Citi Custom Cash® Card
vs. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Updated: November 25, 2024

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Both the Citi Custom Cash Card and the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offer enticing cash back rewards and no annual fees, which is why you're likely considering them. The Savor Cash has a higher cash back rate in popular categories like dining and entertainment and it has a generous welcome offer.

However, the Citi Custom Cash Card is also a strong card, especially if your spending is concentrated in one category. Citi Custom Cash offers 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle. Both cards are suited for those with good to excellent credit, so your decision may come down to which rewards structure suits your spending habits.

Credit Card logo for Citi Custom Cash® Card
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Credit Card logo for Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Savor Cash if you frequently spend on dining, entertainment and groceries. With its higher overall cash back score, you'll benefit from consistent rewards in these categories. Plus, the introductory APR offer and lack of an annual fee make it a cost-effective choice for everyday use.

You might prefer the Citi Custom Cash if your spending is more varied and concentrated in specific categories that change over time. The card adapts to your top spending category each billing cycle, offering 5% cash back on those purchases up to $500. This flexibility, combined with the introductory APR offer and no annual fee, can maximize your rewards.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features side by side clarifies which card aligns with your spending habits. For instance, if dining and entertainment are where you spend most, Savor Cash may appeal more, while Citi Custom Cash could be ideal if you prefer varied top spending categories.

    discount icon

    Regular APR: Citi Custom Cash

    The Citi Custom Cash has a lower starting APR of 18.74%, compared to the Capital One Savor Cash's 19.74%. Both rates are variable and dependent on creditworthiness.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Citi Custom Cash and the Savor Cash have a $0 annual fee, making them equally appealing.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both cards offer 0% APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, with a 5% fee on balance transfers ($5 minimum).

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    Rewards: Capital One Savor Cash

    The Savor Cash is better for rewards, offering 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 3% on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and for spending at grocery stores.

    The Citi Custom Cash Card focuses on 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, with a special travel offer through the Citi Travel portal. Both cards offer 1% cash back on other purchases.

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    Welcome Offers: Savor Cash

    The Savor Cash has a better welcome bonus, providing a $250 cash back for a lower spending requirement of $500 within the first three months, compared to the Citi Custom Cash Card's $200 cash back for a $1500 spend in the first six months. The Savor's higher return on investment (ROI) on the welcome offer makes it more advantageous for new cardholders.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both cards are accessible to individuals with credit scores ranging from 670 to 850, categorized as good to excellent.

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    Penalties and Fees: Savor Cash

    When comparing penalties and fees, the Savor Cash is better. Both cards have a similar penalty APR of up to 29.99% (variable) and comparable cash advance fees. However, the Savor Cash has a slightly lower late fee (up to $40 vs. up to $41 for the Citi Custom Cash) and no foreign transaction fees, making it more favorable for travelers and those who occasionally miss a payment.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Savor Cash

    Capital One has a higher issuer satisfaction rating of 4.2 compared to Citibank's 4.1.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    The Citi Custom Cash provides a special travel offer with additional cash back on travel booked through Citi Travel until 6/30/2025. In contrast, the Savor Cash enhances entertainment and dining experiences with higher cash back on Uber, Uber Eats and Capital One Entertainment purchases, along with complimentary Uber One membership credits until 11/14/2024.

Rewards Comparison

The Citi Custom Cash offers a tailored approach to rewards, giving 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, then 1% thereafter. This can be lucrative for those who concentrate their spending in one category.

The Savor Cash provides a broader range of bonus categories, including a notable 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and groceries, which can be more beneficial for those with diverse spending habits. However, it lacks the higher 5% rate of the Citi Custom Cash in the top spend category. Savor Cash does not have a 'pick your own' or 'top spend' category feature.

For the Citi Custom Cash, the eligible spending categories for the 5% cash back include:

  • Restaurants
  • Gas stations
  • Grocery stores
  • Select travel
  • Select transit
  • Select streaming services
  • Drugstores
  • Home improvement stores
  • Fitness clubs
  • Live entertainment

Following is a table of bonus categories to help you compare the rewards programs of both cards.

Category
Citi Custom Cash
Savor Cash

Category

Top eligible spend category: 5% up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle, then 1%

1%

Dining

1%

3%

Entertainment

1%

3%/8% if purchased through Capital One Entertainment

Streaming Services

1%

3%

Grocery Stores

1%

3% (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)

Redeeming Rewards

Citi Custom Cash allows for redemption in various forms without minimum requirements, except for checks. Points have no expiration. On the other hand, Savor Cash provides several redemption methods, including automatic preferences for statement credits or checks. Rewards remain valid for the life of the account, ensuring your cash back is ready when you are.

Methodology

MoneyGeek conducts thorough reviews and evaluations of credit cards like the Savor Cash and Citi Custom Cash based on their performance. For this comparison, we focus on the cash back category, where each card has shown the strongest results. The evaluation considers factors such as the value of rewards and the benefits of introductory offers.

The biggest influences on their cash back scores are the effective reward rate, accounting for half of the score, and the return on investment for offers. Other considerations include annual fees, issuer satisfaction, and penalties, among others.

FAQ: Citi Custom Cash vs. Savor Cash Card

What are the cash back rewards for each card?

Do either of the cards have an annual fee?

What are the introductory APR offers for these cards?

Are there foreign transaction fees for either card?

What is the recommended credit score for these cards?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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