Find Your Perfect Card
Picking the right credit card can feel confusing, but when it comes to cash back, Citi makes the choice easier. Your decision likely comes down to two great options in the citi bank cash back card lineup: the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card and the Citi Double Cash® Card. Each offers a different and powerful way to earn rewards, but they work for very different spending habits. One is great at rewarding focused spending, while the other gives amazing simplicity and value on all purchases.
This guide will remove the guesswork. We will give you a complete, fact-based breakdown of both cards, look at specific spending examples, and even share an expert strategy for using them together. By the end, you will be able to confidently pick the Citi cash back card that perfectly matches your spending habits and gets you the most rewards.
Cards Compared at a Glance
Before we look at the detailed information, let’s start with a quick overview. This comparison gives you an immediate answer to the main differences between Citi’s top cash back cards. It’s the fastest way to see which card’s approach matches your own. While this table shows the key facts, the following sections will explain the strategy behind choosing the right one for your wallet.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Citi Custom Cash℠ Card | Citi Double Cash® Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Primary Cash Back Rate | 5% on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (on up to $500 spent), then 1%. 1% on all other purchases. | Unlimited 2% on all purchases: 1% when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay. |
| How It Works | Automatically adapts to your spending. No enrollment or category selection is needed. | Simple, flat-rate cash back on every purchase, with an incentive to pay your bill. |
| Best For | Spenders with a high concentration of purchases in a single category, like groceries or dining. | Spenders who value simplicity and want a high, consistent cash back rate on all purchases, without tracking categories. |
| Welcome Offer | Typically offers a cash back bonus after meeting a minimum spending requirement in the first few months. Offers vary. | Often features a cash back bonus after meeting a minimum spend and may include an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers. Offers vary. |
Deep Dive: Citi Custom Cash
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a unique player in the rewards space, often called the “Citi 5% cash back card” for good reason. It’s built for one purpose: to give you an excellent return on your single biggest spending habit each month, without requiring you to do any of the work. This card automatically finds where you spend the most and applies its highest reward rate there, making it a powerful tool for smart spenders.
How 5% Cash Back Works
The genius of the Citi Custom Cash Card is its automation. You don’t need to log in, turn on bonus categories, or guess where you’ll spend the most. The card’s system handles it for you every billing cycle.
Here’s how it works: you earn 5% cash back on the first $500 you spend in your top eligible category during each billing cycle. That’s a potential of $25 in cash back from that category alone every month, or $300 per year. After you hit the $500 spending cap in that category, and for all other purchases outside of that category, you earn a flat 1% cash back. There is no limit to the 1% cash back you can earn. The card basically analyzes your spending and rewards you afterward.
Eligible 5% Categories
The card’s flexibility comes from its wide list of eligible categories. This ensures that most people will have at least one area of significant spending that qualifies for the 5% bonus. The eligible categories include:
- Restaurants
- Gas Stations
- Grocery Stores
- Select Travel
- Select Transit
- Select Streaming Services
- Drugstores
- Home Improvement Stores
- Fitness Clubs
- Live Entertainment
This wide range covers everything from daily commutes and grocery runs to weekend projects and nights out, making the citi custom cash back card a flexible option for many lifestyles.
Pros and Cons
To make a smart decision, it’s important to weigh the card’s strengths against its limitations.
Pros:
- High 5% cash back rate in one category, among the best available for no annual fee.
- Ultimate flexibility, as the card automatically adjusts to your changing spending habits each month.
- $0 annual fee, meaning every dollar in rewards is pure profit.
- Simple to use for maximum rewards; no activation or tracking is required.
Cons:
- The 5% cash back is capped at $500 in spending per billing cycle, limiting monthly rewards in the bonus category to $25.
- To truly maximize value, you need to have consistent and significant spending in one of the eligible categories.
- The 1% base rewards rate on all other spending is low compared to flat-rate cash back cards.
Deep Dive: Citi Double Cash
The Citi Double Cash® Card has long been a standard for simplicity and value in the credit card world. Its idea is refreshingly straightforward: reward every single purchase with a high, flat rate of cash back. There are no categories to track, no spending caps on your rewards, and no complex rules to navigate. It is designed for the consumer who wants a reliable workhorse card that delivers consistent value everywhere they shop.
Understanding 2% Cash Back
The card’s innovative structure offers an effective 2% cash back on everything, broken into two simple steps. This is a key part of any Citi Double Cash back card offer.
