Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Our analysis is based on publicly available card data and is reviewed regularly by our editorial team. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content. Last updated: May 2026.
The Citi Strata Credit 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.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Citi Strata Credit Card | Citi Strata Elite℠ Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Citi Nights | 1X | 6X |
The Citi Strata Credit Card wins in 9 of 12 categories. The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card leads in 3.
Grocery Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Gas Stations
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Transit
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Rotating Category
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Cosmetic Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Fitness & Gyms
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Live Entertainment
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Pet Shops
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Streaming
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
The Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Elite℠ Card earns more with its 1.5X base rate.
Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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.
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.
The Citi Strata Credit 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.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Citi Strata Credit Card | Citi Strata Elite℠ Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Citi Nights | 1X | 6X |
The Citi Strata Credit Card wins in 9 of 12 categories. The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card leads in 3.
Grocery Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Gas Stations
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Transit
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Rotating Category
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Cosmetic Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Fitness & Gyms
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Live Entertainment
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Pet Shops
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Streaming
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
The Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Elite℠ Card earns more with its 1.5X base rate.
Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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.
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.
The Citi Strata Credit 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.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Citi Strata Credit Card | Citi Strata Elite℠ Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Citi Nights | 1X | 6X |
The Citi Strata Credit Card wins in 9 of 12 categories. The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card leads in 3.
Grocery Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Gas Stations
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Transit
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Rotating Category
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Cosmetic Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Fitness & Gyms
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Live Entertainment
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Pet Shops
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Streaming
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
The Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Elite℠ Card earns more with its 1.5X base rate.
Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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.
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.
| Cosmetics | 3X | 1.5X |
| Dining | 2X | 3X |
| Fitness & Gyms | 3X | 1.5X |
| Gas Stations | 3X | 1.5X |
| Grocery Stores | 3X | 1.5X |
| Live Entertainment | 3X | 1.5X |
| Pet Stores | 3X | 1.5X |
| Rotating Category | 3X | 1.5X |
| Streaming | 3X | 1.5X |
| Transit | 3X | 1.5X |
| Everything Else | 1X | 1.5X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
Dining
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 3X vs 2X
Dining Citi Nights
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 6X vs 1X
Everyday purchases
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 1.5X on all other spending vs 1X
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr — that's $595 more than the Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card delivers strong value at a fraction of the cost.
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Citi Strata Credit Card means losing:
Get the Citi Strata Credit Card if you:
Get the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you:
| Cosmetics | 3X | 1.5X |
| Dining | 2X | 3X |
| Fitness & Gyms | 3X | 1.5X |
| Gas Stations | 3X | 1.5X |
| Grocery Stores | 3X | 1.5X |
| Live Entertainment | 3X | 1.5X |
| Pet Stores | 3X | 1.5X |
| Rotating Category | 3X | 1.5X |
| Streaming | 3X | 1.5X |
| Transit | 3X | 1.5X |
| Everything Else | 1X | 1.5X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
Dining
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 3X vs 2X
Dining Citi Nights
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 6X vs 1X
Everyday purchases
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 1.5X on all other spending vs 1X
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr — that's $595 more than the Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card delivers strong value at a fraction of the cost.
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Citi Strata Credit Card means losing:
Get the Citi Strata Credit Card if you:
Get the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you:
| Cosmetics | 3X | 1.5X |
| Dining | 2X | 3X |
| Fitness & Gyms | 3X | 1.5X |
| Gas Stations | 3X | 1.5X |
| Grocery Stores | 3X | 1.5X |
| Live Entertainment | 3X | 1.5X |
| Pet Stores | 3X | 1.5X |
| Rotating Category | 3X | 1.5X |
| Streaming | 3X | 1.5X |
| Transit | 3X | 1.5X |
| Everything Else | 1X | 1.5X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
Dining
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 3X vs 2X
Dining Citi Nights
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 6X vs 1X
Everyday purchases
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 1.5X on all other spending vs 1X
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card costs $595/yr — that's $595 more than the Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card delivers strong value at a fraction of the cost.
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Citi Strata Credit Card means losing:
Get the Citi Strata Credit Card if you:
Get the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you: