Review of the Citi Simplicity® Card – Good for Paying Off Debt?
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Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The Citi Simplicity card stays true to its name, offering a straightforward card experience focused on a very long 0% introductory APR period for both purchases and balance transfers.
Credit Card Insider receives compensation from advertisers whose products may be mentioned on this page. Advertiser relationships do not affect card evaluations. Advertising partners do not edit or endorse our editorial content. Content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when it's published. Learn more in our Editorial Guidelines.
The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
The Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t come with many big surprises, offering a very simple experience for card users.
The main draw comes from the ability to transfer balances from other cards or loans. It has one of the longer 0% introductory periods for purchases and balance transfers out there, giving you plenty of extra time to help pay down any balances that are collecting interest.
You’ll get:
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months, then 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable).
- Purchase APR: 0% for 18 months, then 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable).
The Simplicity also has very few fees to bog you down. Keep reading to learn more, and to see if this card is worth it for you.
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$0
- Regular APR14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)
- No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
- 0% Intro APR for 18 months on purchases from date of account opening and 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer. After that the variable APR will be 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
- Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock and $0 liability on unauthorized charges
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 18 months
- Regular Balance Transfer APR14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee3%, $5 minimum
- Penalty APRN/A
- Late FeeNone
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $40
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee3%
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Our Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
We give the Citi Simplicity four out of five Stars. It provides a truly uncomplicated experience, focused on a great introductory APR deal. For the most part, what you see is what you get.
Why We Like It
- A very long 0% introductory period for purchases and balance transfers
- Few fees to keep track of — no annual fee, late fees, or penalty rate
- Check one of your FICO credit scores for free whenever you’d like
Why It Could Be Better
- Balance transfer fee: 3%, $5 minimum
- No rewards program
- Lackluster benefits
Insider tip
While having no late fees is a nice feature, on the surface, don’t let this fool you into thinking it’s OK to pay late. You may pay interest charges on your balance if you miss a payment, and could lose your 0% intro rate. If they’re late enough, late payments can hurt your credit scores as well.
Insider Advice: Getting the Most Out of Your Card
- Take advantage of the long 0% intro purchase and balance transfer APR: This card’s best feature is the long 0% interest period on purchases and balance transfers. You can utilize the time it gives to make new, interest-free purchases, and if you have a balance elsewhere that’s accruing interest, you can save money by transferring it over (just take the transfer fee into account). Take note that you can’t transfer balances between cards from the same issuer.
- Monitor one of your credit scores: One benefit you’ll get is access to your Equifax-based FICO Bankcard Score 8 credit score, so be sure to use that to know where your credit stands.
The Rewards
The Citi Simplicity doesn’t offer any rewards. The true value of the card comes from taking advantage of the long purchase and balance transfer period. The lack of fees, and the occasional promotion Citi offers, make it a bit more enticing.
Looking for a card with rewards? Best Rewards Credit CardsThe Benefits
With this card you’ll get access to a relatively minimal benefits package. While there may not be much, what the Citi Simplicity does have might help you out in some tight spots.
- Free FICO Score: Check your FICO Bankcard Score 8, based on your Equifax credit report, whenever you’d like.
- Citi Easy Deals: Find discounts and special offers at nearby merchants; the more you spend with the card, the better the offers.
- Automatic account alerts: Get notifications (by email or text) about your balance, payments due, and other account details.
- $0 Liability on Unauthorized Charges: Citi’s got you covered. You won’t be responsible for any unauthorized charges on your card — just be sure to let customer support know as soon as you spot any.
- Citi Identity Theft Solutions: Citi can show you how to help prevent your identity from being stolen, and will help you recover if it does happen to you.
- Choose your due date: You’ll be able to set your billing due date for the most convenient time to pay your bill.
- Contactless payments: Tap your card on eligible checkout terminals to check out quickly and securely.
Insider tip
As a Citi cardholder, you may receive offers for either Citi Flex Pay or a Citi Flex Loan, the issuer’s proprietary flexible financing options. Citi will review your account periodically, and offers will typically be extended by email or a banner on your account page if you’re eligible.
Both options can be useful if you don’t think you’ll be able to pay off a necessary purchase within the billing period, but look into the terms and any other applicable details to make sure you’re making the right decision for your situation.
The Terms & Fees
| Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|
| 0% for 18 months, then 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) | 0% for 18 months, then 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) | 25.24% (Variable) |
| Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 | 3% |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
|---|---|
| 3%, $5 minimum | 5%; $10 minimum |
| Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| None | None | Up to $40 |
So you’ll get a lot of time to pay down a balance when you transfer it over, and and the same bit of time before your new purchases begin to accumulate interest. Just be sure to keep an eye on those term limits, because once those are up, you’ll be charged the regular rates shown above.
