$95/yrCash Back2.7% foreign feeAmexGood
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Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. Citi Custom Cash
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Citi stopped accepting new Custom Cash applications on May 28, 2026, so this comparison is most useful for existing Custom Cash holders deciding whether to add a Blue Cash Preferred, not for someone choosing between the two from scratch. Blue Cash Preferred earns a flat 6% on groceries up to $6,000/year; Custom Cash auto-selects your single highest-spend eligible category each month for 5% up to $500/month.
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Overview
Citi Custom Cash
Citi
No annual feeCiti ThankYou Points3% foreign feeMastercardGood
No longer offered
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Which wins on my spending?
Runs the optimizer on these two cards alone, one card allowed, against your own monthly spending.
Earn rates
Everyday categories
Gas stations (excluding Costco Gas)
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 3%
- Citi Custom Cash
- 1x
Streaming
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 6%
- Citi Custom Cash
- 1x
Transit
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 3%
- Citi Custom Cash
- 1x
Everything else
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 1%
- Citi Custom Cash
- 1x
| Category | Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Citi Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Gas stations (excluding Costco Gas) | 3% | 1x |
| Streaming | 6% | 1x |
| Transit | 3% | 1x |
| Everything else | 1% | 1x |
Issuer travel portals 3 categories — only earned when you book through that issuer’s portal
Citi Travel - Attractions
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- —
- Citi Custom Cash
- 5x
Citi Travel - Hotels
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- —
- Citi Custom Cash
- 5x
Citi Travel - Rental Cars
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- —
- Citi Custom Cash
- 5x
| Category | Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Citi Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Citi Travel - Attractions | — | 5x |
| Citi Travel - Hotels | — | 5x |
| Citi Travel - Rental Cars | — | 5x |
These cards earn different reward currencies, so no highest rate is labeled; a larger multiplier does not necessarily mean more value. Listed rates can still be subject to portal, spending-cap, or category-selection rules; review each card's details before deciding.
Credits and benefits
Disney Bundle Credit
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $120/yrConditional
- Citi Custom Cash
- —
Estimated usable credit value
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- —
- Citi Custom Cash
- —
Maximum face value
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- $120/yr
- Citi Custom Cash
- —
| Credit | Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Citi Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Disney Bundle Credit | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $120/yr Conditional | — |
| Estimated usable credit value | — | — |
| Maximum face value | $120/yr | — |
Estimated usable value applies the same conservative assumptions used by the optimizer. Maximum face value assumes every listed credit is used in full.
Find your modeled setup
The optimizer searches eligible portfolios against your stated spending—not just two cards at a time—and reports whether the result was proven within the selected catalog and run inputs.
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