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Home Travels & Tours Citi Strata Elite vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which premium card comes out on top?

Citi Strata Elite vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which premium card comes out on top?

9 Mins read

The premium credit card market keeps adding new options. How do you make a decision?

This year brought in the introduction of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees) and an overhaul of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees).

These cards come from two popular issuers and stack lucrative earning rates with a long list of benefits in exchange for high annual fees.

While the Strata Elite and the Sapphire Reserve are in the same class, there are plenty of differences between them. Let’s compare and see which one is the best choice for your wallet.

Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve comparison

	Strata Elite	Sapphire Reserve
<strong>Annual fee</strong>	$595	$795
<strong>Welcome bonus</strong>	Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. If you apply at a Citi branch in person, you can earn a higher welcome offer of 100,000 bonus points with the same spending requirements.	Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
<strong>Earning rates</strong>	<ul> <li>12 points per dollar spent on attractions, car rentals and hotels booked through Citi Travel</li> <li>6 points per dollar spent on air travel booked through Citi Travel</li> <li>6 points per dollar spent at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern time and 3 points per dollar spent any other time</li> <li>1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases</li> </ul>	<ul> <li>10 points per dollar spent on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 31, 2027), with a maximum of 50,000 points</li> <li>8 points per dollar spent on purchases made through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit</li> <li>5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)</li> <li>4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked directly</li> <li>3 points per dollar spent on dining worldwide</li> <li>1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases</li> </ul>
<strong>Standout benefits</strong>	<ul> <li>Annual hotel credit</li> <li>Blacklane credit</li> <li>Four Admirals Club Citi Strata Elite passes each calendar year</li> <li>Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit</li> <li>Priority Pass Select membership</li> <li>Splurge credit</li> <li>Travel and purchase protections</li> </ul>	<ul> <li>Annual travel credit</li> <li>Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions</li> <li>DoorDash credits and DashPass membership</li> <li>Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit</li> <li>IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status</li> <li>Lyft credits</li> <li>Peloton membership credit</li> <li>Priority Pass lounge access</li> <li>Sapphire Exclusive Tables through OpenTable credit</li> <li>Sapphire Lounge credit</li> <li>StubHub and Viagogo credit</li> <li>The Edit credit</li> <li>Travel and purchase protections</li> </ul>
<strong>Points valuation, per TPG’s September 2025 <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/loyalty-programs/monthly-valuations/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>valuations</a></strong>	1.9 cents	2.05 cents

Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve welcome offer

The Strata Elite is offering new cardholders 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

However, if you apply in person at a Citi branch, you could earn a higher welcome offer of 100,000 bonus points after meeting the same spending requirement.

TPG’s September 2025 valuations value this bonus at $1,520 (or $1,900 if you apply in a Citi branch).

Sapphire Reserve and Citi Strata Elite card art — THE POINTS GUY

New applicants to the Sapphire Reserve can earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

This offer is worth $2,563, per TPG’s September 2025 valuations.

Chase has also updated its bonus eligibility requirements, so you may not be able to earn the Sapphire Reserve’s offer if you currently hold a Sapphire card or have previously earned a bonus on the Sapphire Reserve. Chase is also known for its infamous 5/24 rule, so calculate your standing as well.

As always, it’s important to note application restrictions when you go to apply for either card.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. Its offer is worth more than the Strata Elite’s.

Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve benefits

Both the Strata Elite and the Sapphire Reserve provide a long list of benefits to help offset their high annual fees.

First of all, both cards provide airport lounge access, albeit to different degrees. Strata Elite Card holders receive four Admirals Club Citi Strata Elite passes each calendar year. If you hold the Sapphire Reserve, you’ll receive access to Chase Sapphire Lounges. Both cards also include Priority Pass, which unlocks access to more than 1,700 lounges worldwide.

The cards provide multiple statement credits.

The Strata Elite offers:

Up to $300 annual statement credit off a prepaid hotel stay (minimum two-night stay is required) when booked through Citi Travel
Up to $200 Splurge credit to use on your choice of up to two brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation
Up to $200 in statement credits (split into two $100 biannual credits) for Blacklane chauffeur bookings
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $120 every four years

Nobu Hotel Marbella — SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD

The Sapphire Reserve includes:

Up to $500 annual statement credit for The Edit, Chase’s curated collection of luxury hotels and resorts (split into two biannual $250 credits) for prepaid bookings of two nights or more
Up to $300 annual statement credit toward all travel purchases
Up to $300 annual statement credit for StubHub or Viagogo purchases of concert and event tickets through Dec. 31, 2027 (split into two biannual $150 credits; activation required)
$300 annually in monthly DoorDash promotions (a $5 restaurant promo and two $10 promos on nonrestaurant purchases each month; activate by Dec. 31, 2027), plus a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership valued at $120 annually (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
Up to $300 annual dining credit and primetime reservations at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables, which you can book on OpenTable (split into two biannual $150 credits automatically applied within the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program)
Complimentary annual memberships for Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions through June 22, 2027 (one-time activation per service is required through chase.com or the Chase Mobile app)
$120 in annual statement credits toward a Peloton membership ($10 monthly through Dec. 31, 2027)
$120 in annual Lyft in-app credits (up to $10 monthly through Sept. 30, 2027)
Access to Chase Sapphire airport lounges and Priority Pass lounges (excluding Priority Pass restaurants)
Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status through Dec. 31, 2027 (with the ability to spend your way to Diamond Elite status)
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee credit of up to $120 every four years

You can also receive extra benefits after spending $75,000 on the Sapphire Reserve in a calendar year. These include:

Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List status
$500 Southwest Airlines credit when booking through Chase Travel
Complimentary IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status
$250 credit for The Shops at Chase

Southwest planes at the gate in Palm Beach — ALAN SCHEIN PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES

The Strata Elite’s credits add up to $700 in annual value (not including Global Entry or TSA PreCheck since it kicks in once every four years). Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve provides up to $2,060 in annual credits.

