- All information for the Citi® Double Cash Card, Citi Premier® Card, Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, and Citi Simplicity® Credit Card has been collected independently by LA Times Compare. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Citi is a top credit card issuer offering co-branded credit cards with American Airlines and Costco, as well as popular cash back and travel credit cards with generous earning rates.
- Citi ThankYou points are a major perk of several Citi cards, and can be transferred to a broad selection of airline and hotel partners, .
- The Citi Flex Plan program offers a variety of unique ways for Citi card customers to pay down their credit card bill.
- They offer a variety of rewards, including cash back, bonus miles in the American Airlines program, and Citi ThankYou points, making them a good fit for frequent travelers, consumers who crave cash back, and those with heavy debts.
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Compare the Best Citi Credit Cards of 2024
Holly D. Johnson - Personal Finance
+ 1 other
Reviewed By
Blake Esken - Los Angeles Times
Our top picks for the best Citi credit cards
Advertiser Disclosure
Citi® Double Cash Card
2% Reward Rate
Earn 2% cash back total on all purchases — 1% when a purchase is made and another 1% when purchases are paid off.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
$200
Regular APR
19.24% to 29.24% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
The Citi® Double Cash Card has a lot going for it, including its 2% cash back rate (1% at the time of purchase and 1% when you pay it off) with no annual fee required. Cash back earned with this card is doled out in the form of Citi ThankYou Points. These points can be used for flexible options like merchandise, gift cards, travel through Citi or point transfers to airline and hotel partners.
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Citi Premier® Card
Up to 3X Reward Rate
Earn 3X points on restaurant spending, gas purchases, supermarket spending, air travel, and hotels, as well as 1X points on other purchases.
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Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer
60,000 points
Regular APR
21.24% to 29.24% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
We like the Citi Premier® Card for a few reasons, including the fact you earn 3x points in so many everyday spending categories. You should also note that this card earns Citi ThankYou points, which can be redeemed for gift cards, payments toward a student loan or a mortgage, statement credits, travel through Citi or transfers to Citi airline and hotel partners.
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Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Up to 4% Reward Rate
Earn 2% back on Costco purchases and 1% to 4% back on other eligible purchases.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
20.49% variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent (740 - 850)
Why we like it
If you’re looking for a card that rewards you for spending at gas stations, look no further than the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. This card gives you 4% cash back on up to $7,000 spent at gas stations each year (then 1% back). Cardholders also earn generous rewards on dining and travel, when they shop at Costco or Costco.com and as they make other purchases.
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Up to 4X Reward Rate
Earn 4X miles on American Airlines purchases, 2X on spending at restaurants and gas stations, and 1X bonus miles per dollar for everything else.
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Annual Fee
$0 the first year, then $99
Welcome Offer
50,000 miles
Regular APR
21.24% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use airline credit card that lets you earn bonus miles for flights around the world, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® should be on your list. This card lets users earn bonus miles on American Airlines purchases, dining out and gas purchases, and it doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees.
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Citi Simplicity® Credit Card
No Rewards
This card doesn’t earn any rewards.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
19.24% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
While the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card doesn’t offer cash back or flexible rewards points, it does offer one of the best intro APR offers for balance transfers. New cardholders qualify for 0% APR on purchases for 12 months and 0% APR on balance transfers for 21 months. 18.99%-29.74% variable APR rates apply at the end of the introductory periods.
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About Citibank
Citi was originally founded in 1812, so this financial institution has been in operation for more than 200 years.
In addition to offering an array of credit cards, Citi offers additional financial products such as savings and checking accounts, mortgages, and personal loans. You can learn more about Citibank savings accounts in our helpful guide.
When it comes to their credit card offerings, Citi offers options for both consumers and small businesses. While some of their card options are co-branded with organizations like American Airlines and Costco, they also have their own Citi rewards program.
Benefits of choosing a Citi card
As you take a closer look at Citi credit cards, you may be wondering why you should choose them over other cards from issuers like Chase and American Express.
The fact is, there are a variety of perks you can only get with a Citi card, including the following:
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Earn Citi ThankYou points.
Several credit cards earn Citi ThankYou points, including the Citi Premier® Credit Card and the Citi® Double Cash Card. Rewards in this program are incredibly flexible with the option to redeem for gift cards, cash back, or even payments to a student loan or a mortgage. Citi ThankYou points can also be used for travel-related redemptions through Citi, or for point transfers to the brand’s unique roster of airline and hotel partners. -
Sign up for the Citi Flex Plan.
The Citi Flex Plan program extends a few unique ways for Citi card customers to pay down their credit card bill. With Citi Flex Pay, which is part of the Citi Flex Plan, customers can set up specific large purchases on a payment plan with fixed monthly payments. -
Enjoy competitive rewards rates.
