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Citi Rewards+® Card – How the “Round-Up” Points Card Works (2025 Review)
February 6, 2025
Citi Rewards+® Card Highlights and Features
The Citi Rewards+® Card is a unique rewards credit card designed for everyday spending. It charges no annual fee and earns Citi ThankYou® Points on every purchase.
Here are the key features that defined this card:
- Rewards Earnings: 2× ThankYou points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations and 1× point on all other purchases. These points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or other rewards.
- Round-Up on Small Purchases: The Citi Rewards+ introduced a “round up” feature that rounds every purchase up to the nearest 10 points.
- Points Rebate: Another standout benefit is the 10% points back on redeemed ThankYou points.
- Welcome Bonus and APR: Typically, the card has offered a sign-up bonus around 20,000 ThankYou points, worth about $200 in gift cards. It also featured a 0% intro APR periodThese promotional terms made it appealing for those planning big purchases or balance transfers.
- No Annual Fee (and Some Fees): There is $0 annual cost to hold the card.
- ThankYou Point Ecosystem: Points earned with the Rewards+ can be combined with points from other Citi cards. If you also hold a premium Citi card, you can even transfer ThankYou points to airline partners for potentially higher value.
Important Update: As of April 2025, Citi closed the Rewards+ Card to new applicants. A Citi spokesperson confirmed that existing Citi Rewards+ cardholders will be automatically moved to the new Citi Strata Card on July 20, 2025. The Citi Strata Card is replacing Rewards+ with a refreshed rewards structure.
Notably, Strata has done away with the quirky “round up” feature that made the Rewards+ unique, instead offering straightforward higher earning rates in popular categories. It also doesn’t carry the 10% rebate perk for most users. In short, new applicants can no longer get the Rewards+, but understanding its features is still useful for existing cardholders and for comparing with its successor and competitors.
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Maximizing Your Citi Rewards+® Card Rewards
Even though new enrollments are paused, many people continue to use the Citi Rewards+ Card and reap its rewards. To get the most out of the card’s features, focus on how you earn and redeem points:
Leverage the Round-Up on Every Purchase
Take advantage of the round-up feature by using the Citi Rewards+ for all those small-dollar purchases that you’d normally make with cash or a debit card. Since every transaction earns at least 10 points, you’re effectively getting outsized reward rates on cheap buys.
Redeem Points Strategically (and Get 10% Back)
How you redeem your ThankYou points can greatly impact their value. With the Rewards+ Card, make sure to capitalize on that 10% points rebate each year:
- Aim to Redeem in Bulk: Since you get 10% of your redeemed points credited back (up to 100k points redeemed per year), you effectively get a bonus for using your points.
- Choose High-Value Redemption Options: Not all ThankYou point redemptions are equal. Generally, travel bookings and gift cards through Citi’s portal give around 1¢ per point in value, which is decent.
- Pair with Other Citi Cards: If you happen to also hold a premium Citi card, consider combining your points and transferring them to airline partners for potentially outsized value. The Rewards+ can be that booster that gives you 10% more points on redemption, essentially acting like a rebate on top of your other card’s earnings.
By understanding these angles, the Citi Rewards+ Card can punch above its weight for a no-fee card. It effectively rewards you twice: first with round-ups and category points when you earn, then with a rebate when you burn your points.
Comparing Citi Rewards+® Card with Other Credit Cards
When considering the Citi Rewards+® Card, it's helpful to compare it with other popular options in the cashback credit card category:
- Annual fee: $0
- Sign-up bonus: Cash bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, 1.5% on all other purchases
- Standout feature: Flexible redemption options including cash back, travel, and gift cards
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card:
- Annual fee: $0
- Sign-up bonus: Cash bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 3% on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores
- Standout feature: No foreign transaction fees
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (rates & fees):
- Annual fee: $0
- Welcome offer: Cash bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 3% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 3% cash back up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout
- Standout feature: This card offers a generous intro of APR on purchases and balance transfers
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Each card offers unique benefits tailored to different spending habits and preferences. Consider your personal financial goals when choosing the best card for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Citi Rewards+® Card excels in giving huge rewards back to customers
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers diverse category bonuses
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card rewards dining and entertainment spending
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express provides strong rewards on everyday purchases
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Summary
In summary, the Citi Rewards+ Card carved out a niche as “the great card for small purchases” and a solid sidekick in a multi-card wallet. Now that it’s being phased out, Citi’s newer offerings cover some of the same ground (like no-fee rewards, 5× categories, etc.) but with different approaches.
