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 United Explorer Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Custom Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the United Explorer 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 Explorer Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($840 more in estimated value) than the Citi Custom Cash's. Get the United Explorer Card first; revisit the Citi Custom Cash after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Citi Custom Cash | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $150 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $1,040 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 6 mo | $3,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Citi | Chase |
| Card category | cashback | airline |
| 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
United Explorer Card
$150/yr · 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus
Editorial take: United Explorer Card
Solid for United flyers. The free checked bag and 2 United Club passes per year add up, and the 70k + 10k AU bonus is a great starting point for domestic award flights. $0 intro annual fee, then $150.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Custom Cash or United Explorer Card?
- The United Explorer Card has the bigger bonus, 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus, worth roughly $1,040, 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 Explorer Card?
- The Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Explorer Card's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Explorer 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 Explorer 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 Explorer 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 Explorer Card: $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.