Best Citi Credit Cards Of November 2024

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card earns bonus Citi ThankYou Points in several spending categories and it offers great redemption flexibility.

Why We Like It

Unlike Citi’s other credit cards, travel insurance protections have been added to the Strata Premier including trip delay protection, common carrier trip cancellation and interruption protection, lost or damaged luggage and MasterRental coverage (car rental insurance). That’s great for a card with an affordable annual fee.

For Citi Strata Premier cardholders, their Citi ThankYou Points can be transferred to over a dozen travel partners including JetBlue TrueBlue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Choice Privileges Rewards and others.

While these programs aren’t as well known as some of the ones you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards® into, they can offer amazing value to those willing to put in the work. Additionally, the card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

What We Don’t Like

The card’s $100 hotel benefit may be difficult to redeem. And its highest earning rates are on Citi Travel bookings, which may be a limiting factor for some cardholders.

Who It’s Best For

The variety of bonus categories make the Strata Premier a strong contender for everyday spending and for anyone who doesn’t want the hassle of figuring out what card to use to maximize earnings. Additionally, it could be an excellent option for those who travel frequently with one or more of Citi’s transfer partners.

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is ultra-flexible. There are no rotating categories to track or activate and you can earn 5% cash back on purchases in a top eligible spend category up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle, 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026 and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Why We Like It

In addition to everyday expenses like grocery stores, gas and restaurants, the eligible 5% categories offered include less common options like home improvement, fitness clubs, live entertainment and a handful of others. Like most of Citi’s other cards, the Custom Cash offers the extra perks a big bank usually provides like digital wallet, $0 fraud liability, FICO Score access, 24/7 support and other conveniences.

Additionally, the card offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months from date of account opening on purchases and from date of first transfer for balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on creditworthiness. There is also a balance transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

What We Don’t Like

The 3% foreign transaction fee means it’s not a card you’d want to use abroad.

Who It’s Best For

Whether used as a balance transfer option first or not, the Citi Custom Cash® Card is best used as a companion card to supplement a card offering rewards with fewer limits.

A proper balance transfer card, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card offers a lengthy introductory APR period on purchases and balance transfers. The card has the standard suite of convenience perks Citi offers with many cards, such as $0 fraud liability.

Why We Like It

The card’s low introductory APR for balance transfers or financing purchases can save you money. New cardholders get a 0% intro APR for 21 months on eligible balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 17.74% – 28.49%. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.

Additionally, there’s no annual fee, making it a great resource to pay off your debt.

What We Don’t Like

The card doesn’t earn rewards or offer many extra benefits, so it might not be a preferred choice in your wallet over the long term.

Who It’s Best For

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is a solid choice for those aiming to consolidate their debt and pay it off over a period of time without accruing interest.

The Citi Simplicity® Card* is essentially the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card with a few key differences: no penalty APR, a lower intro balance transfer fee and a slightly higher standard APR.

Why We Like It

With the Citi Simplicity® Card*, you’ll get 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 29.49%. There is an intro balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater, for transfers made within 4 months of opening the account. After that, a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies. Plus, it doesn’t charge an annual fee.

What We Don’t Like

Unfortunately, the Citi Simplicity® Card* charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the amount of each purchase.

Who It’s Best For

The Citi Simplicity® Card* is an excellent choice for those looking for a balance transfer card with a long intro period or those planning to make a large purchase. Although it doesn’t earn rewards, it can serve as an effective tool for debt payoff.

We often refer to the Citi Double Cash® Card as the gold standard for flat-rate cash back. Its 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, and earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25—used to be difficult to beat. Now, we compare it to nearly everything we expect those with fair to excellent credit to qualify for. But the Double Cash pulls triple duty with its balance transfer qualities and ability to earn transferable points, too.

Why We Like It

Though several unlimited 2% flat-rate cash-back cards now exist, few offer a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

What We Don’t Like

The Citi Double Cash® Card doesn’t offer many extra benefits beyond the typical Citi convenience benefits, such as $0 fraud liability and digital wallet technology.

The 0% intro APR on balance transfers is nice, but it doesn’t apply to purchases. Note that this also means purchases will not receive a normal grace period unless the entire balance, including any transferred amount, is repaid by the payment due date. To avoid interest charges, those who do transfer a balance to the Double Cash should wait until their balance has been paid in full before they begin using the card for purchases.

Who It’s Best For

The Citi Double Cash Card is an attractive option for those with fair to excellent credit who want to transfer high-interest balances or who seek a versatile cash-back card. It’s also an excellent choice for maximizing cash back on purchases not covered by other cards.

The Citi Rewards+® Card earns okay rewards and doesn’t have many additional benefits, but its unique earning features are what set it apart. With both a round up to the nearest 10 points option and a Points Back feature, the card is truly rewarding. Still, it may not be enough to make up for the additional complexity of keeping track of another credit card and rewards system.

Why We Like It

With Round Up to the nearest 10 points, a $2 coffee purchase earns 10 ThankYou Points where it would otherwise earn 2, and a $12 meal purchase earns 20 ThankYou Points where it would otherwise earn 12. With the Points Back feature, the card returns 10% of ThankYou Points redeemed, up to the first 100,000 points redeemed per year. So if you redeem 15,000 ThankYou Points, you’ll get 1,500 points back.

Keep in mind that if you have multiple ThankYou Points-earning cards, you can combine your earnings in a single account. This means your Citi Rewards+ points can become transferable to Citi’s full list of travel partners if you also hold the Citi Strata Premier.

