These offers are no longer available on our site: Citi Custom Cash® Card, Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Hear from our editors: The 6 best Citi® credit cards of May 2026
Updated May 1, 2026
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Editorial Note: Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Written by: Gaby Lapera
Edited by: Mónica Camargo, Senior Manager, Credit & Debt
As one of the world’s largest credit card issuers, Citi has plenty of card options to choose from.
But which ones outshine the rest? Here’s our take on the best Citi credit cards.
- Best for simple cash back: Citi Double Cash® Card
- Best for bonus cash back: Citi Custom Cash® Card
- Best for travel: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Best for balance transfers: Citi Simplicity® Card and Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
- Best for gas: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Best for simple cash back: Citi Double Cash® Card
Here’s why: This straightforward, no-annual-fee card offers a high flat cash-back rewards rate of 2% — you’ll get 1% for purchases and another 1% when you pay them off.
Check out reviews of the Citi Double Cash® Card for more details.
Best for bonus cash back: Citi Custom Cash® Card
Here’s why: The Citi Custom Cash® Card lives up to its name by automatically adapting to give you a 5% cash back rate on up to $500 in purchases in the category you’ve spent the most in each billing cycle. Once you hit the cap on the higher earnings rate, you’ll still get 1% on eligible purchases (as well as on purchases outside of the bonus category).
Learn more about the Citi Custom Cash® Card in our review.
Best for travel: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Here’s why: You can earn a solid welcome bonus and ongoing rewards rates for travel, plus a hotel perk — all for a reasonable $95 annual fee.
Check out Citi Strata Premier℠ Card reviews for more details.
Best for balance transfers: Citi Simplicity® Card and Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Here’s why: Each card has a long intro period on balance transfers, but watch out for the balance transfer fee on both cards. And make sure you read the balance transfer fine print carefully to understand any other additional fees and APRs.
Check out reviews of the Citi Simplicity® Card and Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card and to learn more.
Best for gas and EV charging: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Here’s why: This card is only for Costco members, but it’s an excellent option for people who frequently shop at the discount warehouse. It has a particularly good rewards rate on gas purchases. Note that redemptions are only dispensed once a year in the form of a rewards certificate.
Learn more about the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi from reviews.
How we picked these cards
When choosing the best Citi credit cards of 2026, we took a number of factors into account, including annual fees, introductory interest rates, and the ease of earning and redeeming rewards.
We started with all of Citi’s credit cards available to individual account holders. Given the size and diversity of the Citi audience, we wanted to make sure our picks appealed to the most people possible.
Not everyone travels frequently, shops at warehouse clubs or is motivated by balance transfer offers, but with such a variety of cards, Citi has something for just about everyone’s needs.
Frequently asked questions about Citi credit cards
What credit score do I need to apply for a Citi card?
Citi doesn’t have score requirements listed on its website, so it’s unclear exactly what score you’d need to qualify.
In general, people with better credit scores have a higher chance of getting their credit applications approved.
Which Citi card is easiest to get? Can you get a Citi card with bad credit?
If you really want a Citi card but your credit isn’t great, you may want to consider the Citi® Secured Mastercard®. Secured cards are typically easier to qualify for than other types of cards because they require collateral. Check out secured credit cards on Credit Karma’s marketplace for more options.
How to make the most of Citi cards
Not every credit card is right for everyone. Before applying for any of these cards, consider your own shopping habits, how you’ll use the card and how you’d like to redeem your rewards, if applicable.
For instance, the most generous travel rewards aren’t worth much if you prefer to stay home. Similarly, you won’t find much value in using cash back at Costco if you don’t like its warehouse stores.It’s also worth noting whether the card you choose rewards you with ThankYou Points. These points can be redeemed in a number of ways, and the dollar value of the points varies depending on how you use them. Getting the most bang for your buck can be pretty complicated, so check out our guide to maximizing Citi ThankYou Rewards points to decide whether this rewards structure is right for you.
