Best Citi Credit Cards of September 2025
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Written by
Joseph Hostetler
On the hunt for a new credit card? There’s a good chance one of the best Citi cards (an advertising partner) could be the perfect fit for you.
The broad selection of Citi credit card options is both a blessing and a curse; finding the best Citi credit card for your lifestyle can be a big task. Let’s compare Citi cards — and help you find the perfect fit for your financial goals by giving you a digestible rundown of each.
Quick Overview: Citi® Credit Cards
| Our Choice For | Credit Range | Annual Fee | Highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2% Cash Back |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$0 |
Extra long intro APR on balance transfers, generous welcome bonus, and 2% cash back 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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
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| Balance Transfers |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$0 |
No Late Fees & an incredibly long intro APR on balance transfers 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months and 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months, then 18.24% – 28.99% (Variable)
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| Balance Transfers |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$0 |
Citi Entertainment® Perks & an incredibly long intro APR on balance transfers 0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases and 21 months on Balance Transfers then 17.24% – 27.99% (Variable)
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Flexible Cash Back |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$0 |
Earn a welcome bonus and 1% – 5% cash back Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked with Citi Travel®.
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| Customizable Rewards With No Annual Fee |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$0 |
Earn a generous welcome bonus and up to 5x Citi ThankYou® points in useful categories Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services. Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations. Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
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| Premium Points |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$95 |
Earn up to 10x points per dollar plus a bonus worth 60,000 bonus ThankYou® PointsEarn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
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| Elevated Rewards and Premium Travel Perks |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$595 |
Earn 80,000 points and premium benefits For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
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| Frequent American Airlines Travelers |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$99, waived for first 12 months |
2x rewards in popular categories plus American Airlines benefits
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| $0 Fee American Airlines Rewards |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$0 |
2x at grocery stores plus American Airlines benefits
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More Details
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Detailed Overview: Citi Credit Cards
Top Feature
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.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% – 28.24% (Variable). A 18.24% – 28.24% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases.
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- 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.
- 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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- 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).
Top Feature
Incredibly Long Intro APR for Balance Transfers
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months and 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months, then 18.24% – 28.99% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee… Ever
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- 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).
- Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock
Top Feature
Extremely long intro APR on Balance Transfers Plus Citi Entertainment® Perks
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases and 21 months on Balance Transfers then 17.24% – 27.99% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 17.24% – 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
- With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
- No Annual Fee – our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge.
** Information for the following card was not reviewed by Citi or provided by Citi.
Top Feature
Earn $200 in 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.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers, then 18.24% – 28.24% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Cash Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- 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.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers, then 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. 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).
- Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Top Feature
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 28.24% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, 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.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
- 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
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
- Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
Top Feature
Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 20.24% – 29.24% (Variable). A 20.24% – 29.24% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases.
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from date of account opening for balance transfers only. After that the variable APR will be 20.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- Balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each credit card balance transfer, whichever is greater. Balance Transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
How To Choose the Best Citi Credit Card for You
Citi’s got a healthy number of credit cards, including cards that earn cash back, travel rewards cards and cards with 0% APR offers. So, how can you quickly decide which card is best for you?
Check Your Credit Score
Before you apply for any credit card, you should know your credit score. Most credit cards require, among other factors, a minimum credit score for approval. For example, if you have a credit score of 500 (labeled “poor” by FICO), you won’t be approved for Citi’s best cards.
Citi cards all require a good credit score or better (670+).
Again, your credit score doesn’t guarantee approval; banks consider other elements of your financial profile, too.
Identify Your Financial Goal
Something stirred you to open a new credit card. What is it?
Perhaps you want to earn more cash back for your purchases, or maybe you’ve never had a credit card before and you’re looking for a good starter. If you travel a lot, you may want a credit card that saves you on checked bags or hotel stays.
Choose a Card That Complements Your Spending
Citi has a fantastic assortment of bonus spending categories. The card that best suits you will reward you for purchases you planned to make, anyway.
If you travel a lot, you’ll likely want a card that earns bonus Citi ThankYou® points for expenses like airfare, hotel stays, and gas. If you’ve got a large family, you may prefer to earn bonus rewards for grocery shopping and dining. Or, if your spending is a bit unconventional, Citi issues credit cards that earn a respectable flat return rate for all purchases.
Decide if an Annual Fee Is Worth It
Are you willing to pay an annual fee? If so, take a magnifying glass to each card’s benefits and determine which will give you the most outsized value for the yearly fee. If you’ll save more money from the card’s benefits from the card’s normal course of use than you’re losing, the annual fee is worth it.
Choose the Card That Offers the Best Welcome Bonus
All things being equal, if you still can’t decide on the card you want, open the one with the most valuable welcome bonus. Just make sure you can meet the card’s minimum spending requirement to unlock said bonus.
Pros and Cons of Citi Cards
Citi does some things better than just about anyone else — and they’re behind the curve in other areas. Keep in mind these general characteristics of Citi as a card issuer.
