The Platinum Card from American Express vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

A detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right card for your spending.

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The Platinum Card from American Express

American Express

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi

Annual Fee

$895

$595

Welcome Bonus

80,000 Flex point

75,000 Flex point

Base Earn Rate

1.5X

Top Earn Categories

5X Hotels

5X Flights

1X Hotels

12X Hotels Car Rentals Attractions Citi Travel

6X Air Travel Citi Travel

6X Dining Citi Nights

3X Dining

Network

AMEX

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

✓Lounge access

✓Travel insurance

✓Global Entry credit

✓Lounge access

✓Global Entry credit

Pros

+Access to 9 lounge networks including exclusive Centurion Lounges with 2 guests free
+$200/year Uber credit plus complimentary Uber One membership ($168 value)
+$400/year Resy dining credit at select restaurants
+Automatic Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and breakfast
+5X points on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel

+12X on hotels, car rentals, and attractions via Citi Travel portal
+6X on dining during Citi Nights℠ (Fri/Sat evenings)
+Up to $700 in annual statement credits ($300 hotel + $200 Splurge + $200 Blacklane)
+Priority Pass Select + 4 AA Admirals Club passes per year
+ThankYou points transfer to AA, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, and 15+ other partners

Cons

−$895 annual fee requires significant credit utilization to break even
−Many credits require specific merchants (Saks, Equinox, SoulCycle)
−Only 1X points on non-travel purchases limits everyday earning
−Secondary car rental coverage unless paying $24.95/rental for primary
−$195 authorized user fee after first 3 free cards

−High $595 annual fee requires maximizing statement credits to offset
−Best earn rates require booking through Citi Travel portal (lose hotel loyalty credit)
−Citi Nights dining bonus limited to Fri/Sat 6PM-6AM ET timezone
−Only 4 Admirals Club passes (not unlimited access)
−Authorized user fee of $75 per user

The Bottom Line

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card has a lower annual fee ($595 vs $895), making it the more accessible option.

The The Platinum Card from American Express justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access.

For everyday spending, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns more with its 1.5X base rate.

Explore More

The Platinum Card from American Express — Full Review All American Express Cards

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

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The Platinum Card from American Express vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

A detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right card for your spending.

No image