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 IHG One Rewards Premier
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Custom Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the IHG One Rewards Premier from Chase at $99/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the IHG One Rewards Premier is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($725 more in estimated value) than the Citi Custom Cash's. Get the IHG One Rewards Premier first; revisit the Citi Custom Cash after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Citi Custom Cash | IHG One Rewards Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $99 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | 185,000 bonus points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $925 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 6 mo | $3,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Citi | Chase |
| 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
IHG One Rewards Premier
$99/yr · 185,000 bonus points
Editorial take: IHG One Rewards Premier
A solid hotel card if you stay at IHG properties regularly. The free night award and 4th night free on award stays can easily offset the $99 annual fee.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Custom Cash or IHG One Rewards Premier?
- The IHG One Rewards Premier has the bigger bonus, 185,000 bonus points, worth roughly $925, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the Citi Custom Cash.
- Is the Citi Custom Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the IHG One Rewards Premier?
- The Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the IHG One Rewards Premier's $99 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the IHG One Rewards Premier's benefits to clear $99 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Citi Custom Cash.
- Can I have both the Citi Custom Cash and IHG One Rewards Premier?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and Chase) 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 IHG One Rewards Premier first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Custom Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. IHG One Rewards Premier: $3,000 in 3 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.