Evaluate your spending habits: if you mostly wanted Rewards+ for the no-fee + points combo, Citi’s alternatives can fill that gap in different ways. And of course, there are non-Citi cards that might suit your needs as well.
Conclusion
The Citi Rewards+® Card proved that you don’t need an annual fee to get some clever perks. It has been a friendly option for everyday purchases – especially benefiting those of us who make lots of small buys and want to earn rewards on each one. By rounding up every purchase to 10 points and rewarding loyal users with a 10% points rebate on redemptions, the Rewards+ carved a small but significant fan base. While it may not have offered the highest earning rates for big spenders, it excelled at what it was designed for: helping the average consumer earn a little extra on every swipe.
As Citi pivots to the new Strata Card, the legacy of Citi Rewards+ will live on in slightly different form. If you’ve been using Citi Rewards+, take stock of how these changes affect you – you might find the new Strata rewards structure either more rewarding for your spend, or you might miss the old quirks. Either way, the landscape of no-fee rewards cards is rich with options. This is a great time to consider which card (or combination of cards) maximizes your rewards given your spending pattern.
Finally, remember that managing multiple cards and their perks can get complicated. A tool like Kudos can simplify that process and ensure you’re always getting the best rewards available. With the right strategy (and maybe a little tech assistance), you can continue to earn more rewards effortlessly – whether you stick with Citi’s new offerings or explore other credit cards that suit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Citi Rewards+ Card
Is the Citi Rewards+® Card worth it?
It depends on your spending habits. For light spenders or those who frequently make small purchases, the Citi Rewards+ can be very rewarding – it ensures you earn at least 10 points per purchase thanks to the round-up feature. It also has a solid 2× points on gas and groceries (up to the annual cap), a 0% intro APR period, and no annual fee. All these make it quite attractive for a beginner or as a supplementary card.
What credit score is needed for the Citi Rewards+ Card?
You’ll typically need good to excellent credit to be approved for Citi Rewards+ (when it was open to applications). In practice that means a FICO score roughly in the high 600s or 700+ range. Citi aimed this card at prime credit consumers. U.S. News lists the required credit as “Excellent/Good”. Many users report approvals with scores around 700 and above. If your credit score is below the good range, you might have had difficulty getting approved for this card.
Can I still apply for the Citi Rewards+ Card now?
No – not at this time. Citi has discontinued new applications for the Rewards+ Card as of April 2025. The card is no longer available on Citi’s website for new customers. If you were interested in its features, you won’t be able to apply directly. That said, existing cardholders are being transitioned to a new product (the Citi Strata Card). Sometimes Citi allows product changes between their cards, so one indirect route (if you really wanted the Rewards+) could be to open a different Citi card and later request a product change to Rewards+.
What happens to existing Citi Rewards+ cardholders?
All existing Citi Rewards+ cardholders will be automatically upgraded to the Citi Strata℠ Card in mid-2025. Citi announced that July 20, 2025 is the conversion date for current customers. If you have the Rewards+ Card, you should receive communications from Citi about the change. You’ll likely be mailed a new Strata card, and your account number may remain the same (or you’ll get a new one – Citi will clarify that). Importantly, some features of the Rewards+ will change: the Strata Card has different bonus categories and will not include the 10% points back or purchase round-up perks for most cardholders. Your points balance will carry over, of course.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
