Editorial take: Blue Business Plus from Amex
The silent workhorse of the Amex MR ecosystem. 2x on everything up to $50k/year with no annual fee. Pair it with the Platinum or Gold to unlock transfers, and you have a powerful everyday earner.
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Side-by-side
Blue Business Plus from Amex vs Citi Custom Cash
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Blue Business Plus from Amex comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Citi Custom Cash from Citi at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | Blue Business Plus from Amex | Citi Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | 15,000 Membership Rewards points | $200 cash back |
| Bonus value (est.) | $270 | $200 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $1,500 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Citi |
| Card category | business | cashback |
| Best earning category (All_purchases_first_50k_per_year) | 2x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | citi-ty |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Blue Business Plus from Amex
$0/yr · 15,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Citi Custom Cash
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Editorial take: Citi Custom Cash
Genuinely clever. 5% on whichever category you spent most on each month, capped at $500/month. Earns $25/month = $300/year effortlessly. Pairs with Premier to convert to transferable ThankYou Points.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Blue Business Plus from Amex or Citi Custom Cash?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has the bigger bonus, 15,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $270, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the Citi Custom Cash.
- Is the Blue Business Plus from Amex's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Custom Cash?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Citi Custom Cash's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Citi Custom Cash's benefits to clear $0 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Blue Business Plus from Amex.
- Can I have both the Blue Business Plus from Amex and Citi Custom Cash?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Citi) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Blue Business Plus from Amex or the Citi Custom Cash first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Blue Business Plus from Amex: $3,000 spend in 3 months. Citi Custom Cash: $1,500 in 6 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.