Citi Rewards+® Card
vs. Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Updated: August 7, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Shield Insurance

MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.

Both the Citi Rewards+ Card and the Citi Diamond Preferred Card offer appealing introductory APRs and no annual fees, making them strong contenders for anyone looking to manage their finances effectively. However, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card edges ahead with its longer 0% APR period for balance transfers, making it a standout choice for those looking to consolidate and pay down debt.

The Citi Rewards+ card, with its 5X ThankYou points on travel through Citi Travel, is a compelling option for frequent travelers. While both cards cater to good to excellent credit profiles, the Citi Diamond Preferred's superior balance transfer offer positions it as the more advantageous card for debt management.

Citi Rewards+® Card
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.5/ of 5
Rates & Fees
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ of 5
Rates & Fees
REVIEW & APPLY
On Issuer's Site
REVIEW & APPLY
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Citi Rewards+ if you're looking to earn points on your everyday purchases. With this card, you can accumulate ThankYou Points quickly, especially with the 5X points on travel through Citi Travel until the end of 2025 and the welcome offer of 20,000 points after initial spending. It's a solid choice if you value rewards over balance transfer terms.

You might prefer the Citi Diamond Preferred if you're seeking to consolidate and pay down debt with a generous 0% APR period on balance transfers. With one of the longest intro APR offers on the market, this card is ideal for those with existing balances looking to avoid interest charges and focus on debt repayment.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other card features side by side clarifies which card aligns with your financial habits. For example, if you plan to transfer a balance and pay it off over time, the Citi Diamond Preferred's longer 0% APR period on balance transfers may be advantageous. Conversely, if earning rewards on everyday purchases is a priority, the Citi Rewards+ with its points system could be more beneficial.

    discount icon

    Regular APR: Citi Diamond Preferred

    The Citi Diamond Preferred offers a slightly lower starting APR of 18.24%, compared to the Rewards+ of 18.74%.

    annualFee icon

    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Citi Rewards+ and the Citi Diamond Preferred have no annual fee, making them equally attractive for users looking to avoid extra costs.

    lowInterestAPR icon

    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both cards offer valuable introductory 0% APRs, but for different uses. The Citi Diamond Preferred provides a longer 0% APR period for balance transfers, making it ideal for those looking to transfer existing balances. The Citi Rewards+ offers a longer 0% APR period on purchases, better suiting those planning new purchases.

    coins icon

    Rewards: Citi Rewards+

    The Citi Rewards+ offers 5 ThankYou Points per $1 on select bookings through CitiTravel.com, 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 per year, and 1X points on all other purchases. Additionally, it provides a 10% points back on redeemed points, up to 100,000 points per year, and points do not expire. The Citi Diamond Preferred does not offer cash back, miles or points for rewards.

    rewards icon

    Welcome Offers: Citi Rewards+

    For welcome offers, the Citi Rewards+ is the clear winner. It provides 20,000 bonus points after a $1,500 spend within the first three months, equivalent to $200 in gift cards. The Citi Diamond Preferred does not offer a welcome bonus.

    creditApproved icon

    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both cards require a credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they are equally accessible to individuals with good to excellent credit.

    autopay icon

    Penalties and Fees: Tie

    Both the Citi Rewards+ and the Citi Diamond Preferred impose similar penalties and fees, including up to $41 for late payments, a 3% fee on foreign transactions, and a cash advance fee of either $10 or 5% of the advance amount. Both cards also have a penalty APR of up to 29.99%, which may apply for late payments or returned payments.

    points icon

    Issuer Satisfaction: Tie

    Since both the Citi Rewards+ Card and the Citi Diamond Preferred Card are issued by Citibank, they share the same issuer satisfaction rating of 4.1.

    airplane icon

    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both the Citi Rewards+ and Citi Diamond Preferred cards offer unique perks. The Citi Rewards+ card rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase and has a special offer for earning more points on travel booked through CitiTravel.com until December 31, 2025. The Citi Diamond Preferred card provides special access to events through Citi Entertainment and free access to your FICO score online.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Citi Rewards+ and Citi Diamond Preferred based on specific use cases, with each card receiving a score for scenarios such as balance transfers and cash back.

The balance transfer offer and the regular APR are the most important factors in determining these scores. For a deeper understanding of our process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Citi Rewards+ vs. Citi Diamond Preferred Card

What are the main differences in rewards between the Citi Rewards+ and the Citi Diamond Preferred?
Which card offers a longer 0% intro APR period on balance transfers?
Are there annual fees associated with either the Citi Rewards+ or the Citi Diamond Preferred?
Can I earn a signup bonus with either the Citi Rewards+ or the Citi Diamond Preferred?
What is the recommended credit score for applying for these Citi cards?

About Doug Milnes, CFA

Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.

Read Full Bio »
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
Insurance
Mortgage
Credit Cards
Loans
About MoneyGeekPressPrivacy PolicySitemap
Copyright © 2024 MoneyGeek.com. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use