Chase Freedom Flex vs Citi Custom Cash
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Chase Freedom Flex wins 1-0. No-fee rotating cashback for category optimizers. Citi Custom Cash is still the right call if auto-detects your top spend category each cycle — set-and-forget..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Chase Freedom Flex | Citi Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | = 5% (shopping) | = 5% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | = 3% | = 3% |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cashback after $500 spend in first 3 months | = $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | = 670 | = 670 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Chase Freedom Flex
- 5% rotating quarterly bonus categories (up to $1,500/quarter)
- 5% on travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3% on dining + drugstores
- 1% on everything else
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
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
›Chase Freedom Flex vs Citi Custom Cash: which is better?
Chase Freedom Flex wins on more dimensions (1 vs 0). 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 Chase Freedom Flex 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?
Chase Freedom Flex: $200 cashback after $500 spend in first 3 months. Citi Custom Cash: $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months.