If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
Citi, an advertising partner with Motley Fool Money, offers a wide selection of quality credit cards. Whether you're looking for cash back, flexible travel points, or a way to avoid interest and other credit card fees, there's a Citi card that fits the bill.
Great for: Balance transfers
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months on Purchases
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 months on Balance Transfers
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer There is an 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).
Long intro balance transfer APR
This is one of our favorite cards for balance transfers. It has 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and a discounted balance transfer fee for the first four months. That combo makes it one of the most generous balance transfer offers we’ve seen. But it doesn't have much ongoing value after the intro 0% APR period ends. Read Full Review
Great for: Low interest
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months on Purchases
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 months on Balance Transfers
Regular APR
17.24% - 27.99% (Variable)
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
This card sets itself apart with an incredible 21-month 0% intro APR offer on qualifying balance transfers and no annual fee, making it a top pick for anyone looking for ample time to pay off credit card debt. Plus, you can choose from any available payment date. That way, you can set up automatic payments that are aligned with your paycheck. Read Full Review
Great for: Cash rewards
Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months on Balance Transfers
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Rewards Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
2% cash back
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
$200
This card combines a top-notch balance transfer offer with best-in-class unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. There's no introductory APR for purchases, so you'll need to pay those off in full every month if you want to avoid interest charges. Read Full Review
Great for: Travel, restaurants, and groceries
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Rewards 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking. Travel insurance protection: Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption (Common Carrier), Trip Delay, Lost or Damaged Luggage, MasterRental Coverage (Car Rental).
1x - 10x points
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
75,000 ThankYou® Points
Citi Strata Premier offers a unique combination of bonus categories we don't see on many travel cards. It earns 3X points on travel and everyday-type categories, including supermarkets and gas/EV charging. You can also earn a welcome bonus worth $750. That combination of rewards is an excellent value for a relatively low annual fee. Plus, if you run into any problems on a trip, its complimentary travel protections (including coverage for trip delays, trip cancellations and interruptions, and lost/damaged luggage) could save the day. Read Full Review
Great for: Costco members
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Rewards 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases. 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
1% - 4% back
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
There aren't many cash back cards that earn this much on gas and EV charging. Bonuses at restaurants, on travel, and at Costco and costco.com make this a well-rounded card overall. But there are some frustrating downsides, including a slow cash back redemption process and the lack of a sign-up bonus. Read Full Review
Great for: Costco members
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Rewards 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases. 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
1% - 4% back
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
There aren't many business cards offering this much bonus cash back at the pump (and the charging station). It also earns high rates on travel, at restaurants, and at Costco, giving it a well-rounded set of bonus categories. Other benefits are limited, making this primarily a card for Costco loyalists and business owners who drive a lot. Read Full Review
Great for: American Airlines travel
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
1x - 2x miles
Annual Fee N/A
$99, waived for first 12 months
Welcome Offer For a limited time, earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
75,000 miles
The rewards program makes this a compelling card to carry with OK earning opportunities beyond just American Airlines purchases. Read Full Review
To pick a Citi card, start by pinpointing your No. 1 need in a credit card. Citi has cards that offer travel rewards, cash back, 0% intro APRs, as well as cards for building credit. By deciding which type of card you want, you narrow down your options.
Here are a few common situations and the right type of card for each one:
Need help deciding between two or more cards? Use Motley Fool Money's tool to compare credit cards for a side-by-side look at all the important features.
Citi has credit cards available for every credit score, so there's no set score needed for a Citi card. If you're rebuilding credit, the Citi® Secured Mastercard® is the card issuer's most accessible option.
Some of the best Citi credit cards, in particular its rewards credit cards, are aimed at consumers with credit scores of 700 or higher. There are exceptions, most notably the Citi Double Cash® Card. It's one of the most valuable cash back cards, and you could qualify for it with a credit score below 600.
Citi's transfer partners aren't as good as those of American Express and Chase, both of which have members of the top four U.S. airlines among their partners. But Citi still has a solid rewards program overall with some high-value transfer opportunities.
Here are the top Citi rewards cards for points transfers that are currently available:
Note that if you have multiple Citi cards, you can combine your points onto the one with the best transfer options. For example, you could move your points from the Citi Double Cash to the Citi Strata Premier if you have both of those cards.
Here are the customer service numbers for Citi credit cards:
Current cardholders can also get support through a live chat option. Automated support is available 24/7 with Citi® Bot. Representatives are available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Citi doesn't have the best reputation for customer service. It ranked fifth in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study, scoring one point above average. There are also quite a few complaints about Citi's customer service on social media.
Citi offers a diverse selection of credit cards. Below, we'll cover the main types of Citi credit cards.
Citi's 0% intro APR cards don't charge you any interest for an introductory period. The intro APR can apply to either:
This is one of Citi's strong suits, as several of its cards boast lengthy 0% intro APR offers. If you're interested in this type of credit card, make sure you get one with the type of offer you need, or with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Another financing option Citi offers through its credit cards is Citi Flex Pay. If your card has this type of offer available, you can use it to get a Citi Flex Pay loan with a fixed interest rate.
A Citi cash back card rewards you with a percentage back on your purchases. Some of Citi's cash back credit cards, including the Citi Double Cash® Card, earn the same rate everywhere. Others, including the Citi Custom Cash® Card, earn higher rates in bonus categories and a lower rate on non-bonus spending.
Citi gives you multiple ways to redeem your cash back. You could apply it to your credit card bill as a statement credit or deposit it to a bank account. Other options include using it to buy gift cards or book travel.
Citi's low-fee cards keep the cost of owning a credit card to a minimum. The most common example is no annual fee credit cards. Citi has several no annual fee cards that you could use to avoid fees entirely.
Some low-fee cards are lacking other common credit card fees, as well. For example, the Citi Simplicity® Card doesn't charge an annual fee or late fees.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
2025 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Balance transfers |
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Low interest |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Cash rewards |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Travel, restaurants, and groceries |
|
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Costco members |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Costco members |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: American Airlines travel |
At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
Our highest-rated credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
The best Citi credit card for most consumers is the Citi Double Cash® Card. It earns a flat rate of up to Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.. Since it has a high cash back rate and is easy to use, this card can work well for just about anyone.
No single credit card is right for everybody, though. To choose the best Citi credit card for you, consider what benefits would be the most valuable. Depending on your lifestyle and financial needs, you might find that another Citi card is the right choice.
Citi offers the following types of credit cards:
You don't need a specific credit score to get a Citi credit card. Its most accessible card, the Citi® Secured Mastercard®, is available to a wide range of applicants and doesn't have a minimum credit score requirement. Other Citi credit cards have stricter requirements, but they vary depending on the card.
Citi ThankYou Points are rewards earned by some Citi cards. You can redeem ThankYou Points for travel, gift cards, cash back, and purchases with select retailers. Points can also be transferred to Citi's partners, including more than a dozen airlines, but only with select Citi ThankYou cards.
These are the Citi cards that earn ThankYou Points:
Although all those cards earn ThankYou Points, they don't all offer the same ways to redeem rewards. Only the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card and the Citi Prestige® Card let you transfer points to any of Citi's partners, so points are more useful if you have one of those cards.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa and Mastercard.