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.
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Side-by-side
Citi Custom Cash vs Citi Strata Premier Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Custom Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the Citi Strata Premier Card from Citi at $95/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 | Citi Custom Cash | Citi Strata Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | Not advertised |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | - |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 6 mo | - |
| Issuer | Citi | Citi |
| Card category | cashback | travel |
| Best earning category (Top_category) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | citi-ty | citi-ty |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Citi Custom Cash
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Read the full review
Citi Strata Premier Card
$95/yr ·
Editorial take: Citi Strata Premier Card
A strong mid-tier card with the late-2024 refresh adding 10x on CitiTravel.com and EV charging to the 3x grid. The $100 hotel benefit and 16 transfer partners (Avianca, Flying Blue, Turkish, Virgin Atlantic, Wyndham) make it competitive with Sapphire Preferred at the same $95 fee.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Custom Cash or Citi Strata Premier Card?
- The Citi Custom Cash has a public bonus ($200 cash back, worth roughly $200), while the Citi Strata Premier Card doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Citi Custom Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Premier Card?
- The Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Citi Strata Premier Card's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Citi Strata Premier Card's benefits to clear $95 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Citi Custom Cash.
- Can I have both the Citi Custom Cash and Citi Strata Premier Card?
- Yes, though both are issued by Citi so the same issuer-specific application rules apply (Chase 5/24 if applicable, Amex once-per-lifetime bonus, etc.). 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 Citi Custom Cash or the Citi Strata Premier Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Custom Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. Citi Strata Premier Card: no published min spend. 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.