Citi Strata Credit Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Citi Strata Credit Card leads on hotels; the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card on grocery stores.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti · No annual fee
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardChase · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Citi Strata Credit Card$0Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Citi Strata Credit Card20,000 pointsMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card45,000 points
- Rewards
- Citi Strata Credit CardCiti ThankYou RewardsMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy
- Foreign transaction fee
- Citi Strata Credit Card3%Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardNoneLowest
- Network
- Citi Strata Credit CardMastercardMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Beauty
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Electric Vehicle Charging
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Fitness
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Gas Stations
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Grocery Stores
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Live Entertainment
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Pet
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Streaming
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Top Spend Category
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Transit
- Citi Strata Credit Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Cable TV
- Citi Strata Credit Card1xMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighest
- Dining
- Citi Strata Credit Card2xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Food Delivery
- Citi Strata Credit Card1xMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighest
- Ridesharing
- Citi Strata Credit Card1xMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighest
- Telecom
- Citi Strata Credit Card1xMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Citi Strata Credit Card1xMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Dining & delivery
- Citi Strata Credit Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- DoorDash DashPass
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- Citi Strata Credit Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
- 5 Elite Night Credits annually
- Other perks
- Citi Strata Credit Card
- Citi Entertainment
- Points transfer
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Citi Strata Credit Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- $500 trip delay reimbursement
- Baggage
- Citi Strata Credit Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Up to $3,000 lost luggage coverage per trip
- Up to $100 a day for baggage delays over 6 hours · up to $500
- Rental car
- Citi Strata Credit Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Auto rental coverage up to $60,000
- Purchase & returns
- Citi Strata Credit Card
- Mastercard® ID Theft Protection
- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
- Purchase Protection up to $1,000 per claim
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Purchase protection for new items · up to $500
- Extended warranty
- Citi Strata Credit Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases · up to $1
- Other protections
- Citi Strata Credit Card
- Citi Travel®
- FICO score monitoring
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
Pros & cons
- Pros
- 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)
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- No annual fee makes it risk-free to hold long-term
- Automatic Silver Elite status with 10% bonus on stays and priority late checkout
- 5 Elite Night Credits annually toward status qualification
- No foreign transaction fees
- 2x earning on everyday categories (groceries, streaming, rideshare, food delivery)
- Cons
- 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
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Only Silver Elite status (Gold and Platinum provide much better benefits)
- Low 1x earning on non-bonus purchases
- Only 5 Elite Night Credits vs 15-25 on premium cards
- No free night award benefit
- No lounge access or premium travel perks
Expert Analysis
The Citi Strata Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold 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 Citi Strata Credit Card's strongest category is Grocery Stores at 3X, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card leads with 14X on Marriott Hotels. Overall, the Citi Strata Credit Card wins in more bonus categories (10 vs 4) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
Both cards carry a $0/yr annual fee, so the decision comes down purely to rewards structure and benefits — there's no fee math to worry about.
Key Differences
- Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X on Grocery Stores vs 2X for the other
- Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X on Gas Stations vs 1X for the other
- Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X on Transit vs 1X for the other
- Different networks: Citi Strata Credit Card is MASTERCARD, Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is VISA
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$600/month on grocery stores
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 2X. Over a year, that's 21,600 vs 14,400 points — a 7,200-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.
$200/month on marriott hotels
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 14X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 33,600 vs 2,400 points — a 31,200-point advantage.
$200/month on streaming internet cable phone
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
Who Should Get Which?
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. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card if:
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on marriott hotels and streaming internet cable phone. 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 Citi Strata Credit Card wins in 5 of 9 categories. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card leads in 4. 9 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Hotels
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Car Rentals
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Attractions
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Grocery Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 2X
Gas Stations
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X
Electric Vehicle Charging
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X
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; Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Dining
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
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; Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit 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; Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit 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; Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit 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; Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Streaming
Depends: 3X applies while Select Streaming Services is 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; it is the default at account opening.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)
Telecom
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Cable TV
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Ridesharing
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Food Delivery
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
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.
Both scenarios favor the Citi Strata Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Citi Strata Credit Card | Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $337 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $337 Year one: $677 | Rewards: $97 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $97 Year one: $412 | Citi Strata Credit Card | Citi Strata Credit Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,346 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,346 Year one: $1,686 | Rewards: $386 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $386 Year one: $701 | Citi Strata Credit Card | Citi Strata Credit Card |
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Citi Strata Credit Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Citi Strata Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Citi Strata Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold 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 Citi Strata Credit Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
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.