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Citi Bank remains at the forefront of credit card issuers, offering some of the top choices in travel, cash back, and business credit cards currently on the market. In collaboration with partners like American Airlines and Costco, Citi has an impressive line-up of co-branded cards.
In addition to these partnerships, Citi also provides a range of versatile credit cards that are ideal for daily use. I’ve used several Citi cards for my personal use and reward redemptions. If you’re uncertain about the best card for your needs or wish to explore different options, our comprehensive guide on the best Citi credit cards can assist you in making the right decision.
Editor’s note: The CardMatch™ tool is a way to see if you prequalify for a targeted bonus offer and for one of the cards on this list. Not only is it free to try, it also won’t impact your credit score.
Learn More: CardMatch™
Best Citi Credit Cards for Travel and Rewards in 2023
Here’s a list of the best Citi credit cards for travel and rewards, and links to in-depth personal reviews about them.
- Citi Premier® Card – Travel Rewards
- Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – Cash Back
- The Citi Prestige® Credit Card – Frequent Fliers
- The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® – American Airlines Perks
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® – Admirals Club Access
- CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® – AA Business Fliers
- The Citi® Double Cash Card – Cash Rewards
- Citi Rewards+® Card – Supermarket and Gas Purchases
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® – Casual AA Fliers
- Citi® Secured Mastercard® – Building Credit
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi – Frequent Costco Shoppers
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi – Business Owners Who Frequent Costco
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card – Balance transfers
- Citi Simplicity® Card – Pay down debt
Learn more: CardMatch™
Additionally, if you need to earn cash rewards or build credit, note that many of Citi’s best credit cards have no annual fee. Note that if you aren’t keen on traveling just yet, you can always start earning rewards now to use later.
While a few business options are featured in this post, if you’d like more information on Citi’s business options, check out our detailed guide to the best Citi business credit cards.
Citi Premier Card (Travel Rewards)
The information for the Citi Premier® Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Citi offers several credit cards that earn ThankYou points you can redeem for travel rewards. The Citi Premier® Card is their best credit card for travel credits overall. It has a reasonable $95 annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and offers these benefits:
- Earn 3x ThankYou points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations
- 1:1 airline transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fee
New Citi Premier® Card cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This bonus is redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards when redeemed at thankyou.com.
Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
This is one of the best credit card offers.
Cardholders can enjoy a $100 annual hotel benefit when they purchase a single stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) at a hotel through thankyou.com.
A better option can be transferring your points at a 1:1 ratio to partners like FlyingBlue, Singapore Airlines, or Virgin Atlantic.
Each point can be worth up to 6 cents when booking premium cabin flights directly from the airline.
Read more about how the Citi Premier compares to three other top credit cards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and the American Express® Gold Card:
- Citi Premier vs Capital One Venture Rewards
- Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Citi Premier
- American Express Gold vs. Citi Premier Card Comparison
You can also view our more detailed Citi Premier card review.
Citi Custom Cash Card (Cash Back)
The information for the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card earns 5% cash back on purchases in their top eligible spending category each billing cycle up to the first $500 spent (1% cash back after that). Eligible categories include:
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Select travel
- Select Transit
- And select streaming services
- Drugstores
- Home improvement stores
- Fitness clubs
- Live entertainment
Cashback is earned in the form of ThankYou® Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 5 points per $1 on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Cardholders earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Citi Custom Cash Card cardholders can redeem points for cash back as a direct deposit, a statement credit, or a check. Alternatively, they can explore other ways to redeem points including gift cards, travel, and Shop with Points at Amazon.com. Points will never expire as long as the account remains open.
New Citi Custom Cash℠ Card cardholders can earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back).
This $0 annual fee card is also contactless.
