Citi Custom Cash vs Amex Business Gold
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Citi Custom Cash wins 3-1. Auto-detects your top spend category each cycle — set-and-forget. Amex Business Gold is still the right call if small businesses — 4x on top 2 spend categories from a list of 6..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Citi Custom Cash | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $375 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · 4% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | · 3% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months | = 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.5/5 | = 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
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
Amex Business Gold
- 4x on top 2 categories ($150K cap): airfare, gas, advertising, tech, restaurants, US shipping
- $20 monthly FedEx + Grubhub credit
- $240 Amex Business Line of Credit access
- No foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›Citi Custom Cash vs Amex Business Gold: which is better?
Citi Custom Cash wins on more dimensions (3 vs 1). 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 Citi Custom Cash for its best categories, Amex Business Gold for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Citi Custom Cash: $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months. Amex Business Gold: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months.