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Side-by-side

Citi Custom Cash vs Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Custom Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa from Upgrade at $0/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.

FeatureCiti Custom CashUpgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa
Annual fee$0$0
Sign-up bonus$200 cash back$200 statement bonus
Bonus value (est.)$200$200
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,500 in 6 mo$0 in 2 mo
IssuerCitiUpgrade
Card categorycashbackcash-back
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
    Read the full review
    Citi Custom Cash
    $0/yr · $200 cash back
    Read the full review
    Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa
    $0/yr · $200 statement bonus

    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: Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa

    Common questions

    Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Custom Cash or Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa?
    The two cards offer comparable sign-up bonuses around $200. Pick based on which earning categories you actually use.
    Is the Citi Custom Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa?
    The Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa's benefits to clear $0 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Citi Custom Cash.
    Can I have both the Citi Custom Cash and Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa?
    Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and Upgrade) 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 Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa first?
    Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Custom Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa: $0 in 2 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.