Head-to-head · 🇺🇸 United States
Apple Card vs Citi Custom Cash
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
US
Goldman Sachs / Apple
Apple Card
Wins 2 of 10
US
Citi
Citi Custom Cash
Wins 2 of 10
Verdict
It's a true tie — neither dominates. Pick the one whose boost categories match where you actually spend.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Apple Card | Citi Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 3% (shopping) | 5% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | No FX fee | · 3% |
| Welcome bonus | = No welcome bonus — daily cashback model | = $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 660 | · 670 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Apple Card
- 3% Daily Cash on Apple purchases + select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, T-Mobile)
- 2% Daily Cash on all Apple Pay transactions
- 1% Daily Cash on physical-card purchases
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late fees
- High-yield savings account at 4.4% APY
- Privacy-first: no purchase data sold
Citi Custom Cash
- 5% cashback in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to $500)
- 1% on everything else
- Eligible categories: restaurants, gas, grocery, travel, etc.
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
FAQ
›Apple Card vs Citi Custom Cash: which is better?
It's a true tie — pick the one whose boost categories match your spend. Apple Card wins on 2 criteria, Citi Custom Cash on 2.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Apple Card for its best categories, Citi Custom Cash for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Apple Card: No welcome bonus — daily cashback model. Citi Custom Cash: $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months.