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 Mastercard Black Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Custom Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the Mastercard Black Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $699/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 | Mastercard Black Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $699 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | No public welcome offer |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $0 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 6 mo | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | Citi | Barclays (Luxury Card) |
| Card category | cashback | travel |
| 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
Mastercard Black Card
$699/yr · No public welcome offer
Editorial take: Mastercard Black Card
The mid tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $200 airline + $100 dining credits offset $300 of the $699 AF before lounge value, and the 1.5cpp cash-back rate is the best of the Luxury Card tiers. Still hard to beat Sapphire Reserve or Venture X on transferable-points flexibility, but the all-stainless body and concierge appeal to some.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Custom Cash or Mastercard Black Card?
- The Citi Custom Cash has the bigger bonus, $200 cash back, worth roughly $200, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Black Card.
- Is the Citi Custom Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Black Card?
- The Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Mastercard Black Card's $699 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Mastercard Black Card's benefits to clear $699 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Citi Custom Cash.
- Can I have both the Citi Custom Cash and Mastercard Black Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and Barclays (Luxury Card)) 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 Mastercard Black Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Custom Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. Mastercard Black Card: $0 in 0 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.