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Looking to get a Citi credit card? If so, you've made a smart choice -- for my money, Citi is one of the most underrated card issuers out there.
And whether you're looking for travel rewards, simple cash back, or breathing room from high-interest debt, there's probably a Citi card for you.
Here's our list of the best Citi cards available now, plus what each card is right for.
Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Great for paying down debt with a long balance transfer offer: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Great for rewards with no annual fee: Citi Strata℠ Card
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months on Purchases
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 months on Balance Transfers
Regular APR
16.49% - 27.24% (Variable)
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
This card sets itself apart with one of the longest 0% intro APR periods available — 21 months on qualifying balance transfers — plus a lower intro balance transfer fee of just 3% for the first 4 months. That combination can help you move your balance for less and pay it down without interest for nearly two years. If you want maximum time to get out of debt while keeping upfront costs low, this is one of the strongest offers available right now.
Read Full Review
My take: The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is our favorite Citi card for balance transfers because it features one of the longest intro APR offers out there for anyone paying off debt. Plus, the intro balance transfer fee is lower than most: 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).
This card is all about the intro APR, so it doesn't earn rewards. If you're hoping for long-term value after you pay down your balance, you'll want to look elsewhere. But when it comes to debt payoff, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is the cream of the crop.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months on Purchases
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months on Balance Transfers
Regular APR
18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
Rewards 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.
1X-5X ThankYou® Points
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
20,000 bonus points
This no-annual-fee card delivers outsized value for everyday spenders who want flexibility and rewards without the cost. With up to 5X points on Citi Travel® bookings, 3X on gas, supermarkets, transit, and a self-select category, plus 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, the Citi Strata℠ Card is a strong fit for anyone looking to earn points and save on interest at the same time.
Read Full ReviewMy take: If you're looking for a no-annual-fee card with custom travel rewards, the Citi Strata℠ Card is worth a look.
What sets it apart is the ability to pick a bonus category that actually fits your life -- whether that's streaming services, fitness, or even pet supplies. Not many cards offer that sort of versatility -- and even fewer of them earn travel rewards.
It's not going to out-earn every premium travel card, but it's a great option for inexpensive travel savings.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months on Balance Transfers
Regular APR
17.49% - 27.49% (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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
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 ReviewMy take: If you don't want to track rotating categories or memorize bonus charts, the Citi Double Cash® Card makes your life easy. You'll earn a solid 2% cash back on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases, and it doesn't matter whether you're buying coffee, concert tickets, or groceries. Plus, there's no annual fee to cut into your earnings.
Of course, while 2% cash back is solid, you won't get many extra rewards for specific categories like some other cards. If you spend a lot in one category, you might earn more with a different cash back card.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
Rewards 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
1.5X-12X points
Annual Fee
$595
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
75,000 bonus points
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is a premium travel card packed with earning power and high-end perks — ideal for frequent travelers who want to rack up points fast. You’ll earn up to 12X points on bookings made through cititravel.com and up to 6X on weekend dining with CitiNights℠. This card also offers a $300 annual hotel credit and, a generous 75,000-point welcome bonus. Taken together, these perks help offset the $595 annual fee.
Read Full ReviewMy take: The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is a solid option when it comes to high-end rewards. You'll earn 12X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6X points on air travel booked on cititravel.com -- among the best rates out there.
Add a $300 hotel credit and a hefty welcome bonus, and this card quickly starts to justify its $595 annual fee -- but only if you actually use those perks.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.49% (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
$95
Welcome Offer 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.
60,000 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 $600. 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.
My take: The Citi Strata Premier® Card is a perfect option if you want everyday rewards and bonus earnings when you book big trips -- which is why it earned our award for Best Hotel Credit Card for 2026.
The $100 hotel credit alone can wipe out the annual fee if you use it once a year, and booking through cititravel.com gives you a 10X points boost. You can redeem those ThankYou® Points for travel, gift cards, or statement credit.
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
18.74% - 26.74% (Variable)
Rewards Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter. 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel. 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
1% - 5% 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.
My take: If Costco runs are a regular part of your life, this card is an awesome choice -- and it earned our 2026 award for Best Cobranded Card. You'll earn solid rewards not just at Costco, but also at gas stations, restaurants, and on eligible travel purchases, making it one of the most well-rounded cash back cards out there for Costco members.
However, you have to be a Costco member to get and keep this card. Plus, your rewards are only redeemable once a year (as a reward certificate), which might feel a little restrictive if you're used to cashing out points anytime.
At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
We score cards within four primary categories:
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
We score cards within four primary categories:
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
There are lots of great Citi cards to choose from. Picking the right one for you really comes down to how you want to spend and save. Here's a quick way to narrow it down.
Know your main goal. Are you hoping to earn rewards, or to pay off debt without interest for a while? Cards like the Citi Double Cash® Card are great for simple cash back, while the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is better if you're focused on paying down debt.
Think about where you spend most. Some Citi cards pay higher rewards in certain spending categories. Others offer across-the-board rewards.
Weigh annual fees vs. rewards. A small annual fee isn't always a bad thing if the rewards you earn make it worthwhile, but if you're a light spender, you might want to stick with a no-annual-fee option.
Check for intro offers. Citi often offers strong welcome bonuses or 0% APR intro periods. If you have a big purchase or balance transfer coming up, timing your application to snag an intro offer could save you serious money.
Make sure you'll actually use your rewards. Billions of credit card rewards go unused every year, per Motley Fool Money research. Picking a card with straightforward redemption options -- like Citi's ThankYou® Points program -- helps make sure the rewards you earn actually turn into savings.
Most Citi cards require good to excellent credit, typically a FICO® Score of 670 or higher. Some cards may be a little more flexible, but higher scores usually qualify for the best offers.
Yes. Citi offers a prequalification tool that lets you check your chances without a hard credit pull. Just know that prequalification isn't a guarantee of approval.
ThankYou® Points are Citi's flexible rewards currency. You can redeem points for travel, gift cards, or cash back, or even transfer them to select airline partners if you have a premium card.
Yes. Just be mindful of Citi's application rules -- like waiting at least eight days between applications and applying for no more than two Citi cards in a 65-day period.
Citi typically pulls from Equifax or Experian, though the bureau can vary by applicant and location. Checking your own credit report beforehand can help you gauge whether you'll qualify for approval.
Motley Fool Stock Disclosures
American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Brooklyn Welch has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Express, Costco Wholesale, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, Target, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Flow. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.