Citi ThankYou Rewards factors can unlock dream journeys and unbelievable journey experiences, and lots of of Citi’s proprietary playing cards earn these factors at a fast price.
Better of all? You do not have to shell out a whole bunch in annual charges to gather a stash of ThankYou Rewards factors.
The no-annual-fee Citi Strata℠ Card (see charges and charges) and the $95 Citi Strata Premier® Card (see charges and charges) rack up ThankYou Rewards factors and supply journey advantages at a modest value level, making both selection an amazing possibility on your pockets.
However which stands out on your distinctive state of affairs? Let’s examine the professionals and cons of the Citi Strata and Strata Premier playing cards that will help you resolve which one will improve your future journeys probably the most.
Citi Strata vs. Citi Strata Premier comparability
| Card | Citi Strata | Citi Strata Premier |
|---|---|---|
|
$0 |
$95 |
|
|
|
|
|
Earn 20,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening. |
Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. |
|
|
|
Citi Strata vs. Citi Strata Premier welcome bonus
New Citi Strata Card holders can earn 20,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
TPG’s January 2026 valuations place this provide at $380 since ThankYou Rewards factors are value 1.9 cents apiece. It is a stable worth for a no-annual-fee card.
In the meantime, the Strata Premier supplies a bonus of 60,000 factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.
The Strata Premier’s provide is value $1,140, per TPG’s valuations, triple that of the Citi Strata.
These welcome bonuses will not be open to individuals who have earned a welcome bonus for that particular card within the final 48 months. You can also not obtain a welcome bonus when you’ve transformed one other Citi account wherein you’ve got earned a welcome bonus right into a Citi Strata or Strata Premier card.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
As all the time, take Citi’s software restrictions into thoughts while you apply for one of many issuer’s playing cards.
Winner: Strata Premier. Its provide supplies triple the quantity of factors provided by the Citi Strata.
Associated: One of the best time to use for these fashionable Citi bank cards based mostly on provide historical past
Citi Strata vs. Citi Strata Premier advantages
Being that the Citi Strata is a no-annual-fee card, you should not count on a protracted listing of advantages.
Probably the most distinct function is its 0% introductory annual proportion price for 15 months from account opening on purchases and stability transfers. After this era, a variable APR of 18.49% to twenty-eight.49% applies, based mostly in your creditworthiness.
The Citi Strata supplies Mastercard ID Theft Safety and 24-hour fraud safety companies, in addition to entry to Citi Leisure occasions.
It is also value noting {that a} 3% overseas transaction payment shall be charged when utilizing the Citi Strata overseas.
In the meantime, the Strata Premier tacks on just a few additional perks in change for its $95 annual payment. These embody a $100 credit score as soon as per calendar 12 months on a single-stay resort reserving of no less than $500 (excluding taxes and charges) booked by Citi Journey.
Should you do not thoughts reserving by an issuer’s portal and plan to spend no less than $500 on a single keep, this credit score may very well be helpful for you — and it single-handedly offsets the cardboard’s $95 annual payment, which is one other issue to contemplate.
The Strata Premier additionally supplies many extra journey protections than the Citi Strata, together with:
Plus, there are a number of World Elite Mastercard perks included on the Strata Premier, corresponding to cellphone safety and entry to World Emergency Providers. You may additionally obtain entry to the Mastercard luxurious inns and resorts portfolio and Citi Leisure with this card.
Lastly, the Strata Premier expenses no overseas transaction charges, making it a extra favorable possibility for worldwide journey.
Winner: Strata Premier. It gives a number of further advantages that the Citi Strata doesn’t, together with an annual resort credit score that may assist offset the cardboard’s annual payment.
Associated: How (and why it is sensible) to reallocate your Citi bank card strains of credit score
Incomes factors with the Citi Strata vs. the Citi Strata Premier
The Citi Strata is a unbelievable points-earning card, particularly for no annual payment. It earns bonus ThankYou Rewards factors in a swath of classes and features a self-select possibility, offering flexibility on your particular spending habits. You may earn:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on sights, automotive leases and inns booked on cititravel.com
- 3 factors per greenback spent at EV charging stations and fuel stations, on choose transit purchases and at supermarkets
- 3 factors per greenback spent in an eligible self-select class of your selection
- 2 factors per greenback spent at eating places
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
Eligible self-select classes on the Citi Strata embody:
- Barber outlets/beauty shops/hair salons
- Health golf equipment
- Dwell leisure
- Pet provide shops
- Choose streaming companies
The default self-select class is choose streaming companies, however you possibly can change your class as soon as per quarter at citi.com/selfselect or by calling 1-800-842-6596.
The Strata Premier additionally earns ThankYou Rewards factors at a excessive price, particularly for a card that expenses a modest $95 annual payment. You may earn:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on sights, automotive leases and inns booked on cititravel.com
- 3 factors per greenback spent on air journey and different resort purchases, and at EV charging stations and fuel stations, eating places and supermarkets
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
With a number of bonus classes, the Strata Premier is designed to be a stable on a regular basis spending possibility for every part from journey purchases to groceries and eating.
