Citi Custom Cash vs Altitude Go
By Alex Compton · Updated
Historical comparison for existing Citi Custom Cash cardholders: Citi closed the card to new applications on May 28, 2026. Existing holders retain the 5% top-category structure, while U.S. Bank Altitude Go remains the actionable no-fee dining option for new applicants.
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
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature
U.S. Bank
- Our rating
- 8.3/10
- 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
Where Each Wins
Dining rate
TieThe Custom Cash pays 5% on dining if dining is your top category that month, capped at $500 of spend. The Altitude Go pays 4x on dining, takeout, and delivery with no cap. Heavy restaurant spenders blow through $500 and favor the Go; lighter ones take the 5%.
Flexibility
Custom Cash (Closed)The Custom Cash follows your spending: point it at gas, groceries, travel, or dining and it adapts monthly with no activation. The Altitude Go's categories are fixed.
Backup categories
Altitude GoThe Altitude Go adds 2x on groceries, gas, EV charging, and streaming, plus a small annual streaming credit. The Custom Cash pays 1% on everything outside its top category.
Foreign fees
Altitude GoThe Altitude Go charges no foreign transaction fee, rare for a free card. The Custom Cash charges 3%.
Points ceiling
Custom Cash (Closed)Custom Cash earnings become transferable ThankYou points beside a Citi Strata. Altitude Go points are fixed-value with no transfer partners, ever.
The Compound Verdict
Existing Custom Cash holders can still pick by spending shape and stack it with Altitude Go. New applicants should choose Altitude Go in this head-to-head because Custom Cash is closed, or compare Citi's no-fee Strata card for a current ThankYou option.
Our ratings give it to the Citi Custom Cash (Closed) (8.4 vs 8.3). 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 Altitude Go review, or put them side by side in the comparison tool.
Common Questions
Which is better for restaurants, the Custom Cash or Altitude Go?
Under $500 a month in dining, the Custom Cash's 5% edges the Go's 4x. Above $500, the Go wins because its 4x has no cap while the Custom Cash drops to 1% past the limit. The break-even is exactly the cap: at $700 of monthly dining, the Go earns $28 to the Custom Cash's $27.
Does the Altitude Go have transfer partners?
No. US Bank points are fixed-value, redeemable at roughly a cent each. The Custom Cash's hidden advantage is that its ThankYou points unlock airline transfers if you ever add a Citi Strata Premier, a ceiling the Go cannot reach.
Which works abroad?
The Altitude Go, which charges no foreign transaction fee. The Custom Cash's 3% FTF disqualifies it for international dining, ironic for a card so good at restaurants at home.