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 USAA Rewards American Express
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Custom Cash comes from Citi at $0/yr; the USAA Rewards American Express from USAA 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.
| Feature | Citi Custom Cash | USAA Rewards American Express |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | 2,500 USAA Rewards points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $25 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 6 mo | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | Citi | USAA |
| Card category | cashback | rewards |
| Best earning category (Top_category) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | citi-ty | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Citi Custom Cash
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Read the full review
USAA Rewards American Express
$0/yr · 2,500 USAA Rewards points
Editorial take: USAA Rewards American Express
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Custom Cash or USAA Rewards American Express?
- The Citi Custom Cash has the bigger bonus, $200 cash back, worth roughly $200, versus 2,500 USAA Rewards points (~$25) on the USAA Rewards American Express.
- Is the Citi Custom Cash's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the USAA Rewards American Express?
- The Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee, so the question is whether the USAA Rewards American Express's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the USAA Rewards American Express'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 USAA Rewards American Express?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and USAA) 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 USAA Rewards American Express first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Custom Cash: $1,500 spend in 6 months. USAA Rewards American Express: $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.