Several Citi credit cards offer exceptional rewards for spending, including the Citi® Double Cash Card and the Citi Premier® Credit Card. -
Enjoy an interest-free period of up to 21 months.
If you need to consolidate high interest debt from other cards, Citi credit cards offer some of the best intro APRs out there. With the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card, for example, cardholders get access to the longest intro APR offer for balance transfers on the market today.
Citi credit card rewards
Like other credit card issuers, Citi offers credit cards that earn different types of rewards points.
Depending on the Citi card you choose, you could earn cash back, bonus miles in the American Airlines program, or Citi ThankYou points. With the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, on the other hand, cardholders earn an annual reward certificate they can use for purchases in Costco stores.
Which type of Citi rewards work best for you? That really depends on your preferences and the type of redemptions you hope to make.
For example, cash back is a good option for people who rarely travel, yet Citi ThankYou points work better for people who travel often or just want some flexibility in how they redeem their rewards. At the same time, miles in the American Airlines program are best for cardholders who want to fly with American Airlines or with partner airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, or Iberia.
Who should get a Citi card?
Now that you’re up-to-date with the best Citi credit cards, you’re probably wondering if any of these cards can work for your needs and goals.
The following types of consumers should consider a Citi credit card:
Frequent travelers
Frequent travelers who want some flexibility in their rewards should look at cards that earn Citi ThankYou points. This dynamic and flexible rewards program lets users redeem points for a variety of travel redemptions if they prefer, which can include travel booked through Citi or point transfers to airlines and hotels.
Consumers who crave cash back
Citi offers some of the best cash back credit cards available today, including the Citi® Double Cash Card and the Citi Custom Cash Card, which did not make our list. Not only do cash back credit cards from Citi offer generous rewards rates, but they don’t charge an annual fee.
Consumers with heavy debts
People who are stuck paying a high regular APR on their debts can consider balance transfers with Citi. For example, the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card extends 0% APR on balance transfers for 21 months, followed by a standard variable APR of 14.99% to 24.99% based on an applicant’s creditworthiness.
People who fly with American Airlines
If you’re a frequent flyer with American Airlines, Citi offers several credit cards for you to consider. Options include the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Mastercard®, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Mastercard®, and the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard. All of these cards let members earn bonus miles with the American AAdvantage program, and some offer air travel benefits like free checked bags, priority check-in, Admirals Club airport lounge access, and more.
Costco enthusiasts
If you frequently shop at Costco, it definitely makes sense to get the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. It’s among the best credit cards to use at Costco as there’s no annual fee, and you get to earn 1% to 4% cash back for each dollar you spend. This includes 4% back on up to $7,000 in spending at gas stations per year (then 1% back) and 2% back on Costco and Costco.com purchases.
How we selected our top Citi credit cards
To make our selection for this ranking of top Citi credit cards, we looked for cards that appeal to the broadest range of consumers. We only chose cards with no annual fee or an annual fee under $100, as well as cards with exceptional rewards rates in bonus categories and for other purchases.
Other factors we considered include the variable APR range for each card, cardholder perks, any sign-up bonus offered, and approval odds based on creditworthiness.
Citi Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best Citibank credit card?
The best Citi credit card depends on what you hope to accomplish. For example, Citi offers a broad range of credit cards for people who want to earn travel rewards or cash back. However, they also offer co-branded credit cards and cards geared to balance transfers.
Is the Citi Diamond Preferred Card hard to get?
Your approval odds for the Citi Diamond Preferred Card will depend on your creditworthiness. Generally speaking, this card is only available for people who have a good or excellent credit score. For people with no credit history, other credit cards such as Discover or Capital One are available.
Is a Citi credit card worth it?
Citi credit cards can definitely be “worth it,” but you should try to maximize cardholder benefits and rewards while keeping costs at a minimum. For example, rewards earned with a Citi credit card won’t be as valuable if you wind up paying a high variable APR on your credit card balance each month.
Will I qualify?
Most Citi cards are for consumers with good or excellent credit, so it makes sense to check your credit score before you apply. If you have poor credit, you can also consider the Citi® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card.
About the Author
Holly D. Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer who covers topics like insurance, investing, credit and family finance. As a leading voice in the travel and loyalty space, Johnson has traveled with her family to more than 50 countries over the last decade.
The author has also written extensively on the power of household budgeting, and she even co-authored a book on the topic. Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love was originally published in 2017, and it teaches families how to use zero-sum budgeting to reach their financial goals. She is also the co-owner and founder of the family finance and travel website, ClubThrifty.com.
Johnson’s 10+ years of writing have focused on helping families make important financial decisions at each stage of their lives. The author also applies the financial principles she teaches to her own life, and she is currently on track to retire in her late 40’s with her partner. She currently lives in Central Indiana with her husband and children, and she is a regular contributor for Bankrate, CNN, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report Travel and many other notable publications.
* Opinions expressed here are those of LA Times Compare and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publication. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.