Whereas the Strata Premier earns extra factors in a number of classes than the Citi Strata, when you’d discover extra worth within the flexibility of self-select classes and do not spend as a lot cash on journey, the Citi Strata may very well be a greater earner for you.
Winner: It is a tie. Whereas the Strata Premier earns extra factors on Citi Journey, airways and different inns outdoors of Citi Journey, in addition to restaurant purchases, the Strata may very well be a better option for somebody who already has the Strata Premier’s classes lined by one other card.
Associated: Higher collectively: Why the Citi Strata Premier and Strata playing cards are an amazing pair
Redeeming factors with the Citi Strata vs. the Citi Strata Premier
The Citi Strata and the Strata Premier each earn ThankYou Rewards factors that may be redeemed for money again, present playing cards and assertion credit.
Nevertheless, that is usually not really useful since you will usually obtain lower than TPG’s valuation of 1.9 cents per level in worth.
You too can redeem your ThankYou Rewards factors instantly by the Citi Journey portal at a price of 1 cent apiece. That is additionally beneath TPG’s valuation, so we usually don’t suggest this selection.
One of the best ways to redeem your ThankYou Rewards factors and get as shut as attainable to TPG’s valuation is to switch your factors to considered one of Citi’s journey companions.
Winner: Tie. These two playing cards share the identical set of redemption choices.
Associated: Why I am contemplating a Citi bank card as an Alaska Airways fan
Transferring factors with the Citi Strata vs. the Citi Strata Premier
Leveraging switch companions is one of the best ways to obtain excessive worth on your ThankYou Rewards factors. It’s key to notice that the Citi Strata and the Strata Premier have completely different switch ratios.
Cardholders of both card obtain entry to the identical 22 air, resort and retail companions within the ThankYou Rewards program, together with Air France-KLM Flying Blue, American Airways AAdvantage and Selection Privileges, to call just a few.
Nevertheless, when you solely maintain the no-annual-fee Citi Strata, you will solely obtain a 1:0.7 switch ratio for many of those companions, which means you get 0.7 factors or miles for each level transferred.
The Strata Premier unlocks a full 1:1 ratio for many companions by itself, making it the superior selection when you plan to switch most of your ThankYou Rewards factors to companions (and we suggest that is what you do).
It is value noting that when you already maintain a Strata Premier, Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see charges and charges) or Citi Status® Card (not open to new candidates), you will obtain entry to the total ratio on each card. If considered one of these playing cards is not in your setup, nevertheless, the 1:0.7 ratio on the Citi Strata is all you will have.
The data for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Winner: Strata Premier. You may unlock a full 1:1 switch ratio with most of Citi’s switch companions — one thing you would not obtain with the Citi Strata alone.
Associated: Citi factors now switch to American Airways: How lengthy does it take?
Ought to I get the Citi Strata or the Citi Strata Premier?
If you are going to leverage Citi’s switch companions, the Strata Premier is your best choice, because it unlocks a perfect switch ratio for ThankYou Rewards factors.
Should you’re a frequent traveler, the Strata Premier has higher bonus-earning charges in related classes, and it does not cost overseas transaction charges.
Nevertheless, the Citi Strata is greatest for cardholders who’re much less prone to switch their ThankYou Rewards factors or favor to not pay an annual payment. Should you regularly spend on an expense included in Citi Strata’s listing of eligible self-select classes, corresponding to streaming or pet provide shops, that would put you over the sting, too.
Typically, the Strata Premier is a greater all-around journey card, however the Citi Strata could also be a greater complement to sure setups and techniques.
Associated: Strata, Premier or Elite: How to decide on a Citi Strata bank card
The right way to improve from the Citi Strata to the Citi Strata Premier
If you would like to improve your Citi Strata to the Strata Premier, you will have to name the quantity on the again of your card. Should you go this route, nevertheless, you will not be capable of earn the Strata Premier’s welcome bonus, so preserve that in thoughts.
If you would like to downgrade your Strata Premier to the Citi Strata, the method is identical: Name Citi utilizing the quantity on the again of your card. You will not be capable of gather the Citi Strata’s bonus on this case, both.
Associated: Why must you improve from the Citi Strata to the Citi Strata Premier?
Backside line
ThankYou Rewards factors are an amazing foreign money to start out amassing when you’re into transferable rewards factors, and the Citi Strata and the Strata Premier earn these rewards at a excessive price.
There are key distinctions for every cardholder to weigh, however when you’re into touring, transferring factors and do not thoughts a modest annual payment, the Strata Premier has rather a lot.
However the Citi Strata additionally holds its personal weight. It earns factors in distinctive classes and will play a robust position if in case you have a selected technique it will match into. The selection is as much as you and your pockets.
To study extra, learn our full critiques of the Citi Strata and the Strata Premier.
Apply right here: Citi Strata Card
Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier Card
