Citi Custom Cash vs. Double Cash: Tailored Bonuses or Effortless Earning
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Written by
Dia Adams
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Edited by
Jasmin Baron, CCC™
The Citi Custom Cash® Card and Citi Double Cash® Card, an advertising partner, rank among the best Citi credit cards for a reason. Both are no-annual-fee cash-back cards with an easy-to-earn welcome bonus, but the way they earn differs greatly.
The Custom Cash Card rewards handsomely for targeted spending, while the Double Cash Card keeps things simple. Let’s break down the differences to help you decide which card is right for you.
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How the Cards Compare: Citi Custom Cash vs. Double Cash
Side By Side Comparison
Annual Fee
Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
Welcome Bonus
Ongoing Rewards
Pros & Cons
- No annual fee
- No rotating categories
- Introductory APR on balance transfers
PROS
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- The bonus spend requirement is higher than average
CONS
- High rewards rate with no categories or caps to worry about
- Long balance transfer intro APR
- Generous welcome bonus
PROS
- No intro APR on purchases
CONS
Learn More
Welcome Bonuses
A highlight of both the Citi Custom Cash Card and the Citi Double Cash Card is the easy-to-earn welcome bonus. Even better, you have six months with both cards to make the required spending to earn them, which is double the time that most cards give you.
Both cards advertise a cash bonus, but it’s actually issued as Citi ThankYou points, which can be redeemed in various ways, including cash back. In addition, both cards offer an introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR) as detailed below.
Citi Custom Cash Welcome Bonus
With the Citi Custom Cash Card, you can earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. The card offers a 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable). A 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases. Balance transfer fee applies with this offer; 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Citi Double Cash Welcome Bonus
The Citi Double Cash Card offers a welcome bonus of $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. As one of the top balance transfer cards on the market, it also has a 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable). A 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
CardCritics™ Opinion
For most intents and purposes, the welcome offers on the two cards are identical. However, the cards diverge in redemption options in a way that may matter to you, as you’ll see below.
If you plan to maximize the intro APR on balance transfers, the Double Cash Card has a lower 3% introductory balance transfer fee. Just keep in mind that balance transfers, fees, interest, gambling and cash equivalents such as money orders and travelers’ checks won’t qualify as spending toward the welcome bonus.
Earning Rewards
Here’s where things start to get interesting. The Custom Cash Card is designed to be maximized, while the Double Cash Card earns an appealing rate on all of your purchases.
How To Earn Rewards With Citi Custom Cash
The Custom Cash Card earns the following:
- 5% cash back on the first $500 spent (then 1%) on your top eligible spending category each month (eligible categories are restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment)
- 5% cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked via the Citi Travel portal
- 1% on all other purchases
There are a couple of things I really like about the Custom Cash Card’s 5% offer. The first is that it doesn’t require registration, like other rotating category cards such as the Chase Freedom Flex® or Discover it® Cash Back. You’re automatically opted in, so you won’t accidentally miss out on your well-earned rewards.
Another great feature is that the category adjusts monthly based on your spending. So if you dine out a lot in February and have a large house project in March, you’ll earn the same 5% on both if it’s your top category. Over the course of a quarter, the cards offer 5% on the same $1,500 in spending, but it will be much easier to maximize the Custom Cash Card than the others.
How To Earn Rewards With Citi Double Cash
The Double Cash Card earns 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay, on every purchase. As a bonus, you can get 5% cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi Travel.
CardCritics™ Opinion
What’s “best” is a matter of taste. If you want a one-and-done card, you’ll likely earn more over a year with the Double Cash Card. But if you know you’ll spend at least $500 per month in one of the categories above, the Custom Cash Card is a worthy option.
The break-even point between the two cards is $2,000 in spending per month, assuming you spend at least $500 in the 5% category to get the max rewards on the Custom Cash Card, then 1% after. Once you go over $2,000, the flat-rate 2% on the Double Cash Card will earn more in the long run.
If you’re looking to maximize your rewards, these cards would make a powerhouse wallet combo. You could use the Custom Cash Card to max out your bonus category, earning 5% cash back on $500 of spending per month, and use the Double Cash Card for everything else, earning 2% as you go.
Redeeming Rewards
Redeeming rewards with the Custom Cash Card and the Double Cash Card is straightforward and flexible. Rewards are issued as ThankYou Points, which can be used in various ways.
How To Redeem Rewards With Citi Custom Cash
With the Custom Cash Card, you can:
- Redeem for cash back as a direct deposit to your bank account, a statement credit, or a check. When redeemed for cash points are worth 1 cent each, so 10,000 points equals $100 in value.
