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If you're looking for a no-annual-fee credit card that earns flexible points, the
Citi Rewards+ Card Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for You?
The
You'll earn 5 total ThankYou® Points per dollar spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024, 2x Citi ThankYou points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 each year (then 1x), and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. The points you earn for every purchase automatically round up to the nearest 10 points, and you'll get back 10% of the first 100,000 points you redeem per calendar year.
This is the only card that offers both the round-up and rebate features, which makes it a standout, especially among no-annual-fee cards. The rewards system makes it ideal for small purchases, and because it's a ThankYou card, you can pair it to "share" the benefits with other ThankYou cards, like the
For example, if you also have the
On its own, you're limited to redeeming your points for gift cards or travel booked through the Citi ThankYou travel portal, statement credits, merchandise, or transferring to a handful of partners (JetBlue, Choice Privileges, and Wyndham). You can also trade in your points for cash back, but at a reduced rate of 0.5 cents per point.
If you're just looking for a strong cash-back credit card, consider the
The
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Citi Rewards+ Card Rewards
Citi Rewards+ Welcome Bonus Offer
The
How to Earn Points With the Citi Rewards+ Card
The
For example, if you spend $21 on gas, you'll earn 42 points (at 2 points per dollar) which will round up to 50 points. Or if you spend $3 on a coffee, you'll earn 10 points. There's no cap on the number of points that are rounded up. Because of this benefit, the
How to Use Points From the Citi Rewards+ Card
When you're ready to redeem your Citi ThankYou points, you can use them to purchase gift cards at a variety of popular merchants or to book travel through the Citi ThankYou Travel portal at a rate of 1 cent per point. Or you can use them to pay for purchases at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers, though this isn't a great value because your points are worth 0.8 cents each when you redeem them this way.
Citi also lets you redeem points for statement credits toward eligible purchases in select categories, but each point is worth half a cent, making it the worst redemption option.
Another way to use your points is to transfer them to your JetBlue, Choice Privileges, or Wyndham account. You can redeem 1,000 Citi ThankYou points for 800 JetBlue miles, 1,500 Choice points, or 800 Wyndham points, but can only redeem in 1,000-point increments. This can be helpful if you need additional miles or points to book an award trip.
No matter how you choose to redeem your points, you'll get a 10% rebate on all redeemed points each year, up to the first 100,000 redeemed points. That maximum translates to a rebate of up to 10,000 points per year and adds slightly more value to your points. For example, if you redeem 20,000 points, you'll get 2,000 points back — up to your annual limit of 10,000 points returned as a rebate.
Even better, you can pair this card with other Citi ThankYou cards to "share" benefits. For example, when you have the
Citi Rewards+ Card Benefits and Features
Introductory 0% APR offer
New
For balance transfers, you'll have an intro balance transfer offer of 3% for every transfer (minimum $5) if completed in the first four months of account opening and then the fee is $5 or 5% of the amount you transfer, whichever is greater.
Citi Entertainment Event Access
The
Fraud Early Warning and ID Theft Protection
Cardholders can receive alerts as a text, email, or phone call if Citi detects early signs of fraud on their account. You can also enroll in the ID theft protection program for monitoring and alerts if suspicious activity is found in conjunction with your credit report, credit accounts, or identity. This service also monitors the dark web for suspicious activity related to your Social Security Number and identity.
$0 Liability on Unauthorized Charges
You won't be responsible for unauthorized charges, which Citi defines as charges which were not made by you or anyone allowed to use your account. This feature protects you in the event that your card is lost or stolen.
Virtual Account Numbers
Citi allows you to generate a random Citi card number to use when you shop online. This makes your actual card number virtually impossible to steal. All the purchases you make with virtual account numbers will still show up on your billing statement, along with the card number that was used for each transaction.
Citi Quick Lock
You'll have the ability to easily and instantly lock your card if your card is lost or stolen, or if you temporarily misplace it. This can prevent unauthorized charges until you find your card or get a replacement.
Credit Report Alerts
You'll receive alerts when information on your Experian or TransUnion credit report changes, like new account inquiries, address changes, or credit score updates.
Citi Rewards+ Card Annual Fee and Other Costs
The
Other fees apply in certain situations, including:
- Foreign transaction fee (if you're traveling abroad, pack one of the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees instead)
- Balance transfer fee
- Cash advance fee
How the Citi Rewards+ Card Compares
Citi Rewards+ vs other Citi ThankYou Credit Cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 5x points on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal (offer ends June 30, 2024) 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations* 1 point per dollar on everything else | 5% cash back on up to $500 spent in your top eligible spending category*** each billing cycle (then 1%) 1% cash back on all other purchases | 3x points on air travel, gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels 1 point per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus offer | |||
Card benefits | Access to Citi Entertainment | Access to Citi Entertainment | $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through thankyou.com once per calendar year Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to Citi Entertainment No foreign transaction fees |
Introductory 0% APR offer | N/A | ||
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*2x points at supermarkets and gas stations on the
***eligible 5% cash back categories on the
Citi Rewards+ vs Other No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 5x points on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal (offer ends June 30, 2024) 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations* 1 point per dollar on everything else | 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards 5% cash back (5x points) on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories when you activate 3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases 1% cash back (1x points) on everything else | 2% cash rewards on all purchases |
Welcome bonus offer | |||
Card benefits | Access to Citi Entertainment | Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel and emergency assistance services | Cell phone protection Visa Signature Concierge Roadside dispatch Travel and emergency assistance services Emergency cash disbursement and card replacement Access to the Visa Signature Hotel Collection |
Introductory 0% APR offer | |||
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*2x points at supermarkets and gas stations on the
Citi Rewards+ Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What credit score do I need to be approved for the Citi Rewards+ card?
To be considered for the
Is the Citi Rewards+ card worth it?
If your main goal is to earn lots of Citi ThankYou points, you'll likely want to give the
Is the Citi Rewards+ a Visa or Mastercard?
The
How do I redeem rewards on the Citi Rewards+ Card?
You can redeem rewards earned on the Citi Rewards+ Card for travel through the Citi Travel portal, for gift cards, or to pay for purchases at retailers such as Amazon. You can also redeem rewards for statement credits to cover purchases made with your card, or transfer them to JetBlue, Choice Privileges, or Wyndham to book hotel award stays. If you have another Citi card, you can also pool your points for more valuable redemptions.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Citi Rewards+ Card
Insider's credit card experts compared the
- Ease of use — Is the card's rewards program straightforward, and are points easy to earn and redeem? Are there lots of hoops to jump through?
- Rewards earning potential — Are the card's earning rates competitive with similar cards? If there are bonus categories, are they useful to most consumers, and are any limited to a maximum amount of spending?
- Benefits — No-annual-fee cards aren't normally loaded with upscale benefits, but does the card come with perks or unique features that make it stand out?
- Annual fee — For cards with an annual fee, is it worth paying for the rewards and benefits you receive?
Check out Insider's methodology in our guide to how we rate credit cards.