Pros
- Excellent return rates on most cards
- Above-average 0% intro APR offers
Cons
- Most credit cards offer virtually no insurance benefits
- Fewer premium credit cards than competitors
- Very few options for small business owners
Citi Credit Card Benefits
Most Citi cards come with standard benefits that you’ll expect from most credit cards, such as:
- Fraud protection: If your card is lost or stolen, you will benefit from zero liability protection. You won’t have to pay for any unauthorized charges as long as you report your card missing promptly.
- Citi Merchant Offers: Citi publishes unique digital offers that you can add to your credit card, which will save you money on many common expenses. From restaurants to gas stations to grocery shopping, you can receive either statement credits or cash back for spending with specific merchants.
- Virtual account numbers: Citi cardholders can create digital credit card numbers to use as an extra layer of security when shopping online or paying with a digital wallet.
- Free FICO credit score: Most cards offer a credit score monitoring feature by providing a monthly FICO score update.
Beyond these boilerplate benefits, some cards come with extra special perks. Here are some of the highlights:
- Intuitive bonus categories: The Citi Custom Cash Card automatically awards a 5% return (up to $500 per billing cycle, then 1%) for the eligible bonus category you use the most. That takes a lot of the brainpower out of optimizing your spending.
- Lengthy 0% intro APR offers: A few Citi cards offer some of the most generous interest-free periods on the market. One of the crowning Citi Diamond Preferred Card benefits is its 0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases and 21 months on Balance Transfers then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable).
- Airport lounge access: You can enter American Airlines airport lounges for free (with up to two guests or immediate family) when you hold the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. You’ll typically get complimentary food and alcohol in a comfy and quiet place to wait for your flight.
- Travel credits: A select few cards offer monthly or annual statement credits toward common travel purchases. For example, one of the most popular Citi Strata Premier Card benefits is an annual $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when you book through Citi Travel.
- Free checked bags on domestic flights: You’ll pay $35 each way for the first checked bag on a domestic American Airlines flight. But cards like the Citi AA Platinum Select card give you the first checked bag free for you and up to four companions on your reservation.
Alternatives To Consider
Although Citi issues some excellent cards for certain financial goals, it doesn’t cover all the bases. If you’re not finding what you need, check out these instead.
- Chase credit cards: Chase issues credit cards that come with travel and purchase protections that frankly embarrass Citi. Its welcome bonuses are also often more valuable. It’s also a much more business-friendly bank, offering exponentially more small business credit cards than Citi.
- American Express credit cards: If you’re looking for the most impressive premium cards, Amex (an advertising partner) has a slew to choose from. It issues the highest-tier cards for brands like Delta, Hilton and Marriott. And similar to Chase, Amex has a wide variety of business-centric cards.
- Capital One credit cards: In addition to solid travel credit cards, Capital One has several options that are ideal for those with limited or poor credit history. Whether you’re just beginning your credit journey or you’re trying to atone for past mistakes, Capital One can be a huge boon.
How To Apply for a Citi Card
Applying for a Citi credit card is just like any other issuer. The process is simple:
- Head to the card application page on Citi’s website. You can also apply for Citi cards in-branch or by phone.
- Input a few personal details, such as your mailing address, income, Social Security number and date of birth.
- Formally submit your application. Your credit file will endure a hard credit inquiry, which will temporarily lower your score by a few points (it’ll bounce back quickly after a month or two of responsible use with your new card).
- If you’re approved, jot down your credit card number if it’s offered. Several Citi credit cards generate an instant number for you to begin spending immediately.
- You may not be instantly approved. If your application results in a pending or declined decision, you can call Citi to ask them if there’s any information you can provide that would approve you for the card.
Frequently Asked Questions About Citi Credit Cards
What is the Citi 48-month rule?
The Citi 48-month rule applies to many of its credit card welcome bonuses. You can only earn the bonus of most Citi credit cards once every 48 months — or if you earned a bonus on a card that you’ve since product changed into the same card you’re planning to open within the past 48 months. For example, if you earned the Citi Strata Premier Card bonus within the last two years, you wouldn’t be eligible to earn it again.
What is the minimum score for the Citi Diamond Preferred Card?
Data points suggest that the Citi Diamond Preferred Card requires at least a good credit score (670 or above, per FICO) for approval. But we recommend applying when your credit score is above 700. That’s because a better score can result in a higher credit limit — and therefore more ability to transfer more money from other high-interest cards.
Which Citi credit card has no annual fee?
Several Citi credit cards have no annual fee. Citi’s best no-annual-fee cards are the Citi Double Cash Card and Citi Custom Cash Card.
How Do Our Critics Evaluate the Cards?
All of the credit cards featured on CardCritics™ are assessed using the same criteria. Our critics evaluate fees, interest rates, balance transfer options, introductory bonuses, rewards, additional benefits and the average credit score required for approval.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.