We love a no-annual-fee card around here. I mean… who doesn’t? They sit in your wallet and give generously without asking for anything in return.
Two standouts? The Citi Double Cash® Card and the Citi Custom Cash® Card.
Both earn cash back that can convert to Citi ThankYou® Points, both play nicely with Citi’s travel partners (if you’ve got a premium card like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card), and both are ridiculously simple to use.
But they earn rewards in different ways, and depending on how you spend your money, one might be way better for your wallet.
Let’s break down the differences so you can figure out which one deserves your love and attention.
Citi Double Cash vs. Citi Custom Cash: Overview
Here’s a quick little elevator pitch for each card:
Citi Double Cash earns 2% back on everything — 1% when you buy, 1% when you pay it off.
Citi Custom Cash earns 5% back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to $500), then 1% on everything else.
Again, they’re both no-annual-fee cards, and they both (technically) earn Citi ThankYou points, but in a more basic way.
What I mean by this is that without a premium Citi card paired with either of these two, your Citi ThankYou points will be worth just one cent each and can be redeemed for cash back via a statement credit.
You can also transfer your points without holding a premium card, but to a very limited list of transfer partners: Choice Privileges, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Wyndham Rewards.
Citi Double Cash
If you want one card to put everything on and never think about categories, the Citi Double Cash is your new best friend.
Best for: People who want consistent, flat-rate rewards on every purchase. Whether you’re buying groceries or paying for a random Etsy order, you’re earning 2% back.
Why we like it: This is one of the simplest ways to earn Citi ThankYou points — and it gets even better if you pair it with a card like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, since you can unlock point transfers to airlines like Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and so on.
Citi Custom Cash
If your spending naturally clusters in certain areas (or you like bonus categories), the Citi Custom Cash could make more sense for you.
Best for: People who spend consistently in one area, like always dining out or constantly filling up on gas. The 5% back can beat the Citi Double Cash… as long as your top category is eligible.
Why we like it: The Citi Custom Cash gives you a way to earn bonus points without tracking rotating categories or jumping through too many hoops. You just have to be consistent with spending the most on one of the eligible categories, and the card does the rest.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature | ||
Annual Fee | $0 Annual Fee | $0 |
Base Rewards | 2% back on all purchases | 1% back on all purchases |
Bonus Rewards | 5% back on select Citi Travel purchases | 5% back on top eligible category (up to $500/month) |
Points Type | ThankYou points (when redeemed with eligible account) | ThankYou points (when redeemed with eligible account) |
Travel Partner Access | Only with Citi Premier or Prestige (no longer open to new applicants) | Only with Citi Premier or Prestige (no longer open to new applicants) |
Best For | Consistent earning | Bonus category spenders |
Foreign Transaction Fees | 3% | 3% |
Rewards and Benefits
Citi Double Cash
How it earns:
2% back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay)
No categories, no activation, no cap
Current welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of your account opening.
Citi Custom Cash
How it earns:
5% back on your top eligible category each billing cycle (up to $500/month)
1% back on all other purchases
4% additional cash back on hotels and car rentals booked via Citi Travel through 6/30/2025
Eligible 5% categories include things like restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, streaming services, fitness clubs, and more.
You can redeem points for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more.
Current welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Choose the Citi Double Cash if you want one card that earns solid rewards everywhere without overthinking it. It’s ideal for general spending and pairs well with Citi’s other travel cards.
Go with the Citi Custom Cash if you spend heavily in one eligible category and can hit that $500/month cap. It takes a little more strategy, but it can seriously up your returns if used well.
💡 Pro Tip: This is not a Sophie’s Choice situation. Since both cards have no annual fee and earn ThankYou points, they can easily complement each other. Use the Citi Custom Cash for your 5% category and the Citi Double Cash for everything else.
And, if you add a Citi Premier, suddenly you’ve got a full trifecta — with point transfers to some seriously underrated airline partners.
Bottom Line
The Citi Double Cash and Citi Custom Cash cards are both excellent cash-back cards.
If you’re looking for simple, go Citi Double Cash. If you want to maximize one spending category, Citi Custom Cash is where it’s at.
And if you’re serious about earning Citi ThankYou points and want flexibility to book flights with partners like Avianca, Singapore Airlines, or Air France… ¿Por qué no los dos?
