Head-to-head · 🇺🇸 United States
Citi Custom Cash vs Apple Card
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
US
Citi
Citi Custom Cash
Wins 2 of 10
US
Goldman Sachs / Apple
Apple Card
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 | Citi Custom Cash | Apple Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · 3% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | · 3% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months | = No welcome bonus — daily cashback model |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 670 | 660 |
| Editorial rating | 4.5/5 | · 4.4/5 |
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
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
FAQ
›Citi Custom Cash vs Apple Card: which is better?
It's a true tie — pick the one whose boost categories match your spend. Citi Custom Cash wins on 2 criteria, Apple Card on 2.
›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, Apple Card 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. Apple Card: No welcome bonus — daily cashback model.