Best Citi credit cards of January 2025
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- Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for flat-rate rewards
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card: Best for travel
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: Best balance transfer card
- Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for cash back
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Showing 4 results
Intro offer
$200 cash back
Rewards rate
1% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: You can keep your rewards strategy simple with a leading flat rewards rate and intro balance transfer APR.
Intro offer
75,000 bonus points
Rewards rate
1X - 10X
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: Occasional travelers can easily rack up rewards toward their next trip with this card’s diverse roster of everyday categories.
Balance transfer intro APR
0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers
Regular APR
17.24% - 27.99% (Variable)
Rewards rate
N/A
Annual fee
$0
Why you'll like this: With this card's intro APR offer, you'll have more than a year to pay down credit card debt.
Intro offer
$200
Rewards rate
1% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: It adapts to your spending each billing cycle, letting it fit into nearly any rewards strategy thanks to its top cash back rate on ten possible categories.
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Compare Bankrate’s top Citi credit cards
Card name | Best for | Annual fee | Card highlights | Bankrate review score |
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Flat-rate rewards
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Up to 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (1% when you buy, plus another 1% when you pay off purchases) 5% cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions via the Citi Travel℠ portal (through Dec. 31, 2025) 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (on transfers within the first four months), then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR |
4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Citi's secure site
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Travel |
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10X points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked via the Citi Travel℠ portal 3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets and gas and EV charging stations $100 annual hotel benefit discount on a single hotel stay of $500 or more booked via the Citi Travel℠ portal (excludes taxes and fees) |
4.7 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Citi's secure site
|
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Best balance transfer card |
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N/A |
4.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Citi's secure site
|
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Cash back |
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5% cash back on the top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent each cycle, then 1% cash back) 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions via the Citi Travel℠ portal (through June 30, 2026) |
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Researching the best Citi credit cards
We thoroughly rate and research the best Citi cards based on key criteria to help you make confident decisions when choosing your next credit card. Learn more about our methodology below.
What to know about Citi credit cards
Citi is one of the largest financial institutions in the world with more than 200 million customers and operations in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. The issuer’s credit card selection isn’t as robust as some issuers’ card offerings, but Citi’s credit cards are low-cost powerhouses for everyday spenders and people hunting for top-notch balance transfer intro APR offers. Citi’s main rewards cards all earn ThankYou points, so they can stack up plenty of value toward travel if you decide to pair them with the premium Citi Strata Premier℠ Card.
But if you’re interested in luxury-level travel cards, rewards-packed starter cards and leading business cards, though, Citi cards may not be the best picks. Determining the right card for you will depend on your spending habits, debt, future expenses and credit score, so be sure to keep these factors — and our experts’ advice below — in mind while weighing your options.
Bankrate insight
Outside of its ThankYou point-earning cards, Citi is also known for its popular co-branded cards. Frequent flyers may want to check out their best American Airlines cards, and frequent bulk buyers may be able to save even more money with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi* or its business card counterpart.
Here’s how a Bankrate expert chose her Citi credit card
Despite her initial reluctance, Bankrate editor Courtney Mihocik has found the Citi Custom Cash® Card to be invaluable, allowing her to navigate her credit card journey with ease and flexibility. Its customizable features and rewards structure have enhanced her financial experience.
“I initially considered Citi as an issuer for my first general travel card, but its travel portal and benefits didn't stack up to competing issuers' travel cards. But I think Citi really shines with its cash back credit cards. I got the Citi Custom Cash card in 2022 and have used it solely for my grocery purchases for almost two years, racking up a solid amount of 'basic' Citi ThankYou points. I'm going to keep stockpiling the points until I have a hefty sum to cover a large grocery haul.
One of my favorite aspects of being a Citi cardholder is managing my account on the mobile app. With it, I can track my cash back rewards, easily pay off my balances and even request credit limit increases. And when I found a fraudulent charge on my Citi Custom Cash card in 2022, Citi was quick to cancel the card, refund the amount and send a replacement.”
— Courtney Mihocik, Bankrate editor
Citi customer experience
Citi ranks sixth in customer satisfaction among major credit card issuers, according to J.D. Power’s 2023 customer satisfaction study, holding the same rank since the 2023 and 2022 surveys. This is also the first year since 2022 that its customer satisfaction score has risen above the average score, and Citi ranks better than about 63 percent of other surveyed issuers. Citi’s performance also seems to have improved over the past few years, based on the J.D. Power surveys.
Citi is also the only issuer in the top six to have marginally improved its score since 2023. Meanwhile, the other five issuers all faced notable drops to their score. Plus, the difference between Citi’s score and the top-ranked issuer’s score (American Express) more than halved, drastically narrowing from a 51-point difference in 2023 to a 23-point difference in 2024. Citi cards have also generally climbed a few ranks in the individual card category rankings since the 2023 survey.
