The Chase Sapphire Preferred edges out the Citi Custom Cash for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 75,000 pts signup bonus. The Citi Custom Cash is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Citi Custom Cash
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
Which Card Comes Out Ahead?
Chase Sapphire Preferred is the stronger all-around option for most people in this matchup because it wins more measurable categories in our scoring model. Citi Custom Cash still makes sense if your spending pattern lines up better with its fee profile, issuer rules, or rewards ecosystem.
Best if your main priority is the larger current welcome offer.
Best if transfer partners and redemption flexibility matter more than simplicity.
Comparison Method
CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.
- Chase Travel 5x
- Dining 3x
- Streaming 3x
- Top Eligible Category 5x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel. $50
- DoorDash Credit $10
- DoorDash Dashpass (~$100/yr)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways Executive Club
- Flying Blue
- +9 more
- AAdvantage
- AAdvantage
- Accor Live Limitless
- Accor Live Limitless
- Avianca LifeMiles
- +33 more
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred edges out the Citi Custom Cash for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 75,000 pts signup bonus. The Citi Custom Cash is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee. On raw upside, Chase Sapphire Preferred tops out at 5x versus 5x for Citi Custom Cash. Current signup bonus values are roughly $1500 for Chase Sapphire Preferred and $2 for Citi Custom Cash. Updated June 4, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/chase-sapphire-preferred-vs-citi-custom-cash
- Chase Sapphire Preferred wins 2 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: Chase Sapphire Preferred reaches 5x; Citi Custom Cash reaches 5x.
- Annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred is $95/yr; Citi Custom Cash is no annual fee.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $1500 and $2.
Common Questions: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Citi Custom Cash
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Citi Custom Cash better for dining?
Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on dining; Citi Custom Cash has no dining bonus.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Chase Sapphire Preferred currently offers 75,000 pts signup bonus (spend $5,000 in 3 months). Citi Custom Cash offers $2 signup bonus (spend $1,500 in 6 months). Chase Sapphire Preferred has the larger bonus.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.
Can I hold both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Citi Custom Cash?
In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Chase Sapphire Preferred is from Chase and Citi Custom Cash is from Citi, so they're governed by separate bank policies.
Keep Researching
If this matchup is close, the stronger next step is usually to read the full card reviews or use a broader ranking page instead of comparing random pairs one by one.