- You earn an unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase you make. This is credited to your account as soon as the transaction posts.
- You earn an additional unlimited 1% cash back as you pay for those purchases. Whether you pay your bill in full or over time, you earn that second 1% on the payments you make.
This structure is brilliant because it rewards responsible financial behavior. By paying your bill, you unlock the card’s full earning potential. It’s an unlimited 2% cash back card for those who pay what they spend, making it one of the most powerful and simple options on the market.
The Current Offer
While specific promotions change, the Citi Double Cash® Card frequently comes with compelling introductory offers. A common welcome bonus is a statement credit, such as $200 cash back, after you spend a certain amount (e.g., $1,500) within the first six months of opening your account. This provides an immediate boost to your earnings.
Furthermore, the card often features a lengthy 0% introductory APR period on balance transfers. This can be an incredibly valuable tool for those looking to consolidate higher-interest debt from other cards. It allows you to pay down your balance interest-free for over a year, and you still earn 1% cash back on payments made toward that transferred balance. Always check the official Citi website for the most current offer details before applying.
Pros and Cons
The card’s simplicity is its greatest strength, but it’s important to understand its trade-offs.
Pros:
- High, flat 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% as you pay) with no caps.
- Ultimate simplicity with no categories to track or activate.
- $0 annual fee, making it a cost-effective choice for any wallet.
- Often includes a valuable introductory offer for new cardmembers and balance transfers.
Cons:
- Lacks bonus categories, meaning you won’t earn more than 2% on specific types of spending like dining or travel.
- You must pay your bill to earn the full 2% cash back, which can be a drawback for those who tend to carry a balance long-term.
Strategic Showdown: Custom vs. Double
Now that we’ve examined each citi bank cash back card individually, let’s put them head-to-head in real-world scenarios. The best card for you depends entirely on your spending patterns. By analyzing a couple of distinct monthly budgets, we can clearly show which card delivers more value for different types of consumers.
Persona 1: Commuter & Foodie
This persona represents someone with a consistent, high-spend category. They commute to work, so gas is a major expense, and they enjoy dining out frequently. Their spending is concentrated, making them an ideal candidate for a category-based rewards card.
Monthly Spending Breakdown:
| Category | Monthly Spend |
|---|---|
| Gas Stations | $500 |
| Restaurants | $300 |
| Groceries | $200 |
| Other (Shopping, etc.) | $400 |
| Total | $1,400 |
Rewards Calculation:
-
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card:
- Gas Stations: $500 x 5% = $25.00
- All Other Spending: ($300 + $200 + $400) x 1% = $9.00
- Total Monthly Cash Back: $34.00
-
Citi Double Cash® Card:
- Total Spending: $1,400 x 2% = $28.00
- Total Monthly Cash Back: $28.00
Analysis: For the Commuter & Foodie, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is the clear winner. By maximizing the 5% cash back on their gas spending, they earn significantly more than they would with a flat-rate card. The card automatically identified gas as the top category and delivered outsized value, even with its lower 1% rate on everything else.
Persona 2: Balanced Household
This persona represents a household with more diversified spending. They spend a moderate amount across many categories—groceries, utilities, online shopping, and home goods—but no single category consistently exceeds the others to a large degree. They value simplicity and don’t want to think about which card to use.
Monthly Spending Breakdown:
| Category | Monthly Spend |
|---|---|
| Groceries | $350 |
| Restaurants | $250 |
| Utilities & Subscriptions | $200 |
| Online Shopping | $300 |
| Other (Gas, etc.) | $300 |
| Total | $1,400 |
Rewards Calculation:
-
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card:
- Groceries (Top Category): $350 x 5% = $17.50
- All Other Spending: ($250 + $200 + $300 + $300) x 1% = $10.50
- Total Monthly Cash Back: $28.00
-
Citi Double Cash® Card:
- Total Spending: $1,400 x 2% = $28.00
- Total Monthly Cash Back: $28.00
Analysis: In this scenario, the race is a dead heat. However, the Citi Double Cash® Card offers a crucial advantage: consistency. If the Balanced Household’s spending shifts next month and restaurants become the top category at $300, the citi custom cash back card’s earnings would drop. The Double Cash card’s earnings, however, would remain a steady $28 as long as total spending is the same. For spenders without a dominant category, the Double Cash provides more reliable and predictable value.
The Verdict: A Quick Rule
Here is a simple rule of thumb to guide your decision:
If you consistently spend more than 30-40% of your monthly budget in a single, eligible 5% category (and can get close to the $500 cap), the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card will likely be your top earner.
