Is the Citi Strata Premier Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Citi Strata Premier Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Citi Strata Premier 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 Citi Custom Cash Card or the Citi Strata Premier Card?

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Premier Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the Citi Strata Premier Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Citi Strata Premier Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Citi Strata Premier 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 Citi Custom Cash Card or the Citi Strata Premier Card?

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Premier Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the Citi Strata Premier Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Citi Strata Premier Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Citi Strata Premier 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 Citi Custom Cash Card or the Citi Strata Premier Card?

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Premier Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Citi Custom Cash Card vs Citi Strata Premier Card

The Citi Custom Cash Card ($0/yr) is better for everyday value, while the Citi Strata Premier Card ($95/yr) is worth it for frequent travelers who can use its premium perks. Here's the full comparison.

Citi Custom Cash Card

Citi

Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 Cash

60,000 Flex point

Earn Rates

Category	Citi Custom Cash Card	Citi Strata Premier Card
Dining	5X	3X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Custom Cash Card wins in 10 of 12 categories. The Citi Strata Premier Card leads in 2.

Dining

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Drugstores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Gas Stations

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Home Improvement

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Live Entertainment

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

The Bottom Line

The Citi Custom Cash Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $95), making it the more accessible option.

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Citi Strata Premier Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citi Strata Premier Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Citi Strata Premier Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Citi Strata Premier 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 Citi Custom Cash Card or the Citi Strata Premier Card?: Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Premier Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Amex Gold vs Citi Strata Premier Amex Green vs Citi Strata Premier Amex Platinum vs Citi Strata Premier Capital One Quicksilver vs Citi Strata Premier

Explore More

Citi Custom Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Citi Strata Premier Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Citi cards

Editorial disclosure: The analysis on this page is based on publicly available card data and is updated regularly. CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or editorial content. Last updated: May 2026.

Citi Custom Cash Card vs Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi Custom Cash Card

Citi

Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 Cash

60,000 Flex point

Earn Rates

Category	Citi Custom Cash Card	Citi Strata Premier Card
Dining	5X	3X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Custom Cash Card wins in 10 of 12 categories. The Citi Strata Premier Card leads in 2.

Dining

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Drugstores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Gas Stations

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Home Improvement

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Live Entertainment

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

The Bottom Line

The Citi Custom Cash Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $95), making it the more accessible option.

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Citi Strata Premier Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citi Strata Premier Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Citi Strata Premier Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Citi Strata Premier 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 Citi Custom Cash Card or the Citi Strata Premier Card?: Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Premier Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Amex Gold vs Citi Strata Premier Amex Green vs Citi Strata Premier Amex Platinum vs Citi Strata Premier Capital One Quicksilver vs Citi Strata Premier

Explore More

Citi Custom Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Citi Strata Premier Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Citi cards

Citi Custom Cash Card vs Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi Custom Cash Card

Citi

Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 Cash

60,000 Flex point

Earn Rates

Category	Citi Custom Cash Card	Citi Strata Premier Card
Dining	5X	3X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Custom Cash Card wins in 10 of 12 categories. The Citi Strata Premier Card leads in 2.

Dining

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Drugstores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Gas Stations

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Home Improvement

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Live Entertainment

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

The Bottom Line

The Citi Custom Cash Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $95), making it the more accessible option.

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Citi Strata Premier Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citi Strata Premier Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Citi Strata Premier Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Custom Cash Card or Citi Strata Premier 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 Citi Custom Cash Card or the Citi Strata Premier Card?: Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Premier Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Amex Gold vs Citi Strata Premier Amex Green vs Citi Strata Premier Amex Platinum vs Citi Strata Premier Capital One Quicksilver vs Citi Strata Premier

Explore More

Citi Custom Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Citi Strata Premier Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Citi cards

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Automatic 5% cash back on top spending category with no activation required
+No annual fee makes it easy to keep long-term for credit history
+10 eligible bonus categories including dining, gas, groceries, streaming, and transit
+0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
+Pairs with Strata Premier to unlock ThankYou Points transfer partners

