Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards?

The Citi Custom Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

Should I get the Citi Custom Cash Card or the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards?

Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards?

The Citi Custom Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

Should I get the Citi Custom Cash Card or the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards?

Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards?

The Citi Custom Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

Should I get the Citi Custom Cash Card or the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards?

Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Citi Custom Cash Card vs Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards

Both cards cost $0/yr. The Citi Custom Cash Card is better for dining, while the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards wins on auto maintenance. Here's how they compare.

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

200 Cash

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Earn Rates

Category	Citi Custom Cash Card	Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards
Dining	5X	1X
Drugstores	5X	3X
Fitness & Gyms	5X	3X
Gas Stations	5X	1X
Grocery Stores	5X	1X
Home Improvement	5X

Benefits & Features

Network

MASTERCARD

VISA

Key Benefits

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Automatic 5% cash back on top spending category with no activation required
+No annual fee makes it easy to keep long-term for credit history
+10 eligible bonus categories including dining, gas, groceries, streaming, and transit
+0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
+Pairs with Strata Premier to unlock ThankYou Points transfer partners

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Cons

−$500 monthly cap limits value for high spenders (max $25/month in bonus rewards)
−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international travel
−Cannot manually select bonus category - algorithm chooses based on spend
−Only one Custom Cash card allowed per person
−48-month restriction on welcome bonus if you've had one before

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Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Custom Cash Card wins in 10 of 13 categories. The Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards leads in 3.

Dining

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Drugstores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Gas Stations

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Grocery Stores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Home Improvement

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Live Entertainment

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards?: The Citi Custom Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
Should I get the Citi Custom Cash Card or the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards?: Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Explore More

Citi Custom Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards — Full Review All Sutton Bank Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Citi cards · Sutton Bank cards

Editorial disclosure: The analysis on this page is based on publicly available card data and is updated regularly. CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or editorial content. Last updated: June 2026.

Citi Custom Cash Card vs Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards

Both cards cost $0/yr. The Citi Custom Cash Card is better for dining, while the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards wins on auto maintenance. Here's how they compare.