However, the best choice here will depend on which credits you’d maximize the most and what lounge access matters to you. Consider how you already spend and compare that to what each card provides.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. It includes more credits at a higher value and wider lounge access.

Earning points with the Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve

With the Strata Elite, you’ll earn:

12 points per dollar spent on attractions, car rentals and hotels booked through Citi Travel
6 points per dollar spent on air travel booked through Citi Travel
6 points per dollar spent at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services on CitiNights purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern time and 3 points per dollar spent any other time
1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases

The Sapphire Reserve earns:

10 points per dollar spent on eligible Peloton purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 30, 2027)
8 points per dollar spent on all Chase Travel purchases
5 points per dollar spent on eligible Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked directly
3 points per dollar spent on dining purchases worldwide
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

If you’re hoping to spend frequently in an issuer’s portal, you’ll get more from spending on the Strata Elite (except for air travel). The Sapphire Reserve comes out ahead on flights and hotels booked directly.

CitiNights puts the Strata Elite ahead in dining earn rates on Friday and Saturday nights. The cards earn the same at restaurants otherwise. The Sapphire Reserve includes bonus-earning for eligible Peloton and Lyft ride purchases, while the Strata Elite earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on general purchases (better than the Sapphire Reserve’s 1 point per dollar).

Winner: Strata Elite. It earns more on travel portal bookings and dining (on select nights) and has a higher earning rate on nonbonus spending. The Sapphire Reserve is the better card if you frequently book air travel or hotels directly.

Related: Best rewards credit cards

Redeeming points with the Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve

You can redeem Citi ThankYou Rewards points earned with the Strata Elite for cash rewards, gift cards, statement credits and travel booked through Citi Travel at 1 cent per point.

These flat-rate redemption options are simple, but they leave potential value on the table. That’s because we recommend transferring your ThankYou Rewards points to partners to receive more value per point.

Business travel - A beautiful asian female professional on business trip checking into the hotel — MATTHEW NG/GETTY IMAGES

The Sapphire Reserve earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for gift cards, statement credits or even Amazon purchases. However, we don’t usually recommend this route since it typically yields between 0.8 and 1 cent per point in value.

Because of this, we generally recommend redeeming your Chase points for travel. If you choose to book through the Chase Travel portal, you could receive up to 2 cents per point in value, thanks to Points Boost.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. Points Boost provides more value when redeeming for travel than the flat-rate option offered by the Strata Elite.

Transferring points with the Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve

Transferring your points earned with the Strata Elite or the Sapphire Reserve to one of Citi’s or Chase’s loyalty program partners, respectively, will give you the best value for your points.

ThankYou Rewards points transfer to 22 partners. Citi recently added American Airlines AAdvantage as a 1:1 transfer partner, making ThankYou Rewards the only program that transfers directly to American Airlines AAdvantage. This development is a game changer for American Airlines loyalists.

ThankYou Rewards points also transfer to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles and Wyndham Rewards.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to 14 partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt. They transfer at a 1:1 ratio to all of the issuer’s partners.

World of Hyatt is a favorite among award travelers because of the value found in its published award chart. That’s why transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt is one of our favorite ways to use our points.

Winner: Tie. Both programs provide excellent transfer partners, so the best choice depends on which programs you use most often.

Should I get the Strata Elite or Sapphire Reserve?

While both cards are oriented as lifestyle cards to swipe for statement credits and high points earnings, multiple factors must be considered when choosing one.

The Strata Elite earns more for spending in its travel portal (except on air travel) and features CitiNights perks to earn more on dining over the weekend. It has fewer statement credits and a lower annual fee, which could be positives when compared to the Sapphire Reserve.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Citi ThankYou Rewards points are both valuable currencies, though TPG’s September 2025 valuations give a slight edge to Chase. Either way, it’s worth considering how you’d use your points. If you’re an American Airlines loyalist hoping to earn AAdvantage miles, for instance, the Citi card would be a better option. But if you see yourself using your points to book Hyatt stays, it makes more sense to go with the Chase card.

Overall, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer with these two cards. Your travel habits, common expenses and personal preferences will need to play the largest role in your decision.

Bottom line

Since premium cards come with high annual fees, it’s important to take your time and look over all the benefits before you choose. Both of these cards come with lists of statement credits and multiple benefits that take intentionality to maximize. Both cards require thought and a bit of organization.

Plus, remember to consider your eligibility for approval and bonuses, and make your decision based on what you value most.

To learn more, read our full reviews of the Strata Elite and Sapphire Reserve cards.

Apply here: Citi Strata Elite Card
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.