The three cards in Citi’s Strata family differ in rewards, benefits, travel perks and more. And as is the case with choosing any travel card, the best option for you will depend on things like how you spend, how frequently you travel and what you value in a travel card.
For instance, if your trips are only occasional, then the least-expensive Citi Strata℠ Card might be the best fit for you — light on frills, but still solidly rewarding for everyday spending, particularly for a $0-annual-fee card.
But if travel perks are a top priority for you, then shelling out a $595 annual fee for the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card might make sense, given its raft of lucrative and easy-to-use credits that can help offset that cost.
Here's how to choose:
🤓 Nerdy Tip
None of the Citi Strata cards is a good fit for those seeking cash back because the rewards they earn — in the form of ThankYou points — lose much of their value when redeemed that way. If you're interested in cash back, consider a different Citi card, like the Citi Double Cash® Card. How the Citi Strata cards compare
Annual fee
$0
$95
$595
Welcome offer
Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Benefits
- Access to Citi transfer partners.
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-28.49% Variable APR.
- Access to Citi transfer partners, typically at a 1:1 ratio.
- $100 annual hotel savings benefit. Terms apply.
- Coverage in the event of trip cancellation, interruption or delay.
- Coverage if your luggage is lost or damaged.
- Rental car insurance.
- Access to Citi transfer partners, typically at a 1:1 ratio.
- $300 annual hotel credit.
- $200 annual Splurge Credit.
- $200 annual Blacklane credit (in the form of two $100 credits).
- Application credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
- Four passes per year to American Airlines Admirals Clubs.
- Priority Pass Select membership.
Learn more
Citi Strata℠ Card
Best for infrequent travelers seeking no annual fee
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards:
- 5 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel.com.
- 3 points per $1 at supermarkets and gas/EV stations, and on select transit.
- 3 points per $1 on an eligible self-select category of your choice. Categories include fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons and pet supply stores.
- 2 points per $1 at restaurants.
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
The Citi Strata℠ Card earns solid rewards across everyday spending categories at no yearly cost, making it ideal for those who want a travel card but don’t want to pay an annual fee. The card also allows for some customization with its self-select category, which you can choose once every quarter. In addition, you'll be able to transfer your points to Citi’s travel partners, at varying ratios. (See below for full list.) And it's the only card of the bunch that comes with an introductory promotional period on balance transfers and purchases. You get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-28.49% Variable APR.
Full list of Citi transfer partners
Transfer ratios will vary depending on which card you have.
Airlines
- Aeromexico (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- American Airlines (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Air France/KLM (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Asia Miles (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Avianca (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Emirates (1:0.8 or 1:0.56 ratio).
- Etihad (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Eva Air (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- JetBlue (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Qantas (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Qatar Airways (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Singapore Airlines (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Thai Airways (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Turkish Airlines (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Virgin Atlantic (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
Hotels
- Accor Live Limitless (2:1 or 2:0.7 ratio).
- Choice Hotels (1:1.5 or 1:1.05 ratio).
- The Leading Hotels of the World (5:1 or 5:0.7 ratio).
- Preferred Hotels & Resorts (1:2 or 1:1.4 ratio).
- Wyndham (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
Events
- Virgin Red (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
Drawbacks:
If you dine out often, the Citi Strata℠ Card isn’t the best choice. It doesn't earn as much in that category as its sibling cards, plus there are comparable $0 annual fee cards from other issuers that outearn it in that category as well. Also, while the Citi Strata℠ Card does allow point transfers to Citi's multiple travel partners, the transfer ratio is typically the least favorable of the three Strata cards. It's also light on the kind of side perks you'd get on cards that do charge annual fees. If you're looking for things like travel credits and airport lounge access, look elsewhere.
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Best for everyday spending
Annual fee: $95.
Rewards:
- 10 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through cititravel.com.
- 3 points per $1 on air travel and hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and EV charging.
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
The Citi Strata Premier® Card is a good middle-of-the-road option thanks to its reasonable $95 annual fee and valuable rewards in everyday purchase categories. It earns triple points across "the big three" household categories of gas, groceries and dining, making it the most comprehensive everyday earner of the three Strata options. Plus, it offers access to all of Citi's partners, including American Airlines, generally at a 1:1 ratio. The card also comes with a yearly hotel discount of $100 for a single hotel stay of at least $500 every calendar year, when you book through Citi.
Drawbacks:
The Citi Strata Premier® Card is lacking in travel perks that some similarly priced travel cards come with. And while it offers generous rewards in a lot of everyday categories, the card's 3x rewards rate covers only certain kinds of travel spending: air travel and hotel purchases. Several competitors, on the other hand, tend to include a broader range of qualifying travel expenses: rideshares, cruises, etc. And while the $100 annual hotel savings benefit is a nice perk, you'll need to meet a spending threshold and book through Citi to earn it.
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Annual fee: $595.
Rewards:
- 12 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel.com.
- 6 points per $1 on air travel booked on cititravel.com.
- 6 points per $1 at restaurants (including food delivery services) on “Citi Nights” on Fridays and Saturdays between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Eastern Time. Outside of this timeframe, you’ll earn 3 points per $1.
- 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases.
For frequent travelers, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card — as its name suggests — is the top-tier option. It offers rich rewards for those committed to booking through Citi's travel portal, and its rewards rate on dining is also great. The card features a list of travel credits that total around $1,500 in value, including a $300 annual hotel credit, reimbursement for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and four passes per year to American Airlines Admirals Clubs. Those benefits can help defray the card’s three-digit annual fee, and unlike such perks on similarly priced premium cards, these statement credits are not doled out monthly — they’re given annually or semi-annually. You also get full access to Citi's list of travel partners, generally at 1:1 transfer ratios.
Drawbacks:
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card’s three-digit annual fee may be difficult for some to justify, even if it's a little lower than what competing cards cost. (The Chase Sapphire Reserve®, for example, charges a mammoth annual fee of $795.) And in terms of ongoing rewards, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card lacks the range of useful everyday categories that its sibling cards feature. It's also somewhat more complicated, given its differing reward rates at restaurants depending on when exactly you're dining out.
