Citi Rewards+ Card review: Rounding up rewards for everyday spenders

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Looking for a rewards card that celebrates the little things in life? The Citi Rewards+® Card might be your perfect match. This unique card rounds up rewards to the nearest 10 points on every purchase — no matter how small. That means your morning coffee could earn 10 points instead of just two or three.

But the Citi Rewards+ Card has more going for it than just points round-ups. You'll earn 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations on up to $6,000 yearly (then 1X points). You'll get 10% of your points back on the first 100,000 points redeemed each year. Throw in a solid welcome bonus and intro APR offer, and you have an attractive card for everyday spending.

Of course, no card is one-size-fits-all. The Citi Rewards+ Card does have some limitations, like a 3% foreign transaction fee and relatively few premium perks. But its innovative rewards structure and lack of an annual fee could make it a winner for the right type of spender. 

How the Citi Rewards+ Card works

Here are the key benefits, rewards, and features of the Citi Rewards+ Card at a glance:

• Rewards: Earn 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations on up to $6,000 per year, then 1X points, get 1X points on all other purchases. Earn 5X points on rental car, hotel, and attraction purchases booked through Cititravel.com (through 12/31/2025)
• Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within three months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
• Points bonus: Points round up to the nearest 10 on every purchase. Plus, earn 10% points back on the first 100,000 points redeemed each year
• Annual fee: $0 
• Redemption options: Redeem points for gift cards, travel, online shopping, and more
• Intro 0% APR offer: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.74% — 28.74% variable APR

Citi Rewards+ card rewards

The Citi Rewards+ Card is all about celebrating your daily purchases — and those rewards can add up fast.

Earning rewards

These days, consumers are spending more on groceries and gas, making the Citi Rewards+ card an attractive choice for everyday use. With this card, you’ll earn:

• Earn 5X points on rental car, hotel, and attractions purchases booked through Cititravel.com (ends 12/31/2025)
• 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations (on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points)
• 1X points on all other purchases

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends around $475 on groceries and $260 on gas monthly. That means you could earn almost 15,000 points in these two categories alone. You’d earn 2X points on your first $6,000 in purchases and 1X points on the remaining $2,820 in spending.

No matter where you shop, the card rounds up your rewards to the nearest 10 points on every purchase. So even that pack of gum or morning latte can net you a nice 10-point bonus.

Earning 2X points on groceries and gas is good but not exactly mind-blowing. The Citi Rewards+ Card isn't going to set any rewards records. But that's not really the point.

This card is meant to make every swipe a little more rewarding, without the pressure of high annual fees or complicated bonus categories. It's a reliable, low-maintenance earner that can boost your rewards balance over time.

Redeeming rewards

The Citi Rewards+ card earns flexible Citi ThankYou points, which you can redeem in several ways. ThankYou® Points do not expire, and there’s no limit on the number of points you can earn. Each point is worth 1 cent, though some redemptions may have less value.

You can redeem ThankYou points for:

• Gift cards: The Citi ThankYou.com portal offers a variety of gift cards to popular retailers, restaurant chains, select online subscriptions and more. When redeemed for gift cards, points are worth 1 cent each (100 points equals $1).
• Travel: You can use your ThankYou points to book travel through the CitiTravel.com portal, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and attractions.
• Shop with Points: You can use your points at checkout with participating retailers like Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. However, your points may only be worth $0.08 using this method.
• Pay with Points: You can also redeem your points for a statement credit for a recent purchase. The purchase must be eligible and made in a category such as dining, clothing and department stores, entertainment, utilities, gas, groceries, or drugstores.

The Citi Rewards+ Card also comes with a neat little benefit called the 10% points back feature. You'll get 10% back for the first 100,000 points you cash in each year when you redeem your points. So, if you redeem 10,000 points, you'll get 1,000 of them back to use again later. This perk can stretch the value of your rewards over time.

Pairing the Citi Rewards+ Card with other Citi cards

Unlike other travel cards, you can’t transfer points to Citi travel partners. But, if you have other Citi ThankYou points-earning cards, you can maximize your rewards by strategically using the cards for different purchases.

For example, you could pool your points together and redeem them for potentially greater value through the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, which offers point transfers to airline partners. This multi-card strategy helps you accumulate points faster in a single rewards currency.

