Beta

Free during beta. Plus launches at $12/mo or $99/yr on July 1. Annual is locked for 12 months during beta.

Skip to content
RewardZ Travel
All credit cards
Side-by-side

Citi Custom Cash vs United Business Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Custom Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the United Business Card from Chase 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 United Business Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,300 more in estimated value) than the Citi Custom Cash's. Get the United Business Card first; revisit the Citi Custom Cash after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureCiti Custom CashUnited Business Card
Annual fee$0$150
Sign-up bonus$200 cash back100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP
Bonus value (est.)$200$1,500
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,500 in 6 mo$5,000 in 3 mo
IssuerCitiChase
Card categorycashbackbusiness
Best earning category (Top_category)5x1x
Transfer partnersciti-tyNone
Headline benefits
  • 5% on top category
  • Auto-selected monthly
  • No annual fee
  • Convert to TY Points
  • $125 credit after 5 UA flights $100+
  • $50 hotel credit 2x/year
  • Free checked bag (you + 1)
  • 2 United Club passes/yr
Read the full review
Citi Custom Cash
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Read the full review
United Business Card
$150/yr · 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP

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.

Editorial take: United Business Card

Strong United business card. The free checked bag for two travelers, two club passes, and the under-the-radar $50/twice-per-year hotel credit help cover the $150 AF for any United-leaning small business. The 100k + 2,000 PQP bonus is the sweetener. Post-2025 refresh swapped the old $100/$10k-spend credit for a $125 travel credit unlocked by 5 United flight purchases of $100+.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Custom Cash or United Business Card?
The United Business Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP, worth roughly $1,500, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the Citi Custom Cash.
Is the Citi Custom Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the United Business Card?
The Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Business Card's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Business 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 United Business Card?
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 United Business Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Custom Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. United Business Card: $5,000 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.