Compare Cards | The Stack

Compare Cards

See which card actually wins for your spend.

This page compares year-one value, ongoing value, welcome-offer difficulty, usable credits, and transfer flexibility under your own assumptions instead of generic rankings.

Build around Apple Card

Card A

Card B

Assumptions

Pressure-test the math

Rewards use your annual spend mix. Credits are discounted by your usage slider. Points and miles use your valuation assumption.

Dining

$/mo

Groceries

$/mo

Travel

$/mo

Gas

$/mo

Online Shopping

$/mo

Streaming

$/mo

General

$/mo

Point Value1.5 cpp

Used for points and miles cards. Cash-back cards stay fixed.

Credit Usage70%

This discounts recurring credits so the page does not assume perfect usage.

Verdict

Apple Card is the stronger fit under these assumptions.

It wins on both year-one value and the keep-or-cancel math after the welcome offer is gone.

Year One Winner

Apple Card

Keeper Winner

Apple Card

Citi Custom Cash Card

• Has about $200 more welcome-offer value in year one.

Apple Card

• Earns about $296 more per year at your current spend mix.
• Avoids foreign transaction fees.
• Stays usable for international purchases.

Long-term breakeven: the higher-reward option needs roughly $0 per year in this spend mix to overcome the fee and credit gap.

Citi

Citi Custom Cash Card

No-fee keeperPersonal

Year One

$496

Welcome offer + annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Ongoing Year

$296

Annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Annual Rewards

$296

1.00% effective return

Welcome Offer

$200

Current listed first-year bonus value

Usable Credits

None

Discounted by your credit-usage assumption

Bonus Hurdle

$250/mo feels comfortable

Needs Good+ credit

Why it wins

• No standout edge under the current assumptions.

Watch for

• Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.

Build a plan around this card View offer details

Apple

Apple Card

No-fee keeperPersonal

Year One

$593

Welcome offer + annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Ongoing Year

$593

Annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Annual Rewards

$593

2.00% effective return

Welcome Offer

None

Current listed first-year bonus value

Usable Credits

None

Discounted by your credit-usage assumption

Bonus Hurdle

No listed hurdle

Needs Good+ credit

Why it wins

• Stays usable for international purchases.

Watch for

• There is no meaningful active welcome offer in the current dataset.

Build a plan around this card View offer details

Spend Mix Math

Where the value actually comes from

Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and a discounted view of recurring credits.

CategoryAnnual SpendCiti Custom Cash CardApple Card

Dining

$5,400

$54

1.00%

$108

2.00%

Groceries

$7,800

$78

1.00%

$156

2.00%

Travel

$3,000

$30

1.00%

$60

2.00%

Gas

$1,920

$19

1.00%

$38

2.00%

Online Shopping

$2,640

$26

1.00%

$53

2.00%

Streaming

$480

1.00%

$10

2.00%

General

$8,400

$84

1.00%

$168

2.00%

Raw Breakdown

Full side-by-side details

Use the spec table below when you want the literal field-by-field differences in rewards, benefits, transfer partners, fees, and approval profile.

Annual Fee

Citi Custom Cash Card

Apple Card

Free

Rewards

Citi Custom Cash Card

Apple Card

Other

5%3%

All

1%2%

Welcome Offer

Citi Custom Cash Card

Apple Card

$200 credit

Spend $1,500 in 6 mo

—

Benefits

Citi Custom Cash Card

Apple Card

—

3 benefits

—

4 benefits

Quick Facts

Citi Custom Cash Card

Apple Card

Foreign Tx Fee

3%None

Credit Needed

goodgood

Network

mastercardmastercard

Reward Type

cashbackcashback