Citi Custom Cash® Card
vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Shield Insurance

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Both the Citi Custom Cash Card and the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offer cash back rewards and no annual fees, making them strong contenders if you are looking to get the most out of your credit card. However, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card edges ahead with its straightforward unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases, which may appeal to those who prefer simplicity and consistent rewards.

The Citi Custom Cash Card's 5% cash back in your top spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent) can be beneficial for those with focused spending in specific categories. While both cards have their merits, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card's simplicity and consistent reward rate make it good for general use.

Credit Card logo for Citi Custom Cash® Card
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Credit Card logo for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Citi Custom Cash if you're confident in your ability to maximize the 5% cash back on your top spending category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent. This card adapts to your spending habits, making it a smart choice if your expenses are concentrated in specific areas each month.

You might prefer the Wells Fargo Active Cash if you value simplicity and consistency in your rewards program. With an unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases and a lower spending threshold to earn the welcome bonus, this card offers straightforward value without the need to track spending categories.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features helps you find which card aligns with your financial habits. For instance, if you spend heavily in one category, Citi Custom Cash's 5% cash back could be lucrative, whereas consistent spenders across all categories may prefer Wells Fargo Active Cash's 2% reward on all purchases.

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    Regular APR: Citi Custom Cash

    Citi Custom Cash Card offers a lower starting APR of 19.24% compared to Wells Fargo Active Cash's 20.24%.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Citi Custom Cash and the Wells Fargo Active Cash have no annual fee, making them equally attractive for users looking to avoid extra costs.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Wells Fargo Active Cash

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash card offers a better deal on Introductory 0% APRs, with both cards providing 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. However, Wells Fargo has a lower balance transfer fee of 3% (minimum $5) compared to Citi's 5% (minimum $5).

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    Rewards: Citi Custom Cash

    For maximizing rewards in changing spend categories, the Citi Custom Cash is better. It offers 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back thereafter. Additionally, a special travel offer earns an extra 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal until 6/30/2025. In contrast, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card provides straightforward unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

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    Welcome Offers: Wells Fargo Active Cash

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash card offers a better welcome bonus, providing a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in the first three months, compared to the Citi Custom Cash card's $200 cash back after spending $1500 in the first six months. The Wells Fargo Active Cash card's intro offer return on investment (ROI) is 40%, making it more advantageous.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Citi Custom Cash and the Wells Fargo Active Cash are for individuals with credit scores ranging from 670 to 850, indicating a good to excellent credit requirement.

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    Penalties and Fees: Wells Fargo Active Cash

    Wells Fargo Active Cash is better for penalties and fees, lacking a penalty APR and having a slightly lower late fee compared to Citi Custom Cash. Both cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee and similar cash advance fees.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Citi Custom Cash

    Citibank has a slightly higher rating of 4.1 compared to Wells Fargo Bank's rating of 4. This suggests a slightly better customer service and overall experience with Citi.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Citi Custom Cash provides special travel benefits and simplifies earning cash back with no rotating categories. Wells Fargo Active Cash offers valuable cell phone protection and Visa Signature Concierge access.

Rewards Comparison

The Wells Fargo Active Cash offers an uncomplicated 2% cash back on all purchases. It's a solid choice for those who value simplicity and a good return on everyday spending without having to track bonus categories.

The Citi Custom Cash can be more rewarding for strategic spenders. It offers 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, which is a standout feature for maximizing returns in high-spend areas. However, once you hit that cap, the rewards rate drops to 1%.

For the Citi Custom Cash, the eligible top spend categories include:

  • Restaurants
  • Gas stations
  • Grocery stores
  • Select travel
  • Select transit
  • Select streaming services
  • Drugstores
  • Home improvement stores
  • Fitness clubs
  • Live entertainment

These categories cater to a variety of spending habits, allowing you to earn more where it counts. Keep in mind, the 5% reward is limited to the first $500 spent in the combined eligible categories each billing cycle.

Next, you'll find a table detailing the bonus categories for each card.

Category
Citi Custom Cash
Wells Fargo Active Cash

Category

Top Spending Category: 5% up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle, then 1%

All categories: 2%

Travel

4% if booked through Citi Travel portal through 6/30/2025/1% on other travel

2%

All Other Purchases

1%

2%

Redeeming Rewards

With the Citi Custom Cash, you have the flexibility to redeem points for a variety of options, including statement credits and direct deposits, without worrying about expiration or minimums, except for a $5 minimum for check redemptions. The Wells Fargo Active Cash allows for redemptions in $20 increments across several categories, including cash rewards for travel; your rewards stay intact as long as your account is active.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like Citi Custom Cash and Wells Fargo Active Cash based on their performance in various use cases. For this comparison, the cards are scored on their cash back capabilities.

The most important factors determining their cash back score are the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers. These factors, along with others such as annual fees and issuer satisfaction, contribute to a comprehensive score. For a detailed understanding of our scoring process, please review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Citi Custom Cash vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

What are the main differences in rewards between the Citi Custom Cash and the Wells Fargo Active Cash?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
What are the introductory offers for each card?
How do the APRs compare between the Citi Custom Cash and the Wells Fargo Active Cash?
Are there foreign transaction fees for either card?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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