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 Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Custom Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire from American Express at $550/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($675 more in estimated value) than the Citi Custom Cash's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first; revisit the Citi Custom Cash after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Citi Custom Cash | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $550 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | 175,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $875 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 6 mo | $6,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Citi | American Express |
| Card category | cashback | hotel |
| Best earning category (Top_category) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | citi-ty | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Citi Custom Cash
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 175,000 points
Editorial take: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Pretty much a no-brainer if you stay at Hilton hotels. The $550 annual fee pays for itself with just the free night reward alone, which can be used at any standard room property, even $1,000+ per night hotels.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Custom Cash or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has the bigger bonus, 175,000 points, worth roughly $875, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the Citi Custom Cash.
- Is the Citi Custom Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's $550 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's benefits to clear $550 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Citi Custom Cash.
- Can I have both the Citi Custom Cash and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- 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 Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Custom Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire: $6,000 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.