Citi Rewards+ Card Review 2024: Does It Compare to Other Cards In Its Category?

The Citi Rewards+® Card offers something few cards can claim—the ability to round up rewards points earned. Every card purchase is rounded up to the nearest 10 points. The unique rewards structure allows you to maximize your earnings on smaller purchases, but is otherwise unimpressive.

TIME’s Take

Citi Rewards+® Card is a subpar rewards credit card. It offers average bonus rates in select categories, and a decent sign-up bonus and intro APR offer with no annual fee. Still, its standout feature is the fact that rewards points roundup to the nearest 10 points on every purchase.

While this may sound promising, Citi Rewards+® Card is mostly underwhelming. It could be useful for some ThankYou points enthusiasts when paired with a top-tier Citi card that earns ThankYou points, but other rewards cards offer similar or better benefits while providing better rewards potential.

Pros and cons

Who is the card for?

The Citi Rewards+® Card is primarily for individuals who already have credit cards that earn ThankYou points. Because the program allows you to pool your points, having multiple Citi cards earning the same points in different categories can help you maximize your rewards potential. The program offers a number of redemption options, including transferring points to 18 airline and hotel partner programs.

Rewards structure

Earning rewards

The card earns ThankYou Rewards points in a few ways. It also comes with a fairly generous sign-up bonus. bonus_miles_full In addition, cardholders earn bonus rewards for card spending at the following rates:

• 5 ThankYou points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.
• 2 ThankYou points per $1 spent at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 spent per year.
• 1 ThankYou point on all other purchases.

Citi Rewards+® Card comes with two additional rewards benefits. First, points round up to the nearest 10 points on every card purchase. Also, cardholders receive 10% of the points they redeem, up to the first 100,000 points redeemed annually.

The card's points rounding structure is unique, but it only benefits certain card purchases. For example, a $1 purchase nets 10 points, so small purchases well under $10 offer extra value. Similarly, an $11 purchase nets 20 points, but so does a $19 card purchase. If you find bonus or rotating spending categories challenging to track, consider how difficult it would be to plan card purchases to maximize the Citi Rewards+® Card's points-rounding feature. Because of this, it's not a good card for those who prefer simple rewards or want to earn the most rewards for card purchases.

Redeeming rewards

You can redeem ThankYou points in several ways with the Citi Rewards+ card:

• Cover recent purchases with a statement credit.
• Shop online at Amazon.com or BestBuy.com.
• Pay for flights, hotels, cruises, and other travel.
• Purchase gift cards.

You can unlock additional redemptions by pairing Citi Rewards+® Card with a premium Citi travel card, such as the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or the Citi Prestige® Card. With Citi, you can request to combine multiple Citi accounts under one ThankYou Rewards account. Doing so gives you access to redemptions including transferring your points to any of the Citi travel transfer partner programs:

• Aeromexico Club Premier.
• ALL – Accor Live Limitless.
• Avianca LifeMiles.
• Cathay Pacific.
• Choice Privileges.
• Emirates Skywards.
• Etihad Guest.
• EVA Air.
• Flying Blue.
• JetBlue TrueBlue.
• Leaders Club.
• Qantas Frequent Flyer.
• Qatar Privilege Club.
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
• Thai Royal Orchid Plus.
• Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles.
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
• Wyndham Rewards.

Point values may vary among redemption options. ThankYou points do not expire, and there is no limit to the amount of points you can earn.

The fine print

Interest rates

• Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type.
• Purchase intro APR: intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration.
• Balance transfer intro APR: balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration.

Fees

• Annual fee: $0.
• Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee.
• Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees.
• Cash advance: cash_advance_fee.

Additional hidden perks

Citi Rewards+® Card doesn't offer cardholders much value in terms of card features and perks outside of its rewards structure. One of its benefits is Citi Entertainment, an exclusive program that gives you access to presales and unique experiences, including concerts, sporting events, and culinary experiences. Also, cardholders have free access to their FICO score after 30 days of opening their account.

Another perk of Citi Rewards+® Card is its intro APR offer. The card offers intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration and balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration. After that, the variable APR ranges from reg_apr,reg_apr_type based on your creditworthiness. For balance transfers completed within the first four months, there is a balance transfer fee of balance_transfer_fees.

What could be improved

As mentioned, Citi Rewards+® Card is lacking when it comes to extra perks. With a so-so rewards structure, having more benefits would add to the value of the card. While you can pool your ThankYou points for better travel redemptions, the card's expensive foreign transaction fees make it a terrible option for frequent international travelers.

Card alternatives

Bottom line

If you have a Citi card that earns ThankYou points, such as the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or the Citi Prestige®, Citi Rewards+® Card is a nice complementary card to consider for select purchases you can leverage for roundups or that fall outside of your other Citi card's bonus rates. The card's sign-up bonus and 0% intro APR offer provide value, too. But other rewards cards offer the same—and with better rewards rates and card perks. Consider your needs and whether it makes sense to add Citi Rewards+ to your wallet.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What credit score do you need for Citi Rewards+® Card?

Citi doesn't publicly disclose its credit or other requirements to qualify for its credit cards. Generally, you need good to excellent credit to qualify for rewards credit cards like Citi Rewards+® Card, which is considered a FICO score of 670 and above (good) and at least 780 (excellent).

How does the Citi Rewards+® Card work?

Citi rounds up the points earned with your Citi Rewards+® Card to the nearest 10 points on all card purchases. Cardholders earn 10% of the points they redeem back, up to 100,000 points annually.

How do I redeem my Citi Rewards+® Card points?

You can redeem points earned with Citi Rewards+® Card online at ThankYou.com or by calling the ThankYou Service Center.

Is it hard to get the Citi Rewards+® Card?

Typically, you need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Citi Rewards+® Card, which is considered a FICO score of 670 and above. Citi may consider factors other than your credit score to determine eligibility for its credit cards.