Citi Rewards+ Benefits: What the Card Offers in 2026

June 21, 2026

Buy a $2 coffee on the Citi Rewards+ Card and you earn 10 points, not 2. That round-up quirk is the card's signature benefit, and on small purchases it can more than double your earnings.

This guide walks through every real Citi Rewards+ benefit, how the round-up and 10% points back actually work, and one important update: as of June 2026, Citi has been transitioning the Rewards+ into the Citi Strata Card for new applicants. We cover what that means for you. All figures are current as of June 2026. Terms and conditions apply, and APRs vary by creditworthiness.

Key Facts at a Glance

FeatureDetail
IssuerCitibank
NetworkMastercard
Annual fee$0
Purchase APR0% intro for 15 months, then 17.74% to 27.74% variable
Rewards2x ThankYou Points at supermarkets and gas (first $6,000/year), 1x elsewhere
Welcome bonusAround 20,000 points after $1,500 spend in 3 months
Score neededGood to excellent, roughly 670+ FICO
Reports to bureausYes, all three

The Round-Up Benefit: Nearest 10 Points

The headline benefit is automatic round-up. Every purchase rounds up to the nearest 10 ThankYou Points, with no cap on how often it applies.

That $2 coffee earns 10 points. A $12 lunch that would earn 12 points rounds to 20. The smaller and more frequent your purchases, the more the round-up adds.

This benefit rewards a specific habit: lots of small transactions. If you make many tiny buys, the round-up can quietly outpace cards with higher headline rates.

The 10% Points Back Benefit

The second signature perk is 10% points back on redemptions. When you redeem points, Citi returns 10% of them, up to the first 100,000 points redeemed each year.

Redeem 10,000 points and you get 1,000 back. That softens the cost of cashing out and stretches your balance further across the year.

Combined with the round-up, these two perks are what set the Rewards+ apart from a plain flat-rate card. Neither requires any extra effort once you have the card.

Earning Rates and the $6,000 Cap

Beyond the round-up, the card earns 2x ThankYou Points at supermarkets and gas stations on the first $6,000 spent each year, then 1x. Everything else earns 1x.

The $6,000 cap is the main limit. Heavy grocery and gas spenders will hit it and drop to the base rate for the rest of the year.

If the Rewards+ or its Strata replacement has denied you, the Aspire Mastercard is a practical starter card. It is built for thin or rebuilding credit, reports to all three bureaus, and can grow your line over time, helping you build toward a rewards card like this one. Terms apply.

Best for: People who want an unsecured card

Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard

Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
4.2Firstcard rating

Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard. Prequalify* For Up To $1000 Credit Limit. No security deposit. Packed with great benefits, it’s designed to give you more flexibility—and purchasing power—along with up to 3% cash back rewards!** Good anywhere Mastercard is accepted, it’s the go-to card for any lifestyle.

Standout feature

Up to 3% cashback rewards

Fees

$49 to $175; after that $0 to $49 annually; - $60 to $159 annually billed at $5 to $12.50 per month after the first year.

Pros

No Deposit Required. Prequalify for up to $1000 credit limit

Cons

High APR. 25.74% to 36%, based on your creditworthiness.

The Welcome Bonus and APR

As of June 2026, the card has offered roughly 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in the first 3 months. At about 1 cent per point, that is near $200.

The card carries a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, then a variable 17.74% to 27.74%. The rewards only pay off if you avoid that interest, so pay your balance in full each month.

If a deposit is the barrier to your next card, Perpay offers a no-deposit, paycheck-powered way to build credit. You make small payroll-linked payments, and the activity can be reported to help your history grow, a low-friction step toward a rewards card. Terms apply.

Best for: Everyday credit building

Perpay Credit Card

Perpay Credit Card
5Firstcard rating

Meet the only card powered by your paycheck. With automatic transfers from your paycheck, you can manage payments stress-free and build credit with ease.

Fee

$9/month plus $9 account opening fee

APR

Marketplace: 0% / Credit Card: 27.74% to 29.99% depending on your creditworthiness.

Minimum Deposit Amount

$0

Credit Check

No

Cashback

2% reward on purchases made in Perpay Marketplace

Benefit

2% rewards, no security deposit

The Strata Transition You Should Know

Here is the honest update. Citi began converting the Rewards+ into the Citi Strata Card, and as of June 2026 new applicants are generally pointed to Strata rather than Rewards+.

The Strata Card keeps the $0 annual fee and ThankYou Points but changes the structure, including higher multipliers on supermarkets, transit, gas, and EV charging. Existing Rewards+ holders should check their account for any conversion notice.

If you specifically wanted the round-up and 10% points back, confirm whether those features carried over before you count on them. Benefits can change, so read your current cardmember terms.

Who These Benefits Fit

The round-up rewards small, frequent spenders, while the 10% points back rewards anyone who redeems regularly. Together they make a no-fee card punch above its weight.

The card fits people with good to excellent credit, roughly 670 FICO or higher, who pay in full and make many small purchases. It is a weaker pick for big-ticket spenders, since the round-up barely moves the needle on large buys.

Next Steps

First, check whether you are looking at the Rewards+ or its Strata successor, since the live benefits differ. Then check your credit score for free and compare the round-up and points-back perks against how you actually spend.

If your score is below the good range, do not waste a hard inquiry on a likely denial. Build a few months of on-time payments with a starter card, watch your score climb, then apply. Always pay your statement in full so the points stay pure profit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Citi Rewards+ round-up benefit?

Every purchase automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 ThankYou Points, with no cap. A purchase that would earn 2 or 3 points instead earns 10, which boosts small, frequent transactions the most.

How does 10% points back work?

When you redeem points, Citi gives back 10% of them, up to the first 100,000 points redeemed each year. Redeem 10,000 points and 1,000 are returned to your account.

Is the Citi Rewards+ still available?

As of June 2026, Citi has been transitioning the Rewards+ into the Citi Strata Card, so new applicants are generally directed to Strata. Existing cardholders should check their account for conversion details and confirm which benefits carry over.

What credit score do I need for the Citi Rewards+?

Most approved applicants have good to excellent credit, roughly a 670 FICO or higher. If your score is lower, building a few months of on-time history first improves your odds and avoids a wasted inquiry.


Firstcard Educational Content Team

Firstcard Educational Content Team - June 21, 2026

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