Take note that balance transfers must be completed in the first four months of getting the card to qualify for the intro rate. Your 0% period will begin at the date of your first transfer. You’ll want to keep the date of first transfer somewhere safe. That way, you can refer back to it when you need to check on those term limits.
It’s also worth noting that while there is no annual fee, late fee, or penalty APR, there still is a balance transfer fee (keep in mind some cards have no fee for balance transfers). That may give you pause, depending on the amount of each transfer you have planned. So before you transfer over a balance, especially a large balance, make sure you’re getting a deal that’s worth it.
A good way to make sure you have the correct monthly payment, to eliminate the balance by the end of the 0% period, is to divide the balance by the number of months in the period. That would be 18 months, in this case. A wise idea would be to divide by one fewer month to make sure you pay it off before your introductory period is over.
For example, if you transfer a $2,000 balance and have 21 months to pay it off: The total balance is $2,100 after the 5% fee. If you divide $2,100 by 21 months, you get a payment of $100 per month. To pay it off a month early: $2,100 divided by 20 months is $105 per month.
The Bottom Line
The Citi Simplicity® Card is well liked among people who don’t much care for interest rates. You’ll get plenty of time to pay off your transferred balances, and without having to pay attention to interest on your purchases.
There are also very few fees to worry about, and you’ll even get a few handy perks.
So if you have another card with a balance that’s accumulating interest, you might want to transfer it over to the Simplicity. While you won’t earn any rewards, it still has its merits.
Although this card gives you plenty of cushion when it comes to carrying a balance, keep in mind that’s never something you want to get in the habit of doing as it can hurt your credit scores.
How to Apply for the Citi Simplicity
Simply click the Apply Now button below. It’ll direct you to the card issuer’s website where you can follow the prompts. You’ll need to fill in your personal and financial information, and Citi will perform a hard inquiry on your credit.
You should often hear back instantly if you’ve been approved or not, and Citi will issue your card. In some cases Citi may request more information.
What Credit Scores Do You Need for the Citi Simplicity?
Citi recommends having FICO credit scores in the excellent range (800–850) for the best chances of qualifying. While you don’t necessarily need that rating to get approved, the better your scores, the higher chance there is (obviously).
Aside from credit scores, credit card issuers take other factors into account when determining your creditworthiness, like income. So you may still get approved, even if you’re below that rating. In the end, it comes down to Citi’s discretion.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Must be 18 to apply
- Personal information: Name, date of birth, Social Security number, U.S. citizenship status, and potentially driver’s license number
- Address and contact information: Home address, phone number, email address
- Financial information: Total annual income, monthly mortgage or rent payment
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$0
- Regular APR14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)
- No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
- 0% Intro APR for 18 months on purchases from date of account opening and 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer. After that the variable APR will be 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
- Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock and $0 liability on unauthorized charges
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 18 months
- Regular Balance Transfer APR14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee3%, $5 minimum
- Penalty APRN/A
- Late FeeNone
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $40
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee3%
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Alternatives to the Citi Simplicity
Is the Citi Simplicity not the right fit? A little too simple? Maybe one of these cards will suit you better.
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 14.49% – 24.49%.
- Great offer from U.S. Bank, a 2021 World’s Most Ethical Company® – Ethisphere Institute, February 2021.
- No Annual Fee*
- Flexibility to choose a payment due date that fits your schedule.
- Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your U.S.Bank Visa® Platinum Credit Card. Certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card (Review) provides another simple option for a balance transfer card.
While it doesn’t offer any rewards, it does have a 0% introductory APR for 20 billing cycles on balance transfers* for both balance transfers and purchases, rather than having different intro period lengths for each. Following the intro period, your regular rate will be 14.49% - 24.49%* Variable.
There’s no annual fee, and you’ll get a few extra benefits, with cell phone insurance being the most notable. It also requires a lower balance transfer fee than the Simplicity.
So it’ll save you a little something at the cost of a few months. Does that difference sound enticing enough to you?
- Free VantageScore credit score: View your VantageScore 3.0 credit score, based on your TransUnion credit report, to help monitor your credit.
- Travel protections: Get covered by rental car insurance, and access to travel and emergency assistance services.
- Extended Warranty: You’ll get an extended manufacturer’s warranty on eligible products.
