Citi Custom Cash(SM) Card vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

ByGail Kellner

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Citi Custom Cash® Card

Overall Rating
4.7

Welcome Offer
Earn $200 in cash back

Rewards Range
1% - 5%

Annual Fee
$0

Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24%

0% APR on Purchases
15 months

0% APR on Balance Transfers
15 months

Foreign Transaction Fee
3%

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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Overall Rating
4.4

Welcome Offer
Earn a $200 statement credit

Rewards Range
1%-3%

Annual Fee
$0

Regular APR
19.24% - 29.99%

0% APR on Purchases
15 months

0% APR on Balance Transfers
15 months

Foreign Transaction Fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

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Welcome Bonus

Citi Custom Cash® Card: Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a bit easier to earn so we give them the win here.

Cash Back Rewards

Citi Custom Cash® Card offers 5% cash on your top spending category, but you don't have to sign up or register for anything. Instead, Citi just figures out which category you spend the most money in and gives you 5% back automatically, up to $500 each billing cycle. Categories include restaurants, gas, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express pays 3% cash back at grocery stores, 3% cash back for online retail purchases, and 3% on gas stations, up to $6,000 per year (for each one), then you'll earn 1% cash back.

For many people, groceries is their biggest spending category (after things like the mortgage and car payments). If this is you, you'll be better off with the Citi Custom Cash® Card because you can earn 5% on groceries as opposed to the 3% that Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers. However, if you spend a lot on gas, eating out, and groceries, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express may earn you more cash back overall. This is a tough one: it's a tie.

Here are the rewards for each card:

Citi Custom Cash® Card 

Rewards:

1% cash back
On all other eligible purchases
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
5% cash back
Select Categories
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express 

Rewards:

1% cash back
On all other eligible purchases
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
3% cash back
U.S. supermarkets
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
3% cash back
Select Categories
3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
3% cash back
Gas
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.

Rates and Fees

You get an attractive introductory rate with both cards. Citi Custom Cash® Card offers 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, after which your rate will be 19.24% - 29.24% variable, depending on creditworthiness.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express also has a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, after which your rate will be 19.24% - 29.99%, depending on your creditworthiness.

Neither card has an annual fee, and although Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has a slightly lower foreign transaction fee, if you're going to travel internationally, take a card with no foreign transaction fee.

Who the Citi Custom Cash® Card is Best For

Citi Custom Cash® Card is a great all-around card with good rewards, a 0% introductory APR, and it has no annual fee. If you don't feel like figuring out which category you spend the most money in, or perhaps if your spending varies from month to month, the Citi card is a great deal. There is nothing to sign up for; it's automatic. You'll also get that 0% introductory rate, so if you're planning a big purchase or want to transfer other debt over, this card is perfect.

Who the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is Best For

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express may be perfect for you if your biggest monthly expenses are gas, online purchases, and at grocery stores. You may also consider pairing this card with a card that earns elevated rewards on other everyday purchases like dining and drugstores. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® for example, or a card that earns 2% cash back on all purchases like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.

If you want to earn 6% cash back at grocery stores, you could apply for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. In addition to the 6% on groceries, you also earn 6% cash back on streaming and 3% cash back on gas and transit. There is an annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Does it make sense to get both cards?

Yes! Since there's no annual fee on either card, you could use the Citi Custom Cash® Card card on whatever you spend the most money on and then use the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express for gas and online purchases. Or you could use the Citi card on something not covered by the American Express card, like fitness clubs or home improvement stores. Between the two cards, you could earn cash back on almost everything you spend, which makes applying for both cards a great choice.

Approval Odds

The credit score data listed below comes from publicly available information in several forums. The accuracy of the information cannot be verified. Keep in mind that credit card issuers consider more than an applicant’s credit score and that underwriting standards change over time.

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Credit Score of Approved and Denied Applications

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Credit Score of Approved and Denied Applications

According to the data above, it looks like the American Express card may be a little more forgiving of lower credit scores in the 660 to 670 range, so if you're rebuilding your credit, consider applying for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. Once you're approved and build up your credit score, you can apply for the Citi Custom Cash® Card.

Gail Kellner is an editorial assistant and contributing writer for Allcards.com and DoughRoller.net. According to family lore, money was one of her first words (“Mun-ya”) and ever since then, she’s been fascinated with money and investing. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Western CT State University and an M.S. in College Student Personnel from Indiana State University. She lives with her husband, two sons, and various fur-children in Westfield, MA. In her spare time, she writes YA and children’s fiction, reads, and enjoys a good nap.