Amex EveryDay vs. Citi Rewards+: Earn Valuable Points with No Annual Fee
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express serves as a no-annual-fee option compared to some of Amex's other top-tier offerings. Like Amex's premium cards, it accumulates transferable American Express Membership Rewards points and provides bonus categories and transaction incentives. This makes it a popular choice due to its straightforward earning structure and respectable return on spending.
On the other hand, the Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees) is equally impressive with earning bonuses at supermarkets and gas stations, along with a unique 10-point roundup feature and a 10% points rebate on up to the first 100,000 ThankYou points redeemed annually. While most points earned aren't transferable to Citi ThankYou's airline partners, having a premium Citi ThankYou card like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) allows you to merge your points and transfer them from there.
If you're thinking about applying for one of these cards, it's beneficial to compare their features and determine which one aligns better with your needs.
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The details for the Amex EveryDay card have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information presented on this page has not been assessed or endorsed by the card issuer.
Comparison of Amex EveryDay and Citi Rewards+
| Amex EveryDay | Citi Rewards+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Welcome bonus | 10,000 points after you use your new card to make $2,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership | 20,000 points after you spend $1,500 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening |
| Earning | 2 points per dollar on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in spending each year; then 1 point per dollar)
1 point per dollar on all other purchases Terms apply | 5 points on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel portal (through Dec. 31, 2025)
2 points per dollar on purchases at supermarkets and gas stations (up to $6,000 in spending each year; then 1 point per dollar) 1 point per dollar on all other purchases |
| Additional benefits | 20% more points when you use your card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period. Terms apply
Access to Amex's Membership Rewards Program Car rental loss and damage insurance* Global Assist Hotline* | For every purchase that earns ThankYou Points, your ThankYou Points will be rounded up to the nearest 10 points
10% points back up to the first 100,000 ThankYou Points redeemed per calendar year |
*Eligibility and benefit levels differ by card. Terms, conditions, and restrictions apply. For further details, visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Policies are provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Welcome offer for Amex EveryDay vs. Citi Rewards+
DinogoThe Amex EveryDay card offers a bonus of 10,000 points after you make $2,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. This is valued at $200 according to TPG's July 2024 valuations.
In contrast, the Citi Rewards+ card provides a generous 20,000 points after you spend $1,500 on purchases within the first three months. Simply holding the Rewards+ earns you $200 in gift cards. If you also have a premium Citi ThankYou card, your points could be worth $360 based on our evaluations.
Winner: Citi Rewards+
Benefits of Amex EveryDay vs. Citi Rewards+
The Amex EveryDay* offers a range of standard benefits, including car rental loss and damage insurance, access to the Global Assist Hotline**, and membership in Amex's Membership Rewards program. You can also take advantage of the Pay with Points program for booking flights or hotel stays.
*You must enroll to access certain benefits.
**Eligibility and benefit levels differ by card. Please refer to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for complete details. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AIG.
Image by ROB LEWINE/GETTY IMAGESThe Citi Rewards+ card offers limited benefits, but it does feature a unique 'Round Up' benefit: Every purchase that qualifies for ThankYou Points will have its points rounded up to the next 10. So, even a $1 transaction will net you 10 points, making it a standout option given there's no annual fee.
Additionally, you'll receive 10% of your points back when you redeem your first 100,000 ThankYou Points each calendar year.
Winner: It's a tie. These cards provide distinctly different benefits that may cater to various cardholders' needs.
Comparing point earnings: Amex EveryDay vs. Citi Rewards+
Both cards feature similar, straightforward earning rates that are easy to understand.
The Amex EveryDay card rewards you with 2 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 annually; then it drops to 1 point per dollar), in addition to 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Photo by TOM WERNER/GETTY IMAGESThe Citi Rewards+ also provides 2 points per dollar spent at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 each year (1 point per dollar thereafter), along with 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Until December 31, 2025, you can earn 5 points per dollar on hotel, car rental, and attraction bookings made through the Citi Travel portal.
Winner: Citi Rewards+. With an advantage at gas stations and the special Citi Travel portal offer, Citi Rewards+ stands out as the clear winner.
Comparing point redemption: Amex EveryDay vs. Citi Rewards+
You can redeem rewards earned with the Amex EveryDay for cash back, Amazon purchases, gift cards, and more. However, the best value is typically obtained when redeeming points for travel through Amex's airline and hotel partners.
Image credit: JUSTIN PAGET/GETTY IMAGESPoints earned with the Citi Rewards+ are categorized as 'basic' Citi ThankYou points, which can be redeemed for purchases at Amazon and Best Buy for less than 1 cent each. A more favorable option is redeeming for gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point, but transferring points is the best choice overall.
Additionally, keep in mind that when you redeem your Citi Rewards+ points, you’ll earn 10% of your points back on up to the first 100,000 points redeemed within a calendar year.
Winner: Amex EveryDay. It offers more advantageous redemption options.
Comparing point transfers: Amex EveryDay vs. Citi Rewards+
Amex facilitates transfers to well-known U.S.-based programs like Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue, but you can often achieve greater value by using international airline programs. According to TPG's July 2024 valuations, Amex points are valued at 2.0 cents each, which is remarkably high, largely due to the value gained when transferring to its extensive travel partners.
Image credit: D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGESIf you hold a Citi Prestige (no longer available) or Strata Premier along with your Rewards+, you can transfer your points to your Prestige or Premier account and then to partners like Avianca LifeMiles and Etihad Guest. This can boost the value of your points from 1 cent each to about 1.8 cents each based on our assessments.
TPG's senior points and miles writer Katie Genter loves to transfer her Citi ThankYou points and take advantage of partners like Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Avianca LifeMiles for flights, as well as Choice Privileges for hotel stays.
Both Amex points and Citi points hold value, but Amex has a slight advantage here. You don't need another Amex card to transfer your points, whereas a secondary Citi card is required to transfer your Rewards+ points.
Winner: Amex EveryDay. It offers superior transfer options compared to Citi Rewards+ as well.
The details for the Prestige card have been independently gathered by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.
Should I choose the Amex EveryDay or Citi Rewards+?
If you're new to the points and miles landscape, both of these cards are solid options that allow you to explore a major points program without any annual fees. The Amex EveryDay comes with valuable travel protections and earning potential, plus access to the outstanding transfer partners of the Membership Rewards program. Meanwhile, the Citi Rewards+ offers a strong cash-back rate along with enticing category bonuses at supermarkets and gas stations.
In summary
If you're thinking about applying for either of these cards, make sure you can meet the spending requirements to earn their bonuses. On the other hand, obtaining both the Amex EveryDay and the Citi Rewards+ could be a great way to start with Amex Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards, giving you time to decide which program you want to focus on more.
Both cards present attractive options for those who spend more on everyday purchases—especially groceries—rather than on travel and dining, which are the focus of Amex and Citi's premium cards.
For more information, check out our comprehensive reviews of the Amex EveryDay and Citi Rewards+.
Evaluation :
5/5