First-year winner
Apple Card
$92 Year 1 edge
$583 vs $492
Compare Cards
Stack up the better credit card
Compare two cards side by side with your real spend, credits, fees, and rewards.
Card A
Card B
Monthly spend
Start with spending categories
Monthly Total
$2,430/mo
Reward assumptions
Credits & benefits
Count the credits and perks you actually expect to use. Credit rows start with conservative default values; edit them for your own merchant, timing, or travel friction.
Card A
Citi Custom Cash Card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
Flexible Citi Rewards Redemptions
Other · No listed cash value
The card stays inside Citi’s cash-back or ThankYou-style redemption ecosystem with simple digital redemption options.
Perk
No Annual Fee
Other · No listed cash value
You can keep the card long term without paying a recurring annual fee.
Perk
Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Other · No listed cash value
The card is built around easy day-to-day redemption without needing to manage a complex points program.
Card B
Apple Card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
Daily Cash Ecosystem
Other · No listed cash value
Apple Card is built around Daily Cash with its best economics tied to Apple Pay and Apple purchases.
Perk
Apple Card Monthly Installments
Other · No listed cash value
Eligible Apple purchases can be financed through Apple Card Monthly Installments under issuer terms.
Perk
No Fee Structure
Other · No listed cash value
Apple Card is positioned around no annual, late, or foreign transaction fees.
Perk
No Annual Fee
Other · No listed cash value
You can keep the card long term without paying a recurring annual fee.
Verdict
Apple wins year 1 and long term.
Winner after year 1
Apple Card
$292 ongoing edge
$583 vs $292
Long-term breakeven: the higher-reward option needs roughly $0 per year in this spend mix to overcome the fee and benefit gap.
Citi
Citi Custom Cash Card
Year One
$492
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$292
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$292
1.00% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$1,500
6 mo window · $250/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Apple
Apple Card
Year One
$583
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$583
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$583
2.00% effective return
Welcome Offer
None
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
No listed offer
No spend threshold in dataset
Why it wins
- • Stays usable for international purchases.
Watch for
- • There is no meaningful active welcome offer in the current dataset.
Spend Mix Math
Where the value actually comes from
Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and the benefits you chose to count.
Dining
1%
$5,400
Citi Custom Cash
$54
1.00%
Apple
$108
2.00%
Groceries
1%
$7,800
Citi Custom Cash
$78
1.00%
Apple
$156
2.00%
Travel
1%
$3,000
Citi Custom Cash
$30
1.00%
Apple
$60
2.00%
Gas
1%
$1,920
Citi Custom Cash
$19
1.00%
Apple
$38
2.00%
General
1%
$11,040
Citi Custom Cash
$110
1.00%
Apple
$221
2.00%
Total annual spend
$29,160 across this mix
Citi Custom Cash$292
Apple$583
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.
| Metric | Citi Custom Cash Card | Apple Card |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Annual fee | Free | Free |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | None |
| Rewards | ||
| Other rewards | 5% Top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500. | 3% 3% Daily Cash on Apple purchases and select Apple Card partner merchants. |
| All rewards | 1% | 2% 2% Daily Cash on eligible purchases made with Apple Pay. |
| Offer | ||
| Welcome offer | $200 credit Spend $1,500 in 6 mo | — |
| Benefits | ||
| Estimated benefits | 3 listed | 4 listed |
| Benefit highlights | Flexible Citi Rewards Redemptions · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity | Daily Cash Ecosystem · Apple Card Monthly Installments · No Fee Structure · +1 more |
| Profile | ||
| Credit needed | Good | Good |
| Network | mastercard | mastercard |
| Reward type | Cashback | Cashback |
Costs
Annual fee
Citi Custom Cash Card
Free
Apple Card
Free
Foreign transaction fee
Citi Custom Cash Card
3%
Apple Card
None
Rewards
Other rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
5%
Top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500.
Apple Card
3%
3% Daily Cash on Apple purchases and select Apple Card partner merchants.
All rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
1%
Apple Card
2%
2% Daily Cash on eligible purchases made with Apple Pay.
Offer
Welcome offer
Citi Custom Cash Card
$200 credit
Spend $1,500 in 6 mo
Apple Card
—
Benefits
Estimated benefits
Citi Custom Cash Card
3 listed
Apple Card
4 listed
Benefit highlights
Citi Custom Cash Card
Flexible Citi Rewards Redemptions · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Apple Card
Daily Cash Ecosystem · Apple Card Monthly Installments · No Fee Structure · +1 more
Profile
Credit needed
Citi Custom Cash Card
Good
Apple Card
Good
Network
Citi Custom Cash Card
mastercard
Apple Card
mastercard
Reward type
Citi Custom Cash Card
Cashback
Apple Card
Cashback