Citi Custom Cash vs Chase United Explorer
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Citi Custom Cash wins 4-1. Auto-detects your top spend category each cycle, set-and-forget. Chase United Explorer is still the right call if united loyalists, free checked bag + lounge passes..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Citi Custom Cash | Chase United Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $150 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · 2% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | · 3% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months | = 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = None stated | = None stated |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 700 |
| Editorial rating | 4.5/5 | · 4.2/5 |
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
Chase United Explorer
- 9x total miles on eligible United flights
- 3x miles on all other eligible United purchases
- 2x miles on dining, including eligible delivery services
- 2x miles on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- Free first checked bag for the cardholder and one companion on United-operated flights
FAQ
›Citi Custom Cash vs Chase United Explorer: which is better?
Citi Custom Cash wins on more dimensions (4 vs 1). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern. Run your own monthly spend through the maximizer to see which one pays you more.
›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, Chase United Explorer 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. Chase United Explorer: 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months.