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.
All credit cards
Side-by-side
Citi Custom Cash vs Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Custom Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card from American Express at $150/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($760 more in estimated value) than the Citi Custom Cash's. Get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card first; revisit the Citi Custom Cash after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Citi Custom Cash | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $150 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | 80,000 bonus miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $960 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 6 mo | $3,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Citi | American Express |
| Card category | cashback | airline |
| Best earning category (Top_category) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | citi-ty | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
|
Read the full review
Citi Custom Cash
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Read the full review
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
$150/yr · 80,000 bonus miles
Editorial take: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
A good choice for Delta loyalists. The free checked bag and $200 flight credit easily offset the $150 annual fee if you fly Delta a few times a year.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Custom Cash or Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?
- The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card has the bigger bonus, 80,000 bonus miles, worth roughly $960, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the Citi Custom Cash.
- Is the Citi Custom Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?
- The Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card's benefits to clear $150 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Citi Custom Cash.
- Can I have both the Citi Custom Cash and Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and American Express) 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 Citi Custom Cash or the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Custom Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card: $3,000 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.