Is the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Double Cash Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Double Cash Card or Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?

The Citi Double Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1.5X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Citi Double Cash Card have that the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card doesn't?

The Citi Double Cash Card focuses on earn rates, while the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers lounge access.

Should I get the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?

Choose the Citi Double Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you spend enough to justify the $595/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Double Cash Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Double Cash Card or Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?

The Citi Double Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1.5X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Citi Double Cash Card have that the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card doesn't?

The Citi Double Cash Card focuses on earn rates, while the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers lounge access.

Should I get the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?

Choose the Citi Double Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you spend enough to justify the $595/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Double Cash Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Double Cash Card or Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?

The Citi Double Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1.5X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Citi Double Cash Card have that the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card doesn't?

The Citi Double Cash Card focuses on earn rates, while the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers lounge access.

Should I get the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?

Choose the Citi Double Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you spend enough to justify the $595/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Citi Double Cash Card vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Double Cash Card ($0/yr) is better for everyday value, while the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card ($595/yr) is worth it for frequent travelers who can use its premium perks. Here's the full comparison.

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$595

Welcome Bonus

200 Cash

75,000 Flex point

Earn Rates

Category	Citi Double Cash Card	Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Dining Citi Nights	2X	6X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card wins in 2 of 3 categories. The Citi Double Cash Card leads in 1.

Dining Citi Nights

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 6X vs 2X

Dining

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 3X vs 2X

Everyday purchases

Citi Double Cash Card earns 2X on all other spending vs 1.5X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr — that's $595 more than the Citi Double Cash Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $595 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

Bottom line: The $595 gap is significant. Choose the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card only if you spend heavily on dining citi nights and dining and will use its premium benefits regularly — otherwise the Citi Double Cash Card delivers strong value at a fraction of the cost.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing Citi Double Cash Card means losing:

-Airport lounge access
-Global Entry credit

Which Card Is Right for You?

The Bottom Line

The Citi Double Cash Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $595), making it the more accessible option.

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access.

For everyday spending, the Citi Double Cash Card earns more with its 2X base rate.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Double Cash Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Double Cash Card or Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?: The Citi Double Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1.5X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Citi Double Cash Card have that the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card doesn't?: The Citi Double Cash Card focuses on earn rates, while the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers lounge access.
Should I get the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?: Choose the Citi Double Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you spend enough to justify the $595/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Explore More

Citi Double Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Citi Strata Elite℠ 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 Double Cash Card vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$595

Welcome Bonus

200 Cash

75,000 Flex point

Earn Rates

Category	Citi Double Cash Card	Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Dining Citi Nights	2X	6X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card wins in 2 of 3 categories. The Citi Double Cash Card leads in 1.

Dining Citi Nights

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 6X vs 2X

Dining

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 3X vs 2X

Everyday purchases

Citi Double Cash Card earns 2X on all other spending vs 1.5X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing Citi Double Cash Card means losing:

-Airport lounge access
-Global Entry credit

Which Card Is Right for You?

The Bottom Line

The Citi Double Cash Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $595), making it the more accessible option.

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access.

For everyday spending, the Citi Double Cash Card earns more with its 2X base rate.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Double Cash Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Double Cash Card or Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?: The Citi Double Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1.5X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Citi Double Cash Card have that the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card doesn't?: The Citi Double Cash Card focuses on earn rates, while the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers lounge access.
Should I get the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?: Choose the Citi Double Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you spend enough to justify the $595/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Explore More

Citi Double Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Citi cards

Citi Double Cash Card vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$595

Welcome Bonus

200 Cash

75,000 Flex point

Earn Rates

Category	Citi Double Cash Card	Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Dining Citi Nights	2X	6X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card wins in 2 of 3 categories. The Citi Double Cash Card leads in 1.

Dining Citi Nights

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 6X vs 2X

Dining

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 3X vs 2X

Everyday purchases

Citi Double Cash Card earns 2X on all other spending vs 1.5X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing Citi Double Cash Card means losing:

-Airport lounge access
-Global Entry credit

Which Card Is Right for You?

The Bottom Line

The Citi Double Cash Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $595), making it the more accessible option.

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access.

For everyday spending, the Citi Double Cash Card earns more with its 2X base rate.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Double Cash Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Double Cash Card or Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?: The Citi Double Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1.5X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Citi Double Cash Card have that the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card doesn't?: The Citi Double Cash Card focuses on earn rates, while the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers lounge access.
Should I get the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card?: Choose the Citi Double Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you spend enough to justify the $595/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Explore More

Citi Double Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Citi cards

Pros & Cons

Pros

+2% flat rate on all purchases with no caps
+No annual fee
+0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers
+Simple earning structure - no tracking categories
+Points can combine with other Citi ThankYou cards

+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

−3% foreign transaction fee
−Must pay bill to earn second 1% cash back
−No travel insurance or purchase protection
−Relatively modest $200 welcome bonus
−No bonus categories for high spenders

−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

Pros & Cons

Pros

+2% flat rate on all purchases with no caps
+No annual fee
+0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers
+Simple earning structure - no tracking categories
+Points can combine with other Citi ThankYou cards

+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

−3% foreign transaction fee
−Must pay bill to earn second 1% cash back
−No travel insurance or purchase protection
−Relatively modest $200 welcome bonus
−No bonus categories for high spenders

−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

Pros & Cons

Pros

+2% flat rate on all purchases with no caps
+No annual fee
+0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers
+Simple earning structure - no tracking categories
+Points can combine with other Citi ThankYou cards

+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

−3% foreign transaction fee
−Must pay bill to earn second 1% cash back
−No travel insurance or purchase protection
−Relatively modest $200 welcome bonus
−No bonus categories for high spenders

−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

Citi Double Cash Card vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

What You Give Up

Which Card Is Right for You?

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Citi Double Cash Card vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

What You Give Up

Which Card Is Right for You?

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Citi Double Cash Card vs Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

What You Give Up

Which Card Is Right for You?

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons