom Cash℠Card earns 5% back on your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle, on up to $500 that cycle. After meeting the cap you’ll earn 1% back until the next billing cycle. Eligible categories are grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, drugstores, live entertainment, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, travel, transit and streaming services.
Signup bonus. The card’s $200 bonus after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months is higher than the average you’d find on a 5% cashback card.
No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
Cons
High penalty APR. Missing payments on this card can result in a hefty penalty APR of up to 29.99% variable.
Foreign transaction fees. This card isn’t great for travelers abroad. You’ll pay 3% on transactions made outside of the US.
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 18.49% to 28.49% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 18.49% to 28.49% variable) Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Welcome Offer
$200 cash back after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months. Fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back
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 valid card for everyday purchases. Plus, if you redeem points through the ThankYou Travel Center, your points are worth 25% more.
Pros
Signup bonus. Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account. These points are worth $600 on average based on Finder's valuations.
Rewards. This card earns a wide variety of rewards on everyday purchases, including 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, flights and hotels, and 1x points on all other purchases.
Points transfers. Transfer your points to your choice of eligible airline and hotel loyalty programs such as TrueBlue and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
Cons
Annual fee. You'll pay an annual fee of $95.
No intro APR period. With this card, you won't get a intro APR period on purchases or balance transfers.
Annual fee
$95
Purchase APR
20.49% to 28.49% variable
Foreign transaction fee
None
Welcome Offer
60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
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.
Pros
Annual fee. None with your paid Costco membership.
Rewards. Great cash back for several categories. Earn 4% cash back on your first $7,000 in eligible gas purchases (then 1%), 3% back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases, 2% back on Costco and Costco.com purchases and 1% back on all other purchases.
No foreign transaction fees. Use this card freely online with foreign merchants or abroad and you won't pay any foreign transaction fees.
Cons
Limited reward redemption. You can only redeem your rewards once every year.
No intro APR period. There's no 0% intro APR period on purchases or balance transfer, or a 0% deferred interest on Costco purchases.
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.
Pros
Earn points. Earn 2x points at gas stations and supermarkets. This applies to the first $6,000 in qualifying purchases per calendar year, after which you will earn 1x points.
Signup bonus. Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening.
Rounding gets you more points. Your points will be rounded up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase.
A good intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening, then 17.99% to 27.99% variable.
Cons
Foreign transaction fees. Because of the 3% foreign transaction fee, this may not be a good card to use with foreign merchants abroad or online.
Penalty APR. If you miss a payment, Citi may impose a penalty APR of up to 29.99% variable.
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 17.99% to 27.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 17.99% to 27.99% variable) Intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5)
Welcome Offer
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
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.
Build your credit. Citi will report your card activity to all three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. With responsible use, you can build your credit.
Cons
Deposit lockdown. Citi will keep your deposit for at least 18 months or unless Citi deems your account eligible and returns your deposit earlier than that.
No rewards program. You won't earn any rewards on your purchases. This isn't surprising, considering it's a secured card. But it is possible to find other secured cards that do reward you for your purchases.
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.
Pros
AAdvantage miles. Earn 2x miles on your American Airlines purchases, at restaurants and at gas stations, and 1x miles on all other purchases.
Signup bonus. Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,500 within your first 3 months of card membership.
Flight discount. Earn an annual $125 American Airlines flight discount after you spend $20,000 or more with your cardmembership year.
Cons
Annual fee. During the first year you won't pay an annual fee, but starting from the second, you'll pay a $99 each year.
Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($99 thereafter)
Purchase APR
20.49% to 29.49% variable
Foreign transaction fee
None
Welcome Offer
50,000 miles after spending $2,500 in the first 3 months
Browse through our listed Citi credit cards and review their details to find one that best suits you.
After making your selection, choose Apply now.
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.
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 may own 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.
How do I prequalify for a Citi credit card?
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 perform 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 several 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®. Another consideration is 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 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.
Concierge service. Most Citi credit cards offer this perk, though the Citi Prestige® Credit Card offers a slightly more premium version. Use the concierge to contact experts who will help connect you to various services in travel, dining, shopping and entertainment categories, or you can ask for recommendations.
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.
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 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.
Megan Horner is head of publishing at Finder, where she leads a team that's focused on publishing personal finance guides and reviews that help readers make informed financial decisions. She's passionate about helping you find the best financial accounts to meet your needs — whether that's earning great rewards or improving your credit score.Â
Megan's expertise has been featured on Lifehacker, CreditCards.com, American Banker and news broadcasts across the country. She has a longstanding background in surfacing the best deals and helping people make decisions, including a start as a writer at a comparison website and editing credit card and credit score content at Credit Karma. She earned a degree in English and editing from Brigham Young University.
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.
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. :)
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.
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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.
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
Is my 16 year old eligible to apply for a credit card with or without me as a consignor?
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