Discover it Cash Back vs Citi Custom Cash
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Discover it Cash Back wins 1-0. Rotating-category optimizers; first card for thin-credit-file applicants Citi Custom Cash is still the right call if auto-detects your top spend category each cycle — set-and-forget..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Discover it Cash Back | 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 | 1% | · 3% |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback Match — Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically | = $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 | = 4.5/5 | = 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Discover it Cash Back
- 5% cashback on rotating quarterly categories (Amazon, gas, restaurants, grocery)
- 1% cashback on everything else
- Cashback Match: Discover matches all cash back earned in your first year
- No annual fee
- Free FICO score on every statement
- No foreign transaction fees
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
›Discover it Cash Back vs Citi Custom Cash: which is better?
Discover it Cash Back 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 Discover it Cash Back 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?
Discover it Cash Back: Cashback Match — Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically. Citi Custom Cash: $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months.