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Side-by-side
Capital One Spark Cash vs Citi Custom Cash
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash comes from Capital One at $95/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
For most people the Capital One Spark Cash is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($800 more in estimated value) than the Citi Custom Cash's. Get the Capital One Spark Cash first; revisit the Citi Custom Cash after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Capital One Spark Cash | Citi Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | $1,000 cash bonus | $200 cash back |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,000 | $200 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $10,000 in 3 mo | $1,500 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Capital One | Citi |
| Card category | business | cashback |
| Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | citi-ty |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Capital One Spark Cash
$95/yr · $1,000 cash bonus
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, Capital One Spark Cash or Citi Custom Cash?
- The Capital One Spark Cash has the bigger bonus, $1,000 cash bonus, worth roughly $1,000, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the Citi Custom Cash.
- Is the Capital One Spark Cash's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Custom Cash?
- At $95/yr, the Capital One Spark Cash 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 Capital One Spark Cash and Citi Custom Cash?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One 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 Capital One Spark Cash or the Citi Custom Cash first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Spark Cash: $10,000 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.