- Use points to get gift cards from a variety of popular retailers, with occasional sales offering slightly more than 1 cent per point in value.
- Book travel through the Citi ThankYou Rewards portal using your points.
- Shop with points at select partner brands, but often at less than 1 cent per point. 1,250 points are worth $10 in purchases when you redeem them via a merchant, so you’re better off redeeming your rewards for cash at one cent per point or 1,000 points for $10.
It’s possible to get an even higher value from your rewards when you convert them to airline frequent flyer program miles or hotel loyalty program points with Citi’s transfer partners. Although the transfer ratios aren’t as high as those of premium Citi travel credit cards such as the Citi Strata Premier® Card and Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (both advertising partners), this can still be a lucrative option for certain redemptions.
How To Redeem Rewards With Citi Double Cash
The Double Cash Card offers the same redemption options as the Custom Cash Card.
CardCritics™ Opinion
These cards are equally matched when it comes to redeeming rewards.
Card Benefits
The Custom Cash Card and Double Cash Card cards are light on benefits, even for no-annual-fee cards. There aren’t any real differences between them. Most are protection-oriented and include:
- 24-hour fraud protection: Citi will alert you if we see unusual activity on your account.
- $0 liability on unauthorized charges: You’re protected against unauthorized charges on your account.
- Citi Entertainment: Provides pre-sale and reserved seat access for Citi cardholders.
- Extended warranty: Doubles the duration of the original manufacturer’s warranty for eligible items, up to a maximum of 24 months.
The best benefits the cards have come because both cards are World Elite Mastercards, which offer a few perks that may be of value to you.
- 10% off scheduled Lyft airport rides and a $5 credit after your third monthly ride through Jan. 31, 2027
- Free three-month Instacart+ membership and $10 off your second order each month through Jan. 31, 2027
- $3 monthly statement credit on Peacock Premium or Premium Plus through Dec. 31, 2027
- Exclusive Mastercard access to premium preferred seats and presales at venues and festivals in the U.S. through March 31, 2027
CardCritics™ Opinion
The cards have identical perks, so it’s not a big consideration when choosing between the two.
Fees and Costs
The Custom Cash Card and Double Cash Card are both no-annual-fee cards, but there are a few differences as outlined below.
Custom Cash Card Fees and Costs
- Annual fee: None
- APR: 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable). A 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases.
- Balance transfer fee: Balance transfer fee applies with this offer; 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
- Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each purchase in U.S. dollars
- Late payment fee: Up to $41
- Returned payment fee: Up to $41
Double Cash Card Fees and Costs
- Annual fee: None
- APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable). A 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases.
- Balance transfer fee: There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5)
- Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each purchase in U.S. dollars
- Late payment fee: Up to $41
- Returned payment fee: Up to $41
CardCritics™ Opinion
The cards are fairly comparable in terms of fees, except for a higher balance transfer fee on the Custom Cash Card. If a balance transfer is your primary reason for getting a card (particularly if you have a large balance to transfer), the Double Cash Card may be a better option for saving money.
How To Choose Between Citi Custom Cash vs. Citi Double Cash
To sum up, choose the Custom Cash Card if you like the idea of earning 5% cash back on one selected category each month, and you spend less than $2,000 per month on your credit card. Choose the Double Cash Card if you want to earn a flat-rate 2% cash back on all of your purchases, and you spend more than $2,000 per month on your credit card.
Or, choose both. The choice may be a case where more is more. By pulling out your Custom Cash Card for one type of purchase each month and your Double Cash Card for the rest, you’ll be rolling in cash back in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Citi Double Cash vs. Citi Custom Cash
What are the Citi Custom Cash categories?
The Citi Custom Cash Card offers 5% cash back on the first $500 spent on your top spending category each month among the following: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
What are the Citi Double Cash transfer partners?
The Citi Double Cash Card’s transfer partners include American Airlines AAdvantage, JetBlue TrueBlue, Wyndham Rewards and Choice Privileges, along with over a dozen other airline and hotel loyalty programs. These partners also apply with the Custom Cash Card.
What’s the difference between Custom Cash and Double Cash?
The Citi Custom Cash Card offers 5% cash back on your most-spent eligible category up to $500 per month, then 1%. The Citi Double Cash Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay.
What credit score do you need for the Citi Custom Cash and Double Cash?
You’re eligible to apply for the Custom Cash Card and Double Cash Card if you have at least a good credit score (a FICO score of at least 670). Issuers like Citi will consider factors beyond your credit score, including your overall financial picture, when deciding whether to approve you.
