Editor’s Note: This is a recurring post, updated regularly with new information and offers.
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Citi Simplicity Card Overview
The Citi Simplicity® Card is a simple card that offers an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers when you open the card. However, the no-annual-fee card offers no rewards, its benefits are minimal and its variable APR rates are relatively high. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐
*Card ratings are based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and are not influenced by the card issuer.
As TPG’s Brian Kelly knows first hand, getting out of debt can be difficult. But, if you’re working to pay down credit card debt or plan to pay off large purchases over time, you may find the Citi Simplicity® Card’s low introductory annual percentage rate (APR) useful for purchases and balance transfers.
Let’s take a closer look at this no-annual-fee card so you can decide if it’s right for you.
The information for the Citi Simplicity Card is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Citi Simplicity Card Welcome Offer
Citi Simplicity does not offer cash or reward bonuses when you sign up. Its main attraction is the two introductory APR offers for new cardholders.
You’ll automatically get a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from the date you open your Citi Simplicity card account. After that, your APR will be between 19.24% to 29.99% variable depending on your creditworthiness.
Plus, for balance transfers you complete within four months of opening your Citi Simplicity, you’ll get 0% introductory APR for 21 months from the date of the first transfer. Once the introductory period is over, your APR will be variable from 19.24% to 29.99% depending on your creditworthiness.
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There is a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each credit card balance transfer (after the four-month introductory period), whichever is greater.
Note that once your initial purchase APR expires, both new purchases and unpaid purchase balances will automatically accrue interest until all balances — including any transferred balances — are paid in full.
Related: Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Benefits of Citi Simplicity Card
Citi Simplicity does not offer any rewards and has only minimal benefits. These are the benefits you can expect from this card:
Earn rewards on the Citi Simplicity Card
Again, since Citi Simplicity doesn’t earn any rewards, the main reason to use it is its introductory APR offers for purchases and balance transfers. If you’re not trying to pay off debt, you have little reason to open this card. If you choose to take advantage of these early offers, you’ll want to Pay off your balance in full within the initial period.
If you’re also using the introductory balance transfer APR offer it’s imperative to understand what happens after your initial purchase APR period ends. At this point, new purchases and unpaid purchase balances will automatically accrue interest until all balances, including transferred balances, are paid in full. To lower the interest you pay on a variable APR rate, you may want to pay off your purchase balance in full and hold off on using the card for new purchases until you’ve paid off the entire balance on your card.
The Citi Simplicity card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so you don’t want to use it for purchases outside the US.
Related: Seven Ways to Improve Your Finances in 1 Week
Which cards compete with the Citi Simplicity Card?
If you are looking to build your credit, you have several options; One of these might be a better fit than City Simplicity.
- If you want to earn bonus rewards while building credit: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter) and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- If you already have a good credit score: The Citi Double Cash® Card (See Rates and Fees) Earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you shop and 1% when you pay). Its simplicity makes it one of our favorite starter rewards cards. For more details, see our full review of Citi Double Cash.
Information for the Discover It Secured Credit Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For additional options, check out our picks for the best secured credit cards and the best starter credit cards.
Related: How to earn points and miles with fair to poor credit
Is Citi Simplicity Card worth it?
If you’re looking for a card that offers an introductory APR on purchases or one that doesn’t charge late fees or penalty interest, the Citi Simplicity card may be a good option. But, other cards offer lower variable APRs and lower balance transfer fees, so you may want to consider a different card based on your needs.
Bottom line
The Citi Simplicity card doesn’t earn any points — or any other kind of rewards, for that matter — but it can be a good option if you want to make a big purchase and have more time to pay off that balance. If you’re looking for a way to rebuild your credit score and take advantage of a longer introductory APR period, this card may be right for you.