Capital One Venture vs Citi Custom Cash
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Citi Custom Cash wins 3-2. Auto-detects your top spend category each cycle — set-and-forget. Capital One Venture is still the right call if simple travel earn — 2x on every dollar, no categories to track.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Capital One Venture | Citi Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · $95 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | = 5% (travel) | = 5% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 2% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | No FX fee | · 3% |
| Welcome bonus | = 75,000 miles after $4,000 in first 3 months (~$750 in travel) | = $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 700 | 670 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Capital One Venture
- 2x miles on every purchase
- 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- Transfer miles to 15+ airline/hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fees
- Two complimentary visits/year to Capital One Lounges
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
›Capital One Venture vs Citi Custom Cash: which is better?
Citi Custom Cash wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Capital One Venture 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?
Capital One Venture: 75,000 miles after $4,000 in first 3 months (~$750 in travel). Citi Custom Cash: $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months.