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The main benefit of the Citi Simplicity® Card is its Citi Simplicity® Card (then a Citi Simplicity® Card APR). It doesn’t charge late fees, a penalty rate, or annual fees — but it doesn’t earn rewards, either. Citi is an Insider partner.
Review: Is the Citi Simplicity the best credit card for you?
The top credit cards available nowadays have never been more exciting. Banks continue to debut new, benefits-packed credit cards with large sign-up bonuses worth potentially thousands of dollars, and some existing rewards credit cards have added perks or improved their welcome offers.
But not all of us qualify for those cards for reasons like a low credit score or a significant amount of debt. In this case, the Citi Simplicity® Card may be a great fit for your situation. It doesn’t charge late fees, a penalty rate, or an annual fee.
There are three scenarios in which you should open the Citi Simplicity® Card:
You’re trying to get out of credit card debtYou expect a large purchase that you can’t immediately pay offYour credit score is less than perfect
If none of the above describes you, there are other more valuable credit cards that will serve you better. The Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t come with many perks at all, and it offers zero rewards for spending. It doesn’t even come with a traditional welcome offer of bonus rewards.
However, the card can be helpful to those carrying big balances on high-interest credit cards. The Citi Simplicity® Card can give you a chance to get ahead of crippling monthly interest fees by giving you a long Citi Simplicity® Card (then a Citi Simplicity® Card APR).
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.
The Citi Simplicity card doesn’t have a rewards program
The Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t earn rewards. You will not earn points or cash back for spending on the card.
No-annual-fee cards like the Citi® Double Cash Card come with slightly less generous 0% intro APR offers only on balance transfers, but also earn valuable rewards for your purchase. These cards will be much friendlier to your long-term credit card strategy, as their practicality doesn’t expire after the 0% intro APR offer ends.
Benefits and features
0% intro APR on new purchases and balance transfers
In lieu of a sign-up bonus, the Citi Simplicity® Card offers generous 0% introductory APR windows for both new purchases and balance transfers: Citi Simplicity® Card (then a Citi Simplicity® Card APR)
The ability to carry a balance for such a long period with zero interest puts the Citi Simplicity® Card at the top of the class in its category. As long as you make at least the minimum payment each month, 100% of your money goes toward paying off your balance.
This is a powerful tool to reduce debt, as many popular cards charge interest rates of more than 20%. Anyone who finds themselves in a lot of debt with one of these cards may transfer some or all of their balance to the Citi Simplicity® Card to keep it from snowballing.
Helpful account management tools
There are a few minor benefits that come with the Citi Simplicity to help you effectively manage your card:
Ability to change your payment due dateCiti Identity Theft Solutions (helpful if you’re a victim of identity theft)Account alerts that keep you up to date on things like upcoming payments and when you exceed your credit limit24-hour customer supportFree FICO score
No annual fee, late fees, or penalty rates
This card charges an annual fee of Citi Simplicity® Card, meaning you can keep it forever at no cost. No-annual-fee cards are important tools for building your credit score, as they will increase the length of your average credit history.
Just make sure you swipe it every once in a while to avoid Citi proactively canceling your card due to inactivity. Using your card for a purchase every six months is a good rule of thumb.
With the Citi Simplicity® Card, you won’t ever pay a fee for late payments (there is a fee of up to $41 for returned payments, however), and there’s no penalty APR like most cards charge if you have a late or returned payment.
Fees and costs
If you plan to take advantage of this card’s 0% APR intro offers, be sure you pay off your balance before the introductory period ends or you’ll immediately begin incurring interest fees of Citi Simplicity® Card.
Also, note that there’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of your transfer amount or $5 — whichever is greater — on transfers completed within four months of account opening, then 5% of your transfer amount or $5. For example, if you plan to transfer $6,000 to your Citi Simplicity® Card, you’ll pay a one-time $180 fee if done within your first four months — and then be free of interest for the next 21 months.
This initial fee isn’t ideal, but it can still save you many hundreds of dollars over slowly chipping away at your balance on a high-APR credit card. The Citi Simplicity® Card’s lack of penalty rate also makes it customer-friendly.
Comparison: Citi Simplicity vs other Citi balance transfer cards
Citi Simplicity® Card
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card
Citi® Double Cash Card
Annual fee
Citi Simplicity® Card
$0
$0
Rewards rate
None
None
Earn 1% back when you make a purchase and another 1% back when you pay it off (effectively 2% back)
Welcome bonus
Citi Simplicity® Card
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Citi® Double Cash Card
0% intro APR offer
Citi Simplicity® Card (then a Citi Simplicity® Card APR)
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (then a Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card APR)
Citi® Double Cash Card (then a Citi® Double Cash Card APR)
Other fees
No late fees, no penalty APR
Late payment fee up to $41
Penalty APR up to 29.99%
Late payment fee up to $41
Penalty APR up to 29.99%
Review
Citi Diamond Preferred credit card review
Citi Simplicity vs 0% APR offer cards from other banks
Citi Simplicity® Card
U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Annual fee
Citi Simplicity® Card
$0
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Rewards rate
None
None
None
Welcome bonus
Citi Simplicity® Card
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
N/A
0% intro APR
Citi Simplicity® Card (then a Citi Simplicity® Card APR)
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card (then a 13.99% – 23.99% APR)
Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card (then Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card)
Other fees
No late fees, no penalty fees
Late payment fee up to $41
Late payment fee up to $40
Review
U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card review
Wells Fargo Reflect Card review
Citi Simplicity frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is the Citi Simplicity Card worth it?
The Citi Simplicity® Card is worth it for folks looking to pay down debt from other credit cards, or for paying off larger purchases over multiple billing cycles. Plus, the card doesn’t charge late or penalty fees.
However, the Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t earn rewards or even offer a welcome bonus. So unless you need an extra long APR on balance transfers and purchases, you should consider a different rewards credit card.
What credit score do you need to qualify for the Citi Simplicity card?
Most folks who get approved for the Citi Simplicity® Card have a good or excellent credit score (FICO score of at least 670 ). If you’re not quite there yet, you can improve your credit score with responsible use.
How many Citi cards can you have?
Citi doesn’t officially limit the number of credit cards you can own at one time. That said, some Citi cards restrict you from opening the same card again and earning a bonus if you have certain other Citi cards, or have previously received a bonus on the card within a certain timeframe.