Consumers’ credit card needs have changed over the past year as there has been a shift toward cash back (away from points and miles), lower annual fees and interest intro APR offers to help manage sustained high interest rates and credit card debt. Considering these factors are major pillars among Citi’s credit cards, they could be more satisfying cards worth considering in the current market.
Pros and cons of Citi credit cards
Pros
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Diverse rewards category rosters: Citi’s major credit cards focus on providing uniquely extensive bonus categories to capitalize on as much everyday spending as possible, potentially including both key expenses and niche categories.
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Versatile rewards redemptions: Unlike some issuers’ points and miles, Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed for cash back at an equal value of 1 cent per point, which can make these cards more helpful if you don’t travel often.
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Competitive intro offers: Several Citi cards have decent sign-up bonuses and top-tier intro APR offers for balance transfers, adding plenty of short-term value to the card and breathing room for debt consolidators.
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Great for pairing: Citi’s no-annual-fee rewards cards don’t overlap with the issuer’s premium travel card, making Citi cards some of the best options on the market if you’re trying to maximize your rewards earnings with an affordable card stack.
Cons
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Trailing travel value for rewards strategists: Based on Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations, ThankYou points could be worth less on average through top travel transfer partners than Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Amex Membership Rewards points and Capital One miles.
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Limited options for beginners and business owners: If you are focused on building credit or your small business, you’ll have few competitive starter options with Citi.
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Basic credit card perks: Citi credit cards tend to sacrifice additional perks like travel and shopping protections, partner rideshare or delivery offers and non-essential travel benefits in order to optimize their rewards rates, bonus categories and intro APR offers.
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No luxury travel cards: Unlike Capital One, Chase and American Express, Citi doesn’t offer luxury, perk-packed travel cards that typically have a $300 to $700 annual fee. Instead, the Citi Strata Premier is its flagship card.
Our data: Bankrate’s most popular Citi Card
By analyzing our proprietary data, we were able to determine Bankrate's most popular Citi card in 2023.
At least 8 percent of Bankrate readers who looked at credit cards on our Citi page clicked on the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card*. Plus, this card had one of the highest approval rates among Bankrate users applying for Citi credit cards as well.
To increase the chances of approval for the Citi Diamond Preferred card, Bankrate users should focus on maintaining a healthy credit history and score. This includes making timely payments, keeping credit utilization low and monitoring credit reports for errors. Users can also consider pre-qualifying tools, such as Bankrate's CardMatch™, to gauge their likelihood of approval for the card without impacting their credit score.
For people with lower approval odds, the Citi® Secured Mastercard®* can help you build your credit score.
Overall, researching and comparing different Citi cards based on individual needs and financial habits can help you find the best card that suits your preferences and increases your chances of approval.
Still deciding if a Citi credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.
What people say about Citi credit cards
With new credit cards launching and existing cards updating their sign-up bonuses and fees, we wanted to get a sense of what people are saying about Citi credit cards. Most users on the popular subreddit r/CreditCards saw them positively, especially if you prefer cash back to travel rewards:
“They’re pretty good for cash back! If you wanted to have just a Double Cash and a Custom Cash as your setup, that’s already solid in my opinion.”
— Reddit User
Citi cards are also known for their redemption flexibility. One user on myFICO raised a great point in a conversation about Citi cards, commenting, “The main draw is that I can cash out all my cashback to any bank account I choose.” This can be valuable because it’s important to be able to access your rewards how you please. With most Citi cards you can opt for simplicity and receive cash back hassle-free.
* The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.
Expert advice for Citi Cards
Check out tips from our team of financial experts on how to maximize rewards and features on your Citi card.
Frequently asked questions about Citi credit cards
*The information about the Chase Freedom Flex®, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, Citi Rewards+® Student Credit Card, and the Citi® Secured Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
How we assess the best Citi credit cards
When evaluating the best credit cards from Citi, we take into account several factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether they offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards to scoring a large sign-up bonus to saving on interest.
Our rating database covers over 250 of the most popular credit cards, allowing us to compare the quality of various Citi cards to each other and to cards in the same category from other issuers. We scored each card based on the factors most relevant to its primary category, including its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, intro APR period, ongoing APR, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.
Here’s a look at how our card ratings are distributed as of August 2024, as well as some of the key factors that we considered in selecting this month’s best Citi cards.
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5 stars 2%
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4 - 4.9 stars 35%
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3 - 3.9 stars 39%
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2 - 2.9 stars 22%
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1 - 1.9 stars 2%