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Side-by-side

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card vs Citi Custom Cash

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card comes from American Express at $195/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.

FeatureHilton Honors American Express Business CardCiti Custom Cash
Annual fee$195$0
Sign-up bonus130,000 points$200 cash back
Bonus value (est.)$650$200
Min spend to unlock bonus$6,000 in 6 mo$1,500 in 6 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressCiti
Card categoryhotelcashback
Best earning category (Hilton)12x1x
Transfer partnersNoneciti-ty
Headline benefits
  • 12x at Hilton
  • Free night cert after $15k spend
  • Second free night after $60k
  • Hilton Gold status
  • 5% on top category
  • Auto-selected monthly
  • No annual fee
  • Convert to TY Points
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
$195/yr · 130,000 points
Read the full review
Citi Custom Cash
$0/yr · $200 cash back

Editorial take: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

If you stay at Hiltons, this is the underrated middle tier, the $60/quarter credit + the $15k-spend Free Night routinely cover the $195 fee, and Gold status is real value at any Hilton property.

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, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card or Citi Custom Cash?
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has the bigger bonus, 130,000 points, worth roughly $650, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the Citi Custom Cash.
Is the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card's $195 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Custom Cash?
At $195/yr, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Citi Custom Cash's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card 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 Hilton Honors American Express Business Card or the Citi Custom Cash first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: $6,000 spend in 6 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.