Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Citi Custom Cash Card?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

Should I get the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Citi Custom Cash Card?

Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Citi Custom Cash Card?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

Should I get the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Citi Custom Cash Card?

Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Citi Custom Cash Card?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

Should I get the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Citi Custom Cash Card?

Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Citi Custom Cash Card

Both cards cost $0/yr. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is better for travel, while the Citi Custom Cash Card wins on dining. Here's how they compare.

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

200 Cash

Earn Rates

Category	Chase Freedom Unlimited	Citi Custom Cash Card
Dining	3X	5X
Drugstores	3X	5X
Fitness & Gyms	1.5X	5X
Gas Stations	1.5X	5X
Grocery Stores	1.5X	5X
Home Improvement	1.5X

Benefits & Features

Network

VISA

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

+1.5% cash back on every purchase with no caps or categories
+5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores
+$200 bonus after $500 spend in 3 months
+0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
+$0 annual fee with Visa Signature benefits

+Automatic 5% cash back on top spending category with no activation required
+No annual fee makes it easy to keep long-term for credit history
+10 eligible bonus categories including dining, gas, groceries, streaming, and transit
+0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
+Pairs with Strata Premier to unlock ThankYou Points transfer partners

Cons

−3% foreign transaction fee
1.5% base rate lower than Freedom Flex's 5% rotating categories

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Custom Cash Card wins in 10 of 11 categories. The Chase Freedom Unlimited leads in 1.

Dining

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Drugstores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1.5X

Gas Stations

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1.5X

Grocery Stores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1.5X

Home Improvement

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1.5X

Live Entertainment

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1.5X

Streaming

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1.5X

Transit

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1.5X

The Bottom Line

For everyday spending, the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns more with its 1.5X base rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Citi Custom Cash Card?: The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
Should I get the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Citi Custom Cash Card?: Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Related Comparisons

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Chase Freedom Unlimited — Full Review All Chase Cards

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Official issuer pages: Chase cards · Citi cards

Editorial disclosure: The analysis on this page is based on publicly available card data and is updated regularly. CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or editorial content. Last updated: May 2026.

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Citi Custom Cash Card

Both cards cost $0/yr. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is better for travel, while the Citi Custom Cash Card wins on dining. Here's how they compare.