Citi Simplicity® Card review: A no-fuss balance transfer card

The Citi Simplicity is one of the most competitive balance transfer cards available with one of the longest intro APR periods available. Plus, it’s perhaps the most forgiving card for paying off debt since it’s one of the few cards that doesn’t charge late fees or a penalty APR in case you miss a payment.

Intro APR offer: More than a year to pay down transferred balances

This card’s main selling point is its intro APR offer: 0 percent for 21 months (18.49% - 29.24% (Variable) APR after) on balance transfers made within the first four months of account opening. 

Not only is this card’s intro APR period on transfers one of the longest on the market, but the card also gives you more time to transfer your balance (four months) than many other cards, which typically only give you 60 to 90 days to transfer your balance. 

However, the intro APR on purchases is only 12 months, meaning there will be an entire 9 months remaining of your intro balance transfer offer that you’ll need to be paying off your purchases in full on top of trying to settle your existing balance. On the other hand, several competitors provide matching intro APRs of 18 months to 21 months on both purchases and balance transfers. Still, a shorter intro APR on purchases might not be a deal-breaker unless you need more breathing room to pay off any upcoming purchases while you’re trying to settle your balance.

Rates and fees: Very forgiving on card penalties

The Citi Simplicity’s other strength is affordability. While you can find other cards with comparable intro APR offers, they’ll likely have more potential fees than the Citi Simplicity card. In addition to charging no annual fee, this is one of the rare few cards that don’t charge late fees or have a penalty APR. Granted, there is a 3 percent fee for foreign transactions, but that’s pretty common for a balance transfer card. In fact, the Discover it® Chrome is perhaps the only balance transfer card without a foreign transaction fee — and, notably, there is no late payment fee the first time you pay late (then up to $41).

This makes the Citi Simplicity an especially forgiving card for credit beginners and those managing debt. Although you might not pay a late fee, it’s worth mentioning that missing a payment or the minimum payment might end your intro APR early — and not to mention damage your credit score — so this is a perk that should only be relied on in an emergency.

Typical for most balance transfer cards, the Citi Simplicity carries few benefits beyond its intro APR offers. Once its intro offers end, the card won’t provide much ongoing value compared to some other zero-interest cards with rewards and more well-rounded features.

Rewards: Limited long-term value

Like most balance transfer cards with 18-month offers or longer, the Citi Simplicity does not have a rewards program. This shouldn’t be a priority when you’re focused on paying off debt, but it’s a nice bonus since it can help you save on everyday spending and give your card long-term value. 

If you don’t need 21 months to pay off your balance and want a card for the long haul, consider a cash back card or a rewards card with a shorter intro APR on balance transfers and new purchases. As long as you are careful not to overspend, earning rewards while paying down debt can help you pay it off faster if you manage your card responsibly. 

Cardholder perks: No notable benefits outside low rates and fees

Balance transfer cards often come with a thin portfolio of cardholder perks, and the Simplicity card is no exception. The Citi Simplicity’s benefits don’t offer anything unique, making the card an unremarkable option if you’re looking for more than standard card perks like fraud protection and account alerts. You’ll also have access to Citi Entertainment and Citi Flex Pay Plans, but many other issuers provide similar pre-sale ticket and alternative installment payment features.

If you’re after more popular no-annual-fee card perks, a few balance transfer cards like the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card and the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offer cellphone protection. However, rewards cards will be a better option if you’re looking for more lucrative perks or stronger protections.

The Simplicity card is one of your best options if you have high-interest credit card debt and need a long period of time to pay it off. But another card may be better if you need to both pay off debt and finance new purchases.

The Citi Simplicity is a great card for anyone with credit card debt that may take several months to pay off, including:

The Citi Simplicity card is great for consolidating existing card debt and providing a long introductory period for balance transfers. In fact, it could be one of the best options available if you’re worried you might miss a payment due date since it’s perhaps the only major card that completely waives late payment fees.

However, another card could be a stronger pick in the long run since the Simplicity card doesn’t offer a rewards program, long intro APR on purchases or other significant perks that rival cards may.

Our proprietary card rating system takes into account a mix of factors when scoring balance transfer and low-interest cards, including each card’s introductory APR, intro APR period length, ongoing APR, balance transfer fee, perks and more.

While balance transfer and low-interest cards share a similar ratings rubric, we weigh features differently based on how a card is categorized. We categorize cards that carry an especially long intro APR offer on balance transfers as dedicated balance transfer cards, while cards that offer an especially low ongoing APR are considered general low-interest cards. 

Based on its features, we assigned this card a primary category of balance transfer and tailored our ratings accordingly. 

We analyzed over 100 of the most popular balance transfer and low-interest cards and scored each based on how its key features stacked up against those of other cards in the category. 

Here’s a breakdown of what gave this card its score: