Citi Simplicity® Card Review [2026]: Not as Strong as It Used To Be (original) (raw)

Card basics

Who is the Citi Simplicity good for?

The Citi Simplicity isn't like many credit cards because it doesn't earn rewards or offer benefits like a welcome offer or statement credits. This is why you'll want to be extra certain it's worth it.

This card's perks revolve around an especially long intro APR for balance transfers and other ways to avoid interest. The Citi Simplicity Card could be worth it for you if:

• You have credit card or other loan debt (other than federal student loans) you want to pay off with a balance transfer.
• You plan to make a large purchase and want to pay it off slowly without interest.
• You need to avoid late fees and penalty APRs.

Though great for avoiding interest and fees, the Citi Simplicity isn't an easy card to get for some. Credit scores of good or better are recommended for this card. If you don't think you'd qualify yet but want to, focus on improving your credit before applying. This is one of the best balance transfer cards for good credit there is.

Editor's note

You shouldn't apply for this card if you're looking to pay off existing debt you have with Citi. Issuers generally won't let you transfer debt that's already with them to a balance transfer card that's also with them. So if you're in debt on a Citi card, you can't transfer it to the Citi Simplicity card.

You want to do a balance transfer to pay off debt

In a perfect world, you would have a plan to pay off the credit card debt you transfer to the Citi Simplicity Card by the end of the introductory period. But even if you can't, having a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months from date of account opening to avoid interest will provide you with some breathing room (then 17.49% - 28.24% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening). The card used to have one of the longest intro APR offers on balance transfer that you could find, but now it's pretty middle-of-the-pack.

You want to pay off new purchases without interest

What's more, it's a solid option for paying off new purchases without accruing interest. It's common for credit cards to have generous intro APR offers for either balance transfers or new purchases, but cards with great options for both are harder to come by. And 18 months from date of account opening isn't a bad amount of time to pay off new purchases (APR then 17.49% - 28.24% (Variable)).

You need to avoid fees and penalties

Consider the Citi Simplicity if you need a card that's forgiving. When I started my credit card journey, I struggled to stay on top of my payments at times and dealt with late fees and penalty APRs that just increased my overall debt. This card doesn't charge late fees or have a penalty APR. Which isn't to say you shouldn't pay your bill on time, but sometimes life happens, and this card allows for that.

Citi Simplicity benefits and perks

• Flexible payment due date: You can set a due date that's good for you. It's another reason why this is a good card if you're trying to budget and stay on top of your debt payments.
• Citi Entertainment: Citi has a really good program that lets you into presales or lets you buy better seats. For example, for one concert I was buying tickets for, the aisle seats were exclusively on presale through Citi.
• Identity theft protection: This program is offered by Mastercard, and offers pretty robust coverage, especially for free. One important note is that it's identity theft protection, but not identity theft insurance. Protection identifies issues and provides guidance, but insurance provides funding to help with financial losses. That said, the more protection you have from identity theft, the better. Especially when it's free.

Who shouldn't get the Citi Simplicity?

Different credit cards are good for different things. For all the perks that come with holding a Citi Simplicity card, that value is only accessible if you're using the card as it's intended to be used. The card is likely not right for:

People who don't need to transfer a balance

This is a balance transfer card, so if you don't have a balance transfer to make, I'd steer clear of the Simplicity. That being said, its intro APR offer for purchases is pretty strong, but there are cards with longer intro periods out there.

People who want to earn rewards

Crucially, the Citi Simplicity card does not earn rewards. For many people, the opportunity to earn and redeem rewards is a major draw when it comes to credit cards in general.

If you're interested in earning cash back rewards, have a look at our list of the best cash back credit cards. If earning toward a nearly free flight or hotel stay is more your speed, check out a few of the best travel credit cards for some options.

Citi Simplicity vs. Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

The Citi Simplicity isn't the only balance transfer card in Citi's line-up. There's also the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, and honestly, it's very similar to the Citi Simplicity.

Here's how they stack up:

| | Citi Simplicity® Card 4.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products. | Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (Rates and fees) 4.4 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products. | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Annual fee | 0∣0 | 0∣0 | | Intro APR | 0% introductory APR on purchases for 18 months from date of account opening, then 17.49% - 28.24% (Variable) 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 18 months from date of account opening, then 17.49% - 28.24% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening | 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, then 16.49% - 27.24% (Variable) 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening, then 16.49% - 27.24% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening | | Balance transfer fee | 3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends | 3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends | | Late fee | None | See Terms | | Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% | | | | Apply now | |

For a more nuts and bolts comparison of the two cards, check out our Citi Simplicity vs. Citi Diamond Preferred comparison.

Other cards to consider

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

If you're looking for a longer 0% intro APR period for purchases rather than balance transfers, I'd recommend the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card. It has a 0% introductory balance transfer APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (then 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% Variable) with a balance transfer fee of 5%, min: $5 and a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 21 months from account opening (then 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% Variable).

This is a bit longer than the 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 months from date of account opening (then 17.49% - 28.24% (Variable)) that the Citi Simplicity Card offers.

Citi Double Cash® Card

The Citi Simplicity doesn't earn rewards. This is typical for many balance transfer cards, but it does mean that the Citi Simplicity's benefits are relatively short-term.

If long-term rewards are important, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card (Rates and fees). It offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then a 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable) APR).

More importantly, it offers 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.

You can also earn earn 200cashbackafteryouspend200 cash back after you spend 200cashbackafteryouspend1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. Consider the Citi Double Cash® Card rather than the Citi Simplicity® Card if you want to keep using this card after the intro APR period is over.

FAQs

What credit score do I need to get a Citi Simplicity Card?

You typically need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for the Citi Simplicity Card. That's at least a 670 FICO score, which will put this card out of reach for people with fair or bad credit.

Keep in mind that Citibank and other lenders also consider other creditworthiness factors to determine your eligibility for their credit card offers. This could include your overall credit history, the types of credit you already have, and how many new cards you've opened recently.

For these reasons, it's important to check over your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You might discover errors with credit limits, credit inquiries, or debt reporting on recent billing cycles.

Is the Citi Simplicity Card hard to get?

Whether the Citi Simplicity Card is easy or hard for you to get depends on your creditworthiness. But as with many of the best balance transfer credit cards, it requires a stronger credit score, and it's not designed for people with limited or bad credit. The Citi Simplicity could be considered harder to get than many secured or credit-building cards.

You should have at least good credit before applying for the Citi Simplicity Card. If your FICO credit score isn't 670 or better, you can work to improve your credit score by paying all your bills on time, reducing credit card balances as much as possible, and limiting the amount of new credit you apply for. However, note that your credit score alone won't determine whether you qualify, and having good or excellent credit doesn't guarantee approval.

Do balance transfers hurt your credit score?

A balance transfer could hurt your credit score in the short term. One is that when you apply for a card, the issuer typically does a hard credit check, which lowers your score a bit.

Ideally, though, it will help. For one, it improves your credit utilization ratio. That's the balance you have on your cards compared to your available credit lines.

Let's say you have a 3,000balanceonCardA,andithasa3,000 balance on Card A, and it has a 3,000balanceonCardA,andithasa4,000 limit. You're using 75% of your available credit. Then you're approved for balance transfer Card B with a 6,000limit.Youmoveyour6,000 limit. You move your 6,000limit.Youmoveyour3,000 balance to Card B. Now you have a balance of 3090(thebalanceplusa33090 (the balance plus a 3% balance transfer fee) and total available credit of 3090(thebalanceplusa310,000 ($4,000 from Card A and $6,000 from Card B). You're now using about 30% of your available credit, and credit score agencies prefer a credit utilization ratio of 30% or less.

Bottom line

The Citi Simplicity® Card (Rates and fees) is a solid card for anyone who wants to pay down existing debt. It has a decently long intro APR offer on both purchases and balance transfers, which gives you plenty of time to work on paying off the balance you move to this card or any large purchases you make during the intro period.

As a $0-annual-fee card that charges no late fees, the Citi Simplicity is a straightforward card that's easy to keep in your pocket.