If your spending is spread out across many categories and you value simplicity above all, the Citi Double Cash® Card’s powerful 2% flat rate will almost always serve you better.
The “Citi Power Duo” Strategy
For those who want to move beyond choosing just one card and truly maximize their rewards, there is an advanced strategy: the “Citi Power Duo.” This involves holding and using both the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card and the Citi Double Cash® Card in tandem. This approach, used by many rewards experts, combines the strengths of both cards to create a rewards-earning machine that is far more powerful than either card on its own. It’s the ultimate setup for anyone serious about optimizing their Citi cash back card earnings.
The 2-Step Strategy
The logic is simple and incredibly effective. You use each card for what it does best, creating a system where you earn a minimum of 2% back on every purchase, with the potential for 5% on a significant portion of your spending.
-
Step 1: Dedicate Your Citi Custom Cash℠ Card. Use this card exclusively for your single highest eligible spend category each month. Whether it’s groceries, restaurants, or gas, make this your designated Citi 5% cash back card for that one purpose. Aim to spend up to the $500 monthly cap in that category to earn a guaranteed $25 in cash back. Then, put the card away until the next billing cycle.
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Step 2: Use Your Citi Double Cash® Card for Everything Else. For every other purchase—from your morning coffee to online shopping to your utility bills—use the Citi Double Cash® Card. This ensures that all of your miscellaneous spending earns a high, effective 2% cash back rate.
Why This is a Game-Changer
This strategy is transformative because it systematically eliminates the primary weakness of each card. The Custom Cash card’s low 1% base rate becomes irrelevant because you never use it for general spending. The Double Cash card’s lack of bonus categories is no longer a drawback because the Custom Cash card covers that role perfectly.
From our experience, implementing this is surprisingly easy. We find it’s best to create a simple habit. For example, keep the Custom Cash card as your default payment method in your grocery store app or use it exclusively for dining out. The Double Cash card then becomes the default card in your digital wallet for all other tap-to-pay transactions. This small organizational effort turns two great cards into one unbeatable rewards system, maximizing returns with minimal ongoing effort.
How to Apply
Once you’ve decided which citi bank cash back card is right for you, the application process is straightforward. Citi provides a secure online application that can typically be completed in a few minutes. To ensure a smooth process, it’s best to be prepared.
Both the Citi Custom Cash and Citi Double Cash cards generally require a Good to Excellent credit score, which typically means a FICO score of 670 or higher. However, approval is based on a complete review of your credit profile, including your income and existing debt.
What You’ll Need
Before you begin, gather the following information to speed up your application:
- Full Name, Date of Birth, and Social Security Number (SSN)
- Physical Address and Phone Number
- Total Annual Income and its source
- Monthly Mortgage or Rent Payment
Tips for Success
To increase your chances of a successful application, follow these best practices:
- Check your credit score beforehand through a free service or your existing bank to ensure you are in the recommended range.
- Double-check all information for accuracy before submitting. A simple typo in your name or SSN can lead to an automatic denial.
- Be honest about your income. Financial institutions have ways to verify this information, and accuracy is paramount.
- Consider your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. If you have a high amount of existing debt relative to your income, it may be beneficial to pay some down before applying.
- Apply directly on the secure, official Citi website to protect your personal information.
Conclusion: The Right Fit
In the search for the best citi bank cash back card, the final decision rests on a clear understanding of your own financial life. There is no single “best” card, only the card that is best for you. The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is the specialist, delivering an industry-leading 5% return for those with concentrated spending in a specific area. It rewards you for your routine, whether that’s filling up your tank, buying groceries for the family, or dining out.
In contrast, the Citi Double Cash® Card is the ultimate generalist. It offers powerful, uncomplicated value on every dollar you spend, making it a reliable foundation for any wallet. Its beauty lies in its simplicity—a high 2% rate everywhere, with no categories to track.
For the true rewards maximizer, the “Power Duo” strategy of using both cards together unlocks a level of value that neither can achieve alone. By pairing the targeted 5% bonus of the Custom Cash with the high 2% floor of the Double Cash, you create a comprehensive earning system.
You are now equipped with the expert analysis and data needed to make a confident choice. By aligning your spending habits with the right card—or combination of cards—you can ensure that every purchase is working harder for you. The best Citi cash back card is waiting, and it’s the one that fits your wallet perfectly.
