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Citi credit cards: Which one is best for you?

See the best Citi cards of December 2024, 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.

1 - 5 of 7
Name Product USCCF Filter values Rewards Purchase APR Annual fee
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card image
Up to 5% cash back
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 18.99% to 28.99% variable)
$0
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 image
Up to 2% cash back
19.24% to 29.24% variable
$0
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 image
None
0% intro for the first 12 months (then 17.49% to 28.24% variable)
$0

Best of Finder 2023

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 image
Up to 4% cash back
20.24% variable
$0
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 Rewards+® Card
Citi Rewards+® Card image
Up to 2x points
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 18.74% to 28.74% variable)
$0
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
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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.

Best for balance transfers

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Welcome Offern/a
RewardsNone
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Best for 2% cash back

Citi® Double Cash Card

3.8
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Welcome Offern/a
RewardsUp to 2% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Best for 5% cash back

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

4.9
★★★★★

Finder score

Terms apply, see rates & fees.
Read review
Welcome Offer$200
RewardsUp to 5% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Best for general travel

Citi Premier® Card

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome Offer75,000 points
RewardsUp to 3x points
Annual fee$95
Minimum credit score670

Best for gas

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

3.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome Offern/a
RewardsUp to 4% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score740

Best for rewards rounding

Citi Rewards+® Card

4.1
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome Offer20,000 points
RewardsUp to 2x points
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Best secured credit card

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

Minimum deposit requiredStarting at $200
Purchase APR27.49% variable
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit scoreNew / limited credit
Information about this card has been collected independently by Finder.

Best value for American Airlines flyers

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

4.1
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome Offer50,000 miles
RewardsUp to 2x miles
Annual fee$99 after the first year intro
Minimum credit score670
Information about this card has been collected independently by Finder.

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 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.

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 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.

Megan Horner's headshot
Written by

Publisher

Megan Horner is editorial director at USA TODAY Blueprint and former head of publishing at Finder, where she lead a team 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.  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. See full bio

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4 Responses

    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.

      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

    Default Gravatar
    CheryleeJune 21, 2018

    Is my 16 year old eligible to apply for a credit card with or without me as a consignor?

      AvatarFinder
      JoanneJune 22, 2018Finder

      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

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