Citi Custom Cash vs. Chase Freedom Flex: In the 5% Arena, Simplicity Wins for Most

Each $0-annual-fee playing cards function a profitable 5% money again choice in bonus classes and equal spending caps. Nonetheless, the choice about which card has the sting largely comes right down to your spending habits and the way a lot effort you’re prepared to place in.

Along with 5% again in rotating bonus classes, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ additionally options ongoing bonus rewards on sure on a regular basis spending like eating and drugstores — which is difficult to beat, however would require some work to to maintain observe of quarterly and ongoing classes.

Alternatively, whereas the Citi Customized Money℠ Card is missing in extra ongoing rewards, it wins out by way of on a regular basis simplicity, with 5% money again that’s routinely adjusted primarily based in your spending within the card’s eligible bonus classes.

This is tips on how to resolve which card is best for you.

The Citi Customized Money℠ Card received’t require you to decide into quarterly bonus classes just like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ does. Slightly, your rewards are routinely adjusted every month primarily based in your spending within the card’s eligible bonus classes.

Because of this in case your spending leans extra closely towards eating places (or one of many different 9 classes detailed beneath) one month than it did the earlier billing cycle, your bonus class will alter routinely and also you’ll earn 5% money again for all of your restaurant spending, on as much as $500 (1% again after that).

This additionally implies that you do not have to recollect to activate your rewards each three months or maintain observe of your spending patterns in relation to bonus classes such as you would with the Chase Freedom Flex℠.

The Citi Customized Money℠ Card options the next 10 mounted bonus classes:

Such common and inclusive classes make the cardboard priceless on the subject of on a regular basis spending.

Alternatively, bonus classes for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ are chosen by the issuer every quarter. That implies that in case your spending would not match up with what’s being supplied that quarter, it will likely be laborious to rack up these 5% money again purchases.

And whereas Chase’s 5% bonus choices have traditionally included frequent expense classes like eating places, fuel and wholesale golf equipment, cardholders received’t know what these classes are till they’re introduced, which might make it powerful to plan your spending.

Holders of the Citi Customized Money℠ Card are eligible for the next prolonged interest-free introductory interval: 0% intro APR on Purchases and Stability Transfers for 15 months, after which the continuing APR of 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR. This may help you pay down debt with out incurring any curiosity.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ solely presents a 0% APR window for purchases: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 months, after which the continuing APR of 14.99% - 23.74% Variable APR.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns 5% money again in a number of classes per quarter, on as much as $1,500 in mixed spending — which is very priceless in case your spending tends to differ inside a quarterly interval. (Cardholders should activate bonus classes on-line.)

Moreover, past its 5% again earnings, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ presents mounted, ongoing bonus rewards in in style spending classes:

• 5% again on journey booked through Chase.

By comparability, holders of the Citi Customized Money℠ Card are restricted to incomes 5% again in only one bonus class per billing cycle. And outdoors of that class, all different spending will solely earn you 1% again.

Word, although, that protecting observe of your quarterly and ongoing spending classes with the Chase Freedom Flex℠ would require some effort in your half.

If you happen to go for the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you possibly can redeem your rewards for money again, reward playing cards and journey booked via Chase (on the price of a penny per level). You too can redeem factors for Amazon purchases, on the price of 0.8 cent per level.

Plus, each aforementioned playing cards provide a lot of journey companions from main airways and resort chains, together with United, Southwest, Hyatt and Marriott, to which you’ll switch your factors at a 1:1 ratio.

Factors will also be transferred this fashion with the Citi Customized Money℠ Card: Cardholders can mix and switch factors to a card that earns Citi ThankYou factors, such because the Citi Premier® Card or the Citi Status® Card, and redeem rewards with with Citi’s journey switch companions.

Nonetheless, these switch companions are usually extra area of interest and may enchantment much less to the broader plenty than these supplied via Chase.

Nerdy tip: Citi’s premium bank card, the Citi Status® Card, closed to new candidates in 2021, although present cardholders can nonetheless benefit from the card’s advantages.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Citi Customized Money℠ Card have comparable sign-up bonuses.

Nonetheless, the previous additionally comes with a further grocery incentive for brand new cardholders: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. And earn 5% money again on grocery retailer purchases (not together with Goal® or Walmart® purchases) on as much as $12,000 spent within the first 12 months.

The cardboard’s competitor presents the next for brand new account openers: Earn $200 in money again after you spend $750 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This bonus provide will probably be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Factors, which could be redeemed for $200 money again.

That’s a major distinction by way of the worth every card can provide within the first 12 months, particularly if you happen to’re an enormous grocery spender.

The Citi Customized Money℠ Card is as low upkeep because it will get for a 5% rotating bonus class card. Holders received’t have to fret about opting in each quarter since their rewards are routinely adjusted primarily based on their spending in in style classes.

Nonetheless, rewards maximizers will discover the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to be the extra priceless choice. Those that are up for placing in some work can earn 5% in a number of bonus classes, in addition to profitable ongoing rewards for sure on a regular basis spending.