Citi Prestige Credit Card (Luxury Travel)
The information for the Citi Prestige® Credit Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Frequent flyers and luxury travelers can get more value from a premium travel credit card. The Citi Prestige® Credit Card excels at offering air travel and hotel perks:
- Complimentary 4th hotel night on 4+ night stays (up to 2 times per year)
- $250 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge access
- Free Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Earn 5x ThankYou points on air travel and dining
- Earn 3x ThankYou points on hotels and cruise lines
- 1:1 airline transfer partners
New cardholders can earn a 50,000-point signup bonus (worth $500 in award travel) after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
The Citi Prestige doesn’t offer a 25% air travel redemption bonus. But, you still have access to the ThankYou 1:1 airline transfer partners that let you stretch more mileage from your points.
This card has a $495 annual fee ($75 per authorized user). Additionally, the Prestige is worth it if you can use the complimentary 4th hotel night and various air travel perks.
Related: Best Premium Credit Cards
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard (Best for American Airlines)
The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Most American Airlines flyers can benefit the most from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. This is the best of the Citi credit cards for American Airlines for these perks:
- The first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 4 companions on the same reservation
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
- $125 American Airlines flight discount after $20,000 in annual card purchases during your card membership year and renew your card
- Earn 2x AAdvantage miles for eligible American Airlines purchases, gas stations purchases, and restaurant purchases
This is one of the best credit cards for American Airlines fliers.
New cardholders can earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. The annual fee is $0 for the first year then $99. There are no foreign transaction fees.
The free checked baggage waiver can be the best reason to own this card. Plus, every purchase earns American Airlines miles.
Note that the business version, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® is also available (more on that below).
Learn More: CardMatch™
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard (Admirals Club Access)
The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For automatic Admirals Club® membership, get the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. Up to two guests or your immediate family traveling with you can accompany you to the Admirals Club.
Earn 4x AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1x AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Plus, earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
Other card benefits include:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation on domestic American Airlines itineraries
- Priority check-in, security screening, and boarding
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- 25% savings on American Airlines in-flight purchases
New Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® cardholders can earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, enjoy a complimentary Admirals Club® membership (a value of up to $850).
This card’s annual fee is $595. But, it can be worth it if you visit Admirals Club lounges regularly and will use the premium American Airlines perks often. There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases.
Related: Best Miles Credit Cards
CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard (Business Travelers Loyal to American Airlines)
The information for the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For business travelers who are loyal to American Airlines, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® may be a worthwhile option. The perks of the card include:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 4 companions
- Preferred boarding for you and up to 4 companions
- 25% savings on American Airlines in-flight purchases
- Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 on American Airlines purchases, on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations
Plus, earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
Cardholders also have the opportunity to earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate. The certificate is good for domestic main cabin travel after you spend $30,000 or more in purchases annually and when the card is renewed. However, note that the certificate renewal costs $99 for the ticketing fee plus $21.60 to $43.20 in government taxes and fees, based on the itinerary.
The annual fee for this card is $99. However, it is waived for the first 12 months of account opening.
New cardholders can also earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
Related: Best Citi American Airlines Credit Cards
Citi Double Cash (Cash Rewards)
The information for the Citi® Double Cash Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Citi® Double Cash Card is one of the highest-earning cash-back credit cards. You get an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase (1% at the time of purchase and 1% when you make a balance payment). To get cash back, be sure to make the minimum payment on time every month.
This can be a better option if a tiered rewards card like the Discover it vs Chase Freedom 5% category card are not a good fit. However, you can only redeem your rewards for cash statement credits, direct deposit, or a paper check.
The Citi Double Cash doesn’t have an annual fee but has a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Related: Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Citi Rewards+ Card (Supermarket and Gas Purchases)
The information for the Citi Rewards+® Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Citi Rewards+® Card comes with the unique ability to round up your points earned to the nearest 10. So if you buy a coffee for $2, you’ll earn 10 points. There’s no limit on how much you can earn. This can be a great way to rack up points quickly.
Other benefits include:
- Earn 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 spent per year (then 1x points)
- All other purchases earn 1x point per $1 spent
- 10% points back for the first 100,000 ThankYou® Points you redeem per year
- Contactless pay
The ability to round up points is a great benefit. There is no annual fee for this card.
