Best Citi Credit Cards of 2026

Citi’s credit card lineup looks very different than it did a few years ago. The premium Citi Prestige closed to new applicants back in 2021, the Citi Premier was reborn as the Citi Strata Premier in 2024, a new top-tier Citi Strata Elite arrived to fill the premium gap, and — in the biggest 2026 surprise — the popular Citi Custom Cash stopped accepting new applications in May 2026. If your knowledge of Citi cards is more than a year old, it is out of date.

This guide covers the Citi cards actually worth considering in 2026: which one fits cash-back seekers, which one fits travelers, and which lineup changes you need to know about before you apply. Card terms and welcome offers change frequently, so treat the details below as a starting map and confirm current terms on citi.com before applying.

Citi ThankYou Rewards in One Sentence

Citi ThankYou Rewards is Citi’s points program: most Citi cards earn ThankYou points, which are worth a flat 1 cent each toward cash back or gift cards, but can be worth significantly more when transferred 1:1 to airline and hotel partners — a feature unlocked by holding the Citi Strata Premier or Citi Strata Elite.

The Best Citi Credit Cards of 2026

Citi Double Cash Card — Best for Simple Cash Back

Best for: anyone who wants maximum cash back with zero effort and no annual fee.

The Double Cash remains Citi’s simplest and most popular cash-back card: it earns 2% on every purchase — 1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay your bill — with no categories to track, no caps, and no annual fee. If you don’t want to think about your credit card, this is the one to think about. It also frequently carries a 0% introductory APR offer on balance transfers, making it a reasonable two-in-one option for paying down existing debt while earning rewards on new spending. Just note that its rewards are straightforward cash back, not transferable travel points on their own.

Citi Strata Premier Card — Best for Travel Rewards

Best for: travelers who want strong earning rates and transferable points without a premium annual fee.

The Strata Premier — the former Citi Premier, rebranded in 2024 — is the workhorse of Citi’s travel lineup at a $95 annual fee. It earns 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com, and 3 points per dollar on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, EV charging, and air travel. It also includes a $100 annual hotel credit on qualifying bookings and charges no foreign transaction fees. Most importantly, it unlocks 1:1 transfers of ThankYou points to airline and hotel partners — including American Airlines, a partnership that significantly raised the value of Citi’s program. Citi typically offers a welcome bonus on this card; check citi.com for the current offer and spending requirement.

Citi Strata Elite Card — Best for Premium Travel Perks

Best for: frequent travelers who want lounge access and top-tier earning and are comfortable with a premium annual fee.

Launched as the successor to the discontinued Citi Prestige, the Strata Elite sits at the top of Citi’s lineup with a $595 annual fee. In exchange you get premium travel benefits — airport lounge access, hotel credits, and the highest earning rates in the Citi portfolio — plus the same 1:1 ThankYou transfer partners as the Strata Premier. This card only makes sense if you travel enough to actually use the perks; occasional travelers will get better net value from the Strata Premier. As with all premium cards, confirm the current benefit lineup on citi.com before applying, since premium benefits are adjusted most often.

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi — Best for Costco Members

Best for: loyal Costco shoppers who want one card for the warehouse, gas, and everyday spending.

If you already pay for a Costco membership, this is one of the easiest decisions in credit cards: no annual fee beyond your membership, strong cash-back rates on gas and Costco purchases, and bonus rewards on dining and travel. Rewards arrive once a year as a certificate redeemable at Costco. Non-members need not apply — the card requires an active Costco membership — but for members it is arguably the best no-annual-fee card Citi issues.

Cards That Changed or Disappeared

Three lineup changes explain why older “best Citi cards” articles are wrong:

• Citi Custom Cash — closed to new applicants (May 2026). The no-annual-fee card that automatically earned 5% in your top spending category each billing cycle stopped accepting applications on May 28, 2026, Citi confirmed. Existing cardholders keep their cards and benefits, but new applicants cannot get one.
• Citi Prestige — closed to new applicants (2021). Citi’s former $495 premium travel card has been unavailable to new applicants for years; the Strata Elite is its successor. Any article still recommending the Prestige to new applicants is out of date.
• Citi Rewards+ became the Citi Strata Card. The no-annual-fee Rewards+ was rebranded as the Citi Strata Card, which earns bonus points in a self-selected category. It remains a solid no-fee ThankYou points earner.

Citi also still issues 0% introductory APR cards — the Citi Diamond Preferred and Citi Simplicity — worth a look if your priority is paying down a balance rather than earning rewards, plus a family of Citi/AAdvantage co-branded cards for American Airlines loyalists.

How to Choose the Right Citi Card

Start with your primary goal. If it is cash back with no fuss, the Double Cash is the default answer — no annual fee, no categories. If it is travel, decide how much fee you can justify: the Strata Premier at $95 covers most travelers, while the Strata Elite at $595 only pays off for frequent flyers who will use the lounge access and credits. Costco members should check the Costco Anywhere Visa before anything else. And if you are carrying a balance, skip rewards entirely and look at the Diamond Preferred or Simplicity for their 0% intro APR offers — no rewards rate beats avoiding interest.

Two practical notes. First, most Citi rewards cards require good to excellent credit (generally a FICO score of 670 or higher); if you are building credit, the Citi Secured Mastercard is the entry point. Second, Citi limits how often you can earn welcome bonuses across its cards, so if a bonus matters to you, check your eligibility and the current offer terms on citi.com before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Citi credit card overall in 2026?

For most people, it is the Citi Double Cash (simplest cash back, no annual fee) or the Citi Strata Premier (best travel value at $95 per year). Frequent travelers who will use premium perks should compare the Strata Elite. There is no single “best” — it depends on whether you value cash back, travel points, or premium perks.

Can I still get the Citi Custom Cash?

Not as a new applicant. Citi stopped accepting new Custom Cash applications on May 28, 2026. Existing cardholders are unaffected and keep the same benefits. If you want a no-annual-fee Citi card today, look at the Double Cash or the Citi Strata Card instead.

What happened to the Citi Prestige?

The Citi Prestige has been closed to new applicants since 2021. Existing cardholders were grandfathered in, but no one new can apply. Its successor in Citi’s lineup is the Citi Strata Elite.

Are Citi ThankYou points worth it compared to cash back?

It depends on how you redeem. As cash back or gift cards, ThankYou points are worth a flat 1 cent each — the same as simple cash back. Transferred 1:1 to airline or hotel partners (which requires the Strata Premier or Strata Elite), they can be worth significantly more for premium travel awards. If you will never transfer points, a straight cash-back card like the Double Cash is simpler.

Disclaimer

Credit card terms, rewards rates, annual fees, and welcome offers change frequently. The details above reflect information available in October 2026; always verify current terms, rates, and eligibility directly on citi.com before applying. This article is for general educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Consider your spending habits, credit profile, and ability to pay balances in full before choosing a card.