The introductory APR offer may also appeal to some: a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or a minimum amount of $5 within the first 4 months of account opening applies. After that, the amount of each balance transfer will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) applies.

What We Don’t Like

Statement credit or straight cash-back redemptions are worth less than 1 cent per point. And the card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Who It’s Best For

The Citi Rewards+® Card is best suited for serious ThankYou® Points enthusiasts. If you aren’t, consider choosing from one of the other top rewards credit cards instead.

The opportunity to earn up to $240 in statement credits each year without an annual fee makes the AT&T Points Plus® Card from Citi worth looking into if you’re an AT&T customer. However, there are some tradeoffs to be aware of.

Why We Like It

The payoff of maximizing your rewards with this card could be substantial. Cardholders who charge $1,000 or more on purchases in a billing cycle can earn a $20 statement credit that month (alternatively, you can earn $10 in statement credits when charging $500 to $999.99). However, you must also enroll your AT&T postpaid wireless account in paperless billing and autopay with this card in order to be eligible.

What We Don’t Like

You have to jump through some hoops to maximize this card. And while the earning rates on gas and groceries are fair, it’s not unique, and it’s a bit underwhelming to earn a single ThankYou Point per dollar on most purchases. Frequent international travelers should also be aware that this card charges a foreign transaction fee of 3%.

Who It’s Best For

The card is best for AT&T customers who expect to earn their monthly statement credit regularly. Otherwise, there are better rewards cards available.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® earns decent AAdvantage miles on spending, offers a handful of benefits for flying on American Airlines and charges no foreign transaction fees. Citi doesn’t generally offer the travel insurance-style perks other issuers are known to offer with their travel cards, but those who use the benefits will likely find the annual fee worthwhile.

Why We Like It

The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card offers several American Airlines-related benefits, which provide most of the additional value. The first checked bag is complimentary for the cardholder and up to four companions when traveling on domestic flights, and cardholders receive preferred boarding and a 25% discount on in-flight purchases with American Airlines.

Cardholders who spend at least $20,000 on the card annually and renew their card, earn a $125 American Airlines flight discount—which is more than the annual fee. Plus, the card charges no foreign transaction fees.

What We Don’t Like

The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card offers few other major benefits beyond its reward earning and welcome bonus.

Who It’s Best For

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is best for frequent American Airlines flyers without AAdvantage status who check bags on U.S. domestic flights. However, if you prioritize premium travel benefits and protections, consider other options.

Citi offers the Citi® Secured Mastercard®* for those looking to build new or rebuild credit. A minimum $200 security deposit is required to open an account. Since several secured cards now offer rewards, the Citi® Secured Mastercard®* may not be the best option for those shopping for a secured card.

Why We Like It

It reports monthly credit history to all three major credit bureaus, doesn’t charge an annual fee and cardholders can access their FICO Score online.

What We Don’t Like

Unlike some top secured cards, the Citi Secured doesn’t earn any rewards, and there is no clear path to getting your deposit back and graduating to an unsecured version of the card. The card also has little else to offer other than the standard convenience benefits Citi included with Citi-branded cards.

Who It’s Best For

The Citi® Secured Mastercard®* could be useful for those who want to establish credit.

With Admirals Club lounge access, priority boarding and the first checked bag free for up to eight additional travel companions, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®* provides everything a premium airline rewards card should offer.

Why We Like It

In addition to the first checked bag free and lounge access, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®* charges no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also receive an up to $100 statement credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years, a 25% discount on in-flight purchases and, where available, an enhanced airport experience that includes priority boarding.

The benefits continue with up to $120 per calendar year in statement credits for Avis and Budget car rental purchases, up to $10 per month in statement credits for GrubHub purchases and $10 Lyft credits each month that you take at least three eligible rides. AAdvantage status-seekers will also appreciate that cardholders can earn up to 20,000 additional Loyalty Points per year.

What We Don’t Like

This premium card requires excellent credit and comes with a hefty annual fee that may make it inaccessible to some.

Who It’s Best For

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®* is arguably the best choice for frequent American Airlines travelers as it provides the most benefits of Citi’s American Airlines-branded cards.

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi* offers excellent gas, restaurant and travel rewards in addition to rewards for purchases made at Costco.

Why We Like It

The card offers competitive cash-back rates for in-store and online purchases and some of the highest cash-back rates on gas and electric vehicle charging at Costco and other stations across all rewards cards. Its purchase protection from theft and damage offers an excellent extra benefit.

What We Don’t Like

The card does require Costco membership, so we don’t recommend it for those who aren’t already regular Costco customers. It also doesn’t offer any travel protections or roadside assistance-related features as you might expect with a card offering such a high earning rate on gas.

Who It’s Best For

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi* is ideal for Costco members. Otherwise, it creates what would effectively be an annual fee with other benefits that might go unused.

The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card has no annual fee and earns AAdvantage miles, plus it comes with a 25% discount on inflight food and beverage purchases. Otherwise, it offers no major additional benefits.

Why We Like It

The AAdvantage rewards earned with this card can be redeemed for flights and upgrades. This card can also provide an elite status boost as cardholders earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent.

What We Don’t Like

The MileUp card offers almost none of the additional benefits of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and charges a foreign transaction fee, so it’s not a good choice for international travel.

Who It’s Best For

The MileUp card is best suited for occasional American Airlines flyers and domestic travelers. If you often travel with other airlines and value more premium travel perks, consider a different travel credit card.