Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs Citi Strata Credit Card
Annual fees: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card $95/yr, Citi Strata Credit Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card on travel, Citi Strata Credit Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase · $95/yr
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card$95Citi Strata Credit Card$0Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card75,000 pointsCiti Strata Credit Card20,000 points
- Rewards
- Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase Ultimate RewardsCiti Strata Credit CardCiti ThankYou Rewards
- Foreign transaction fee
- Chase Sapphire Preferred CardNoneLowestCiti Strata Credit Card3%
- Network
- Chase Sapphire Preferred CardVisa SignatureCiti Strata Credit CardMastercard
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Beauty
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card1xCiti Strata Credit Card3xHighest
- Dining
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xHighestCiti Strata Credit Card2x
- Electric Vehicle Charging
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xCiti Strata Credit Card3x
- Fitness
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card1xCiti Strata Credit Card3xHighest
- Gas Stations
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xCiti Strata Credit Card3x
- Grocery Stores
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xCiti Strata Credit Card3x
- Live Entertainment
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card1xCiti Strata Credit Card3xHighest
- Pet
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card1xCiti Strata Credit Card3xHighest
- Streaming
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xCiti Strata Credit Card3x
- Top Spend Category
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card1xCiti Strata Credit Card3xHighest
- Transit
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card1xCiti Strata Credit Card3xHighest
- Vacation Rentals
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xHighestCiti Strata Credit Card1x
- Travel
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card2xHighestCiti Strata Credit Card1x
- Everything else
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card1xCiti Strata Credit Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit · $120 every 4 years
- $100 hotel credit
Citi Strata Credit Card— - Entertainment & streaming
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- A year of Apple TV, valued at $180 · $180 one-time
Citi Strata Credit Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Other perks
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Complimentary DashPass after activation
- Up to $10 monthly on a non-restaurant DoorDash order
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases
Citi Strata Credit Card- Citi Entertainment
- Points transfer
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Travel Accident Insurance up to $500,000
- $10,000 Trip Cancellation Insurance per person
- $500 Trip Delay Reimbursement per traveler
Citi Strata Credit Card— - Baggage
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- $500 Baggage Delay Insurance ($100 per day)
- $3,000 Lost Luggage Reimbursement per traveler
Citi Strata Credit Card— - Rental car
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Auto Rental Coverage
Citi Strata Credit Card— - Purchase & returns
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- 120-day Purchase Protection up to $500 per item
Citi Strata Credit Card- Mastercard® ID Theft Protection
- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
- Purchase Protection up to $1,000 per claim
- Extended warranty
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Extended Warranty Protection adds 1 extra year
Citi Strata Credit Card— - Other protections
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
Citi Strata Credit Card- Citi Travel®
- FICO score monitoring
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- 75,000 point welcome bonus after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- $95 annual fee partly offset by a $100 Chase Travel hotel credit each account anniversary year
- Transfers to 14 airline and hotel partners, 13 at 1:1 and Hyatt at 4:3
- 5X on Chase Travel, 3X dining, streaming, online groceries
- Trip cancellation, delay, and lost luggage insurance included
Citi Strata Credit Card- No annual fee
- 20,000 point welcome bonus
- 5X points on travel booked via Citi Travel
- 3X points on groceries, transit, gas, and Self-Select category
- Self-Select category flexibility (change quarterly)
- Cons
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- $95 annual fee vs $0 Freedom cards
- No lounge access included
- 5/24 rule restricts applicants with 5+ cards in 24 months
- No 0% intro APR offer
Citi Strata Credit Card- 3% foreign transaction fee
- 5X rate requires booking through Citi Travel portal
- Self-Select category can only change quarterly
- Lower transfer value compared to premium ThankYou cards
Expert Analysis
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Citi Strata Credit Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card's strongest category is Dining at 3X, while the Citi Strata Credit Card leads with 3X on Grocery Stores. Overall, the Citi Strata Credit Card wins in more bonus categories (8 vs 4) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $0/yr vs $95/yr, the Citi Strata Credit Card is the more accessible option. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card needs to deliver at least $95 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap.
Key Differences
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X on Dining vs 2X for the other
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X on Online Groceries vs 1X for the other
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X on Grocery Delivery vs 1X for the other
- The Citi Strata Credit Card costs $0/yr vs $95/yr — a $95 annual gap
- Different networks: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is VISA, Citi Strata Credit Card is MASTERCARD
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$400/month on dining
Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 2X. Over a year, that's 14,400 vs 9,600 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$200/month on online groceries
Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$600/month on grocery stores
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 21,600 vs 7,200 points — a 14,400-point advantage.
$150/month on gas stations
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 5,400 vs 1,800 points — a 3,600-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Citi Strata Credit CardWithout heavy spending in the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card's premium categories, the $95 fee difference is hard to recover. The Citi Strata Credit Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on dining and online groceries. At $95/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the Citi Strata Credit Card if:
The Citi Strata Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on grocery stores and gas stations and keeping annual costs low. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Transferable points programs offer more flexibility for travel redemptions.
Category-by-Category Winner
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card wins in 3 of 4 categories. The Citi Strata Credit Card leads in 1. 7 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via Chase Travel portal
Flights
Depends: via Chase Travel portal - the Chase Travel travel rate restated per bookable subcategory, as Capital One and Citi portal rates are recorded
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Citi Strata Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Dining
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 2X
Vacation Rentals
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X
Attractions
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Transit
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X
Top Spend Category
Depends: Must select category at citi.com/selfselect
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Beauty
Depends: 3X applies only if cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Fitness
Depends: 3X applies only if fitness clubs is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Live Entertainment
Depends: 3X applies only if live entertainment is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Pet
Depends: 3X applies only if pet supply stores is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
| Scenario | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Citi Strata Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $346 Credits (our usable estimate): $75 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $326 Year one: $1,784 | Rewards: $337 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $337 Year one: $677 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,382 Credits (our usable estimate): $75 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $1,362 Year one: $2,820 | Rewards: $1,346 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,346 Year one: $1,686 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the Citi Strata Credit Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $95 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $95 fee gap means the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card needs roughly $95 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on travel and hotels and everyday spend.
The Bottom Line
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Published annual fees: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card $95/yr, Citi Strata Credit Card $0/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Strata Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $95 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use.
- Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Citi Strata Credit Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Citi Strata Credit Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Citi Strata Credit Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $95/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.