- Cell Phone Protection: Pay your phone bill with your U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card to receive coverage for damage and theft claims up to $600, up to two claims per year, with a $25 deductible.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0%* for 20 billing cycles on purchases, then 14.49% - 24.49%* Variable (for transfers completed within the first 60 days)
- Balance transfer fee: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
- Annual fee: $0*
Wells Fargo Platinum card
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$0
- Regular APR16.49%-24.49% Variable
The Wells Fargo Platinum card is yet another good option for balance transfers.
You’ll get 18 months from account opening of 0% interest on both purchases and balance transfers, followed by a rate of 16.49%-24.49% Variable. There’s no annual fee, and with the same intro period as the Simplicity’s, it’s a great deal of time to pay off a balance. The transfer fee is the same as the Simplicity’s as well.
You’ll have access to Visa Platinum benefits, including cell phone insurance (similar to the U.S. Bank card above).
If you’re carrying a balance on a Citi or U.S. Bank card you won’t be able to use their other cards for balance transfers (because you can’t transfer balances between cards from the same issuer). So Wells Fargo might be a good option in those cases. Certainly something to think about.
- Travel protections: Get covered by rental car insurance, travel accident insurance, access to roadside dispatch, and travel and emergency assistance services, among other benefits.
- Cell phone protection: Get insured for up to $600 in damages or theft when you pay your monthly phone bill with the card; subject to a $25 deductible.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% intro APR for 18 months from account opening, then 16.49%-24.49% Variable
- Balance transfer fee: 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%; min: $5
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target® or Walmart® purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
- Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99 – 23.74%.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ (Review) provides cash back in rotating quarterly categories.
Every three months you’ll earn 5% cash back in select quarterly categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter (activation required), plus a variety of other categories. The categories can be pretty handy, often including gas stations and grocery stores.
This card also has a long 0% introductory APR for purchases: 15 months, before the regular rate of 14.99% - 23.74% Variable kicks in. While it doesn’t boast the N/A of the Simplicity, you will earn far more rewards with the Freedom Flex.
There’s also no annual fee, so your only worries should be watching those rotating categories and keeping an eye on the APR term limits.
If you’re looking for a more rewarding option that still gives you a solid amount of time to pay off a balance without accruing interest, this could be the one for you.
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus Offer |
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| Quarter | 2021 Categories | 2020 Categories |
|---|---|---|
| January – March |
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| April – June |
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| July – September |
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- Credit Journey: Access Chase’s Credit Journey credit monitoring tool, providing a way to keep track of your VantageScore 3.0, based on your TransUnion credit report, from month to month.
- DoorDash membership: Cardholders can subscribe to DoorDash’s DashPass membership for free for three months, and then get a 50% membership discount for the following nine months.
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Get more cash back at select retailers with the Shop Through Chase marketplace, with other discounts via Chase Offers.
- Shopping protections: Extended warranty for eligible products, and purchase protection (covers eligible purchases against damage and theft)
- Travel protections: Get covered against theft and collision damage of rental vehicles, as long as you decline the rental company’s insurance, as well as access to trip cancellation / trip interruption insurance and other perks.
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Annual fee: $0
The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review) is one of the best credit cards available offering a flat cash back rate.
It earns 2% back on every purchase, with a slight catch. You’ll get 1% when you make the purchase, and the other 1% when you pay it off.
It also has no annual fee, and a long 0% introductory APR balance transfer offer which is the same as the Simplicity’s 18 months. After that your standard variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable).
The Double Cash provides a straightforward, inexpensive option to earn some rewards while still giving you extra time to pay off a large balance.
| Spending Rewards |
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The rewards you earn with this card can be redeemed normally as cash back, or they can be converted into ThankYou points. Then, you could transfer them to a partner airline or other Citi card where you might find a better value for them.
- Free FICO credit score: See your Equifax-based FICO Bankcard Score 8 on statements, online, and by mobile app.
- Citi Concierge: Get restaurant suggestions, reservations, travel arrangements, shopping research, and more.
- Citi Entertainment: Get preferred access and pre-sale tickets to events and experiences, from music to movies.
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
- Balance transfer fee: Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
- Purchase APR: 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
- Annual fee: $0
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$0
- Regular APR14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)
- No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
- 0% Intro APR for 18 months on purchases from date of account opening and 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer. After that the variable APR will be 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
- Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock and $0 liability on unauthorized charges
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 18 months
- Regular Balance Transfer APR14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee3%, $5 minimum
- Penalty APRN/A
- Late FeeNone
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $40
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee3%
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
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Evan Zimmer
Evan graduated from SUNY Oswego with a degree in journalism and creative writing. In his professional writing career, he strives for precision and comprehension in his work. He’s written news articles, blog posts, and copy, working across a slew of different mediums. With in-depth research and great care for accuracy and detail, he now works to bring you the most up-to-date credit information.
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