Plus, for a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on the Citi Travel Portal℠ through June 30, 2024.
New Citi Rewards+® Card cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in purchases with their card within 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
Related: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp (Casual AA Fliers)
The information for the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is great if you are new to the AAdvantage miles program. It earns miles on a frequent expense — groceries. Citi defines grocery stores as supermarkets, freezer/meat locker provisioners, dairy product stores, miscellaneous food/convenience stores, markets, specialty vendors, and bakeries.
Other perks include:
- 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
- Also, earn 1 AAdvantage mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
- You can earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible mile earned from purchases
- Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
New cardholders can earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
This card has no annual fee and no limit on how many miles you can earn. You can also use your miles for award travel.
Related: Best Credit Card for Groceries
Citi Secured Mastercard (Building Credit)
The information for the Citi® Secured Mastercard® has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Citi® Secured Mastercard® can help you build credit when you have no credit or limited credit history. It doesn’t have an annual fee, so it’s possible to improve your credit score for free.
Your credit limit will be between $200 and $2,500. However, you will need to make a matching refundable security deposit. Also, this card doesn’t earn reward points on purchases. But, as your credit score grows, you can qualify for a rewards credit card.
Related: Best Different Types of Credit Cards
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (Frequent Costco Shoppers)
The information for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a good card to consider if you are a loyal Costco shopper. It comes with the ability to earn up to 4% cash back on select purchases and has no annual fee (with your paid Costco membership). There are also no foreign transaction fees.
Here are a few of the perks and benefits:
- 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 annually (then 1% thereafter)
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
- 2% cash back on purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
However, unlike other cash-back cards that earn monthly statement credits, this card delivers cash back as an annual credit card reward certificate once your February billing statement closes. This certificate is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco Warehouses, including those in Puerto Rico.
Related: Best Gas Credit Cards
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi (Business Owners Who Frequent Costco)
The information for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For business owners who are loyal to Costco, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi may be worth your consideration. Like the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, the business version comes with the following perks:
- 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 annually (then 1% thereafter)
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
- 2% cash back on purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Like the consumer card, there is no annual fee with your paid Costco membership. There are also no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders will receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including in Puerto Rico.
Related: Best Small Business Credit Cards
Citi Diamond Preferred Card
The information for the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is one of the best options if you are looking for a balance transfer. This $0 annual fee credit card comes with free access to your FICO® Score and exclusive access to purchase entertainment tickets with Citi Entertainment®.
Get 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the date of the first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 17.99% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
This card can help pay down debt.
Citi Simplicity Card
The information for the Citi Simplicity® Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Citi Simplicity® Card has no annual fee, no late fees, and no penalty rate on this card.
Also, there is a 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the date of the first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.99% – 29.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
There is an introductory balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater for balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening.
Summary of Best Citi Credit Cards
In conclusion, the best Citi credit cards can be a good fit for almost any person. Their ThankYou rewards program can be useful in booking award flights. But if you prefer cash rewards or improving your credit, there are options that can also fit your needs.
Learn more: CardMatch™
FAQS
What are the best Citi credit cards?
Citi has some attractive options for earning travel or cash rewards. Here is a quick recap of the best Citi credit cards depending on your needs:
- Citi Premier® Card – Travel Rewards
- Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – Cash Back
- The Citi Prestige® Credit Card – Frequent Fliers
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® – American Airlines Perks
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® – Admirals Club Access
- The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® – American Airlines Business Fliers
- Citi® Double Cash Card – Cash Rewards
- Citi Rewards+® Card – Supermarket and Gas Purchases
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® – Casual American Airlines Fliers and Grocery Purchases
- Citi® Secured Mastercard® – Building Credit
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi – Frequent Costco Shoppers
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi – Business Owners Who Frequent Costco
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card – Balance transfers
- Citi Simplicity® Card – Pay down debt
Learn more: CardMatch™
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