Guide to the Citi Rewards+ Card

The following post has been sponsored by our partner, Citi. The analysis and opinions in the story are our own and may not reflect the views of Citi. Learn more about our editorial policy

If you’re looking for a no-stress rewards card that earns you more on the spending you do every day, then the Citi Rewards+® Card is an excellent choice. Designed to reward users on transactions they already make, its specific benefits help you earn ThankYou points quickly and easily.

With no rotating bonus categories to keep track of, the Rewards+ Card is a great option for users who want to earn rewards without the extra effort. The card offers 2 ThankYou points per dollar on purchases at gas stations and supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1 point per dollar) and 1 ThankYou point per dollar on other purchases. While this might not seem like the greatest rewards rate, added benefits like a sign-up bonus of 20,000 ThankYou points, if you spend $1,500 in the first three months, and a unique round up feature make it easy to stockpile rewards.

Citi Rewards+ card benefits

For a card with no annual fee, the Citi Rewards+ Card has a pretty good rewards rate. The 2 ThankYou points per dollar bonus category might not sound like much, but the card’s additional benefits give it a competitive edge.

Welcome bonus of 20,000 points

The Citi Rewards+ card does offer a welcome bonus of 20,000 points if you spend $1,500 in the first three months of your account opening, which is worth $200 in gift cards at ThankYou.com. You can also use the points for shopping online at Amazon.com, cash rewards or travel, among other options. However, keep in mind: If you’ve received a bonus from or have closed an account on other Citi cards like the Citi Premier® Card review in the past 24 months, you won’t receive the 20,000 points for the Citi Rewards+ card.

Round up your ThankYou Points

One of the most unique perks of the Citi Rewards+ Card is the round up feature, which rounds up ThankYou points on every transaction to the nearest 10. This means a $2 muffin or $13 movie ticket will get you 10 and 20 ThankYou points, respectively. This benefit makes it easy to stockpile your rewards on even small purchases.

Good rewards on purchases at gas stations and supermarkets

On top of a solid rewards rate on general purchases, the Citi Rewards+ Card offers a bonus category for purchases at gas stations and supermarkets. The 2 ThankYou point per dollar rate is capped at $6,000 in purchases per year, which is comparable with similar rewards card. Even after you’ve reached the cap, you’ll continue to earn 1 ThankYou point per dollar in the same category.

ThankYou point redemption bonus

To maximize your rewards points even further, the Citi Rewards+ card offers 10% back on the ThankYou points you redeem – up to 100,000 points per year. The redemption options for ThankYou points are flexible, including gift cards and travel purchases.

No-stress rewards program

Because the rewards you earn with the Citi Rewards+ Card are tailored toward the spending you already do every day, it is easy to garner great value out of the card. By using your Rewards+ Card for your day-to-day purchases, you can get rewarded without keeping track of rotating categories or weighing spending toward a particular kind of purchase.

Long introductory APR

With the Citi Rewards+ Card, you’ll also get a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on both balance transfers and purchases (14.24-24.24% variable thereafter). This makes it easy to avoid interest charges if you need to pay down some debt or make a large purchase to pay off over the first year.

Maximizing the Citi Rewards+ Card

The best way to earn the most points for your buck: Use the card often. You can use it for your everyday purchases to earn rewards on everything you buy, as even small purchases like a $3 coffee can earn you 10 ThankYou points thanks to the round up feature. Don’t forget to use this card for all gas and groceries to earn those 2X points.

You should also redeem your ThankYou points as often as possible for that 10% back redemption bonus. You can do that for as little as $25 (2,500 points). If possible, you can rotate the Citi Rewards+ Card with other Citi cards that earn ThankYou points to earn bonus points in additional spending categories, including 3X points on dining, air travel and hotels with the Citi Premier Card.

Bottom line

While the earning rate on the Citi Rewards+ Card doesn’t sound as impressive as some other rewards cards, added features make the card valuable for those looking for a straightforward rewards program. The round up feature and 10% back on ThankYou point redemption make it effortless to earn great rewards on all your purchases. By using the card on the things you already buy every day, you can stockpile ThankYou points with ease.