+3X points on 6 everyday categories (dining, gas, groceries, flights, hotels, all travel)
+10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions through Citi Travel portal
+Lowest $95 annual fee among premium travel cards with transfer partners
+Transfer to 18+ airline and hotel partners including JetBlue TrueBlue and Turkish Miles&Smiles
+No foreign transaction fees for international purchases

Cons

−$500 monthly cap limits value for high spenders (max $25/month in bonus rewards)
−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international travel
−Cannot manually select bonus category - algorithm chooses based on spend
−Only one Custom Cash card allowed per person
−48-month restriction on welcome bonus if you've had one before

−No airport lounge access included
−Transfer partners weaker than Chase or Amex (no United, Delta, or Hyatt)
−10X portal bonus requires booking through Citi Travel, limiting flexibility
−Welcome bonus lower than competing premium cards (60K vs 75K-90K)
−Points worth less than competitors when redeemed for cash back (1 cent each)

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Automatic 5% cash back on top spending category with no activation required
+No annual fee makes it easy to keep long-term for credit history
+10 eligible bonus categories including dining, gas, groceries, streaming, and transit
+0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
+Pairs with Strata Premier to unlock ThankYou Points transfer partners

+3X points on 6 everyday categories (dining, gas, groceries, flights, hotels, all travel)
+10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions through Citi Travel portal
+Lowest $95 annual fee among premium travel cards with transfer partners
+Transfer to 18+ airline and hotel partners including JetBlue TrueBlue and Turkish Miles&Smiles
+No foreign transaction fees for international purchases

Cons

−$500 monthly cap limits value for high spenders (max $25/month in bonus rewards)
−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international travel
−Cannot manually select bonus category - algorithm chooses based on spend
−Only one Custom Cash card allowed per person
−48-month restriction on welcome bonus if you've had one before

−No airport lounge access included
−Transfer partners weaker than Chase or Amex (no United, Delta, or Hyatt)
−10X portal bonus requires booking through Citi Travel, limiting flexibility
−Welcome bonus lower than competing premium cards (60K vs 75K-90K)
−Points worth less than competitors when redeemed for cash back (1 cent each)

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Automatic 5% cash back on top spending category with no activation required
+No annual fee makes it easy to keep long-term for credit history
+10 eligible bonus categories including dining, gas, groceries, streaming, and transit
+0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
+Pairs with Strata Premier to unlock ThankYou Points transfer partners

+3X points on 6 everyday categories (dining, gas, groceries, flights, hotels, all travel)
+10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions through Citi Travel portal
+Lowest $95 annual fee among premium travel cards with transfer partners
+Transfer to 18+ airline and hotel partners including JetBlue TrueBlue and Turkish Miles&Smiles
+No foreign transaction fees for international purchases

Cons

−$500 monthly cap limits value for high spenders (max $25/month in bonus rewards)
−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international travel
−Cannot manually select bonus category - algorithm chooses based on spend
−Only one Custom Cash card allowed per person
−48-month restriction on welcome bonus if you've had one before

−No airport lounge access included
−Transfer partners weaker than Chase or Amex (no United, Delta, or Hyatt)
−10X portal bonus requires booking through Citi Travel, limiting flexibility
−Welcome bonus lower than competing premium cards (60K vs 75K-90K)
−Points worth less than competitors when redeemed for cash back (1 cent each)

Citi Custom Cash Card vs Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi Custom Cash Card

Citi Strata Premier Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

Citi Custom Cash Card vs Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi Custom Cash Card

Citi Strata Premier Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

Citi Custom Cash Card vs Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi Custom Cash Card

Citi Strata Premier Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

Which Card Is Right for You?

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

Which Card Is Right for You?

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

Which Card Is Right for You?