Citi Rewards+® Card benefits

The Citi Rewards+ Card doesn’t come with luxury perks. You won't find fancy airport lounge access or elite hotel status here. But that doesn't mean it's light on value. One of the card's biggest selling points is its lack of an annual fee.

Rewards maximizers on a budget can focus on raking in the points without worrying about spending enough to justify a hefty yearly charge.

Sign up bonus

Cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 within the first three months of account opening. That's worth $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.

While the $200 value is as good as or better than some similar no-annual-fee cards, the minimum spending requirement is steeper.

Additional perks

Citi Rewards+ does not offer basic benefits, like travel insurance, extended warranties, or cell phone protection, but it does offer a few perks.

The card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months. After that, the rate jumps to a variable 18.74%-28.74% APR, depending on your creditworthiness. While we recommend paying your balance in full each month, this offer can provide some breathing room if you need to make a big purchase and pay it off over time.

Other than that, the Citi Rewards+ Card keeps it pretty simple on the benefits front. You'll get basic stuff like $0 liability on unauthorized charges and access to Citi Entertainment for presale tickets and exclusive events. But the real draw here is the ability to earn rewards without an annual fee. For folks who prefer simplicity and value, that's a benefit.

How the Citi Rewards Card compares

The Citi Rewards+ Card is a solid everyday earner, but it's not the only fish in the credit card rewards sea. Let's see how it compares to a few popular alternatives.

Citi Rewards+ Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% on everything else. This could make it more rewarding than the Citi Rewards+ Card if you spend heavily outside supermarkets and gas stations.

The Freedom Unlimited also offers more flexible redemptions. You can redeem cash back for statement credits, direct deposits, gift cards, and more. With the Rewards+, you're limited to gift cards, travel, online shopping, and other options through Citi.

However, the Citi Rewards+ Card's points round-up feature and 10% rebate set it apart. Those benefits could make it more valuable than the Freedom Unlimited at lower spending levels. The Rewards+ Card also offers a longer intro APR offer on purchases.

Citi Rewards+ Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

If you're more of a traveler than a supermarket shopper, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card might be more your speed. It earns a straightforward 1.25X miles on every purchase, with 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Those miles can be redeemed for travel statement credits, so you can book your trips how and where you want. Or, you can transfer your miles to Capital One's airline and hotel partners for potentially even more value. The Citi Rewards+ Card, on the other hand, requires you to book through the Citi portal to get the best bang for your points.

Citi Rewards+ Card vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

If groceries are your biggest spending category, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express might just be your best bet.

It earns a whopping 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), plus 6% on select U.S. streaming services, 3% on transit and U.S. gas stations, and 1% on everything else. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.

Those are some generous rates, especially compared to the Citi Rewards+ Card's 2X points on groceries and gas. The downside? The Blue Cash Preferred charges a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95, so you'll need to make sure your spending justifies the cost. See rates and fees.

Is the Citi Rewards+ Card right for you?

The Citi Rewards+ Card can be a great fit if you want a no-annual-fee card that rewards your everyday spending. However, it's not the best choice for everyone.

You may like the Citi Rewards+ Card if:

• You want to earn ThankYou points without an annual fee. ThankYou points are versatile, and you can even transfer them to other cards in the ThankYou program.
• You spend a lot on groceries and gas. The card's standout feature is the 2X rewards at supermarkets and gas stations.
• You make a lot of small purchases. The card rounds up rewards to the nearest 10 points on every purchase. This means a $2 coffee earns 10 points instead of 2.

On the flip side, the Citi Rewards+ Card may not be ideal if:

• You're a big spender. The $6,000 annual cap on 2X categories limits the card's upside for high spenders. If you spend way beyond that amount, you may be better served by a card with unlimited bonus rewards in those categories, or a flat-rate 2% cash back card.
• You want premium travel perks. This card doesn't have benefits like lounge access or travel credits found on some travel rewards cards.

How we rated this card

Every credit card review we publish has undergone a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and objectivity. Learn more about our methodology here.

The bottom line

The Citi Rewards+ Card’s main strengths are the unique round-up feature and the 10% redemption bonus. However, it falls short in benefits and offers only average rewards for those who don't maximize the round-up feature.

This card is best suited for moderate spenders who frequently make small purchases and can benefit from the round-up feature. However, heavy spenders or those seeking more robust travel benefits might find more value in other rewards cards.

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.