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Citi Custom Cash Card vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and more.
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Feature Comparison
| Feature | Citi Custom Cash CardCiti | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardAmerican Express |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $150 |
| APR | 17.49% - 27.49% | 19.49% - 28.49% |
| Signup Bonus | $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in 6 months | Free Night Reward + 70,000 bonus points (limited-time offer) |
| Rewards Rate | 5% on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to $500 spent), 4% on hotels/cars/attractions via Citi Travel, 1% on everything else | 12X at Hilton, 6X at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, 3X on everything else |
| Credit Score | good | good |
| Pros | 5% on your top spending category automatically — no activation needed 10 eligible 5% categories including dining, groceries, gas, streaming 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers | 12X at Hilton and 6X on dining/groceries/gas are massive multipliers Complimentary Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and free breakfast Free night reward after spending $15K in a calendar year |
| Cons | $500/billing cycle cap on 5% category Only 1% on non-top-category spending Limit of one Citi Custom Cash card per person | $150 annual fee Hilton points worth ~0.5cpp — need volume to get value American Express not accepted everywhere internationally |
| View Details → | View Details → |
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Verdict
Our Pick: Citi Custom Cash Card
With a 4.5/5 rating, the Citi Custom Cash Card edges out the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card (4.3/5). No annual fee makes it easy to justify. The Citi Custom Cash automatically gives you 5% back on whichever eligible category you spend the most in each billing cycle. No sign-ups, no rotating — just spend and it adjusts.