Citi Custom Cash vs Chase Freedom Flex
By Alex Compton · Updated
Historical comparison for existing Citi Custom Cash cardholders: Citi stopped accepting new Custom Cash applications on May 28, 2026, while Chase Freedom Flex remains open. Custom Cash automatically pays 5% on the top eligible category each cycle; Freedom Flex pays 5% on an activated quarterly calendar.
Citi Custom Cash (Closed)
Citi
- Our rating
- 8.4/10
- Welcome bonus
- Under review
- Bonus value
- Withheld
- Annual fee
- Under review
- Credits, max/yr
- Under review
- Foreign txn fee
- Under review
Top earning rates
- Under review
Chase Freedom Flex
Chase
- Our rating
- 8.2/10
- Welcome bonus
- 20,000 points
- Bonus value
- ≈$200
- Annual fee
- $0
- Credits, max/yr
- $0
- Foreign txn fee
- 3%
Top earning rates
- 5x Rotating quarterly categories ($1,500 cap)
- 5x Chase Travel purchases
- 3x Dining and drugstores
- 1x All other purchases
Where Each Wins
Effort
Custom Cash (Closed)The Custom Cash adapts by itself: whatever eligible category you spent the most on that cycle earns the 5%, no activation, no calendar. The Freedom Flex requires quarterly activation, and forgetting a quarter costs real money.
Earning caps
TieThe Custom Cash caps 5% at $500 of spend per month; the Freedom Flex caps it at $1,500 per quarter. Both work out to $6,000 of 5% spend per year, just shaped differently: steady monthly versus quarterly bursts.
Category control
Custom Cash (Closed)The Custom Cash follows your actual spending across a wide eligible list, including gas, groceries, restaurants, and travel. The Freedom Flex's categories are preset each quarter, and a quarter aimed at something you do not buy earns you nothing special.
Beyond the 5%
CFFThe Freedom Flex adds 5x on Chase Travel, 3x on dining and drugstores, and cell phone protection, all on a $0 fee. The Custom Cash earns 1x on everything outside its top category.
Points ecosystem
TieBoth secretly earn transferable points. Custom Cash earns Citi ThankYou points that unlock full transfer partners next to a Strata Premier; Freedom Flex earns Ultimate Rewards that pool into a Sapphire. Either becomes a points machine in the right setup.
The Compound Verdict
Existing Custom Cash holders can keep using it as the automatic 5% lane. New applicants should choose Freedom Flex here because Citi no longer accepts Custom Cash applications; the no-fee Citi Strata card is the closest current route into Citi's category-earning ecosystem.
Our ratings give it to the Citi Custom Cash (Closed) (8.4 vs 8.2). Current welcome-offer comparisons are withheld until both official-source checks are refreshed.
Read the full reviews for the complete math: Custom Cash (Closed) review and CFF review, or put them side by side in the comparison tool.
Common Questions
Can I still get the Citi Custom Cash?
No. Citi stopped accepting new applications on May 28, 2026. Existing cardholders can continue using the card and its benefits; new applicants can compare Freedom Flex with Citi's no-fee Strata card instead.
What counts as a Custom Cash category?
Citi picks your top eligible category automatically each billing cycle from a list that includes restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming, drugstores, home improvement, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. You do not choose or activate anything.
Do the Custom Cash or Freedom Flex earn real points?
Yes, both. The Custom Cash earns Citi ThankYou points that transfer to airline partners if you also hold a card like the Strata Premier. The Freedom Flex earns Chase Ultimate Rewards that pool into a Sapphire Preferred or Reserve for 1:1 transfers to partners like Hyatt and United.