Strata, Premier or Elite: How to choose a Citi Strata credit card

Citi rounded out its lineup of Strata credit cards this year, giving consumers three options to choose from.

But what’s behind the names, and what should applicants know before sending in their applications?

For one, the Citi Strata℠ Card (see rates and fees) is ideal for beginners to transferable points. The mid-tier Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees) is excellent for frequent travelers looking to build their balance of Citi ThankYou Rewards points. And the premium Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees) is a solid option for luxury travelers loyal to Citi.

There are multiple reasons you’d want to pick up a Strata credit card — including the ability to collect one of TPG’s most valuable transferable rewards currencies, valued at 1.9 cents apiece per our September 2025 valuations. You can use these points for cash back, gift cards or travel, booked through Citi Travel or transferred to loyalty partners.

Which Strata card is right for you? Let’s get into the details to help you decide.

Comparing the Citi Strata cards

Before we detail the benefits of each card, let’s go over the basics.

As is the case with most rewards credit cards, these welcome offers provide the majority of each card’s first-year value. So, it’s important to keep these in mind and apply for the card when the bonus is high.

With the Strata Premier and Strata Elite, we recommend transferring your ThankYou points to receive maximum value. When you transfer to partners such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue, American Airlines AAdvantage or Wyndham Rewards, you will receive a transfer ratio of 1:1. This means if you were to transfer 1,000 ThankYou points, you’d receive 1,000 points or miles in the program you’re transferring to.

The no-annual-fee Strata does not unlock a 1:1 transfer ratio. So, if you transferred 1,000 ThankYou points, you’d receive just 700 points or miles in the partner program. Because of this, we don’t recommend transferring ThankYou points from the Strata.

Of course, you can pool your Citi ThankYou points in one account (like you can with Chase Ultimate Rewards), but you’ll want to be sure you have a premium card, like the Strata Premier, Strata Elite or Citi Prestige® Card, to unlock the full 1:1 transfer ratio.

The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Citi points now transfer to American Airlines: How long does it take?

Strata: Award travel beginners

If you’re newer to earning points for travel, applying for the Strata is a good place to start. The card isn’t ideal for experienced award travelers, but it’s a decent learning tool for those just getting into the hobby.

Top perks

The Strata provides an excellent introduction to earning ThankYou points. Because the card doesn’t charge an annual fee, additional perks are limited.

However, the Strata features an impressive list of bonus categories for a no-annual-fee card:

• 5 points per dollar spent on attractions, car rentals and hotels booked through Citi Travel
• 3 points per dollar spent on electric vehicle charging stations, gas purchases, select transit and supermarkets
• 3 points per dollar spent on an eligible self-selected category (which you can change each quarter)
• 2 points per dollar spent at restaurants
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

The self-selected categories are:

• Barber shops, cosmetic stores and hair salons
• Fitness clubs
• Live entertainment
• Pet supply stores
• Select streaming services

Points from the Strata transfer to loyalty partners at a 1:0.7 ratio, so this isn’t the card to use with partners. However, if you want to supplement with a premium ThankYou points-earning card or redeem your points in another way, this card is a good choice.

The Strata is best for cardholders who …

• Don’t want to pay an annual fee
• Redeem ThankYou points through Citi Travel or cash back (not transferring to partners)
• Spend frequently across multiple categories

To learn more, read our full review of the Strata.

Related: When (and why) you should downgrade from the Citi Strata Premier to the Citi Strata Card

Strata Premier: Frequent travelers

The mid-tier Strata Premier is the best choice for travelers who want to earn points quickly and redeem them at a high value.

Top perks

With the Strata Premier, it’s easy to collect ThankYou points and redeem them for excellent value.

The card features a long list of bonus categories, with many tailored toward frequent travelers:

• 10 points per dollar spent on attractions, car rentals and hotels booked through Citi Travel
• 3 points per dollar spent on air travel, EV charging stations, gas purchases, other hotels, restaurants and supermarkets
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

The Strata Premier also provides a $100 annual hotel benefit on stays booked through Citi Travel of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees). This credit helps offset the card’s $95 annual fee.

The Strata Premier is the best option for unlocking a full 1:1 ThankYou point transfer ratio to Citi’s loyalty program partners since it charges the lowest annual fee for this benefit.

The Strata Premier is best for cardholders who …

• Maximize bonus categories
• Transfer ThankYou points to partners
• Want to pay a modest annual fee

To learn more, read our full review of the Strata Premier.

Related: I’m not sold on the Strata Elite — but the Strata Premier might become my new wallet staple

Strata Elite: Luxury-minded travelers

The Strata Elite is best for premium travelers who are also organized spenders and can keep track of multiple statement credits.

Top perks

The Strata Elite packs a punch to help offset its high $595 annual fee.

First among these is its earning rates, tailored to earn more on travel and dining:

• 12 points per dollar spent on attractions, car rentals and hotels booked through Citi Travel
• 6 points per dollar spent on airfare 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 (3 points per dollar spent on restaurant purchases outside of these days and hours)
• 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases

If lounge access is a priority and you fly with a Oneworld alliance member, the Strata Elite is a great choice. That’s because cardholders receive four Admirals Club Citi Strata Elite passes each calendar year and a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.

The card also comes with many statement credits, such as a $300 annual hotel benefit, a $200 Splurge credit, a $200 Blacklane credit and $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years.

The key to getting the most out of the Strata Elite is organization. Cardholders who remember to use up the statement credits and maximize CitiNights will receive the most value.

The Strata Elite is best for cardholders who …

• Leverage premium perks
• Use statement credits
• Value lounge access

To learn more, read our full review of the Strata Elite.

Related: Is the Citi Strata Elite worth the annual fee?

Should you hold multiple Strata cards?

Having multiple Strata cards has several perks, especially if you want to supercharge your ThankYou point capabilities.

For instance, you could combine bonus categories to earn more points. Use the Strata to spend in a category not covered by the Strata Premier, like fitness clubs or pet supply stores, while swiping your Strata Premier for travel purchases such as air travel and hotels.

The Strata Elite adds benefits such as lounge access, valuable statement credits and bonus rewards at restaurants during hours covered by CitiNights.

Of course, spending smart and staying organized is the best way to ensure you’re getting the most out of holding all three cards, especially since the Strata Premier and Strata Elite charge annual fees.

If keeping up with the details sounds overwhelming to you, choosing one or two cards out of the Strata family could be just as advantageous.

Related: Maximize the Citi Trifecta

Bottom line

When it comes to selecting among the Strata, Strata Premier and Strata Elite, you’ll want to consider how you want to redeem your rewards, how much you want to track your spending toward statement credits and how much you want to be charged in annual fees.

As always, welcome offers and earning rates also play a big role. Weigh all of these factors to decide which card best suits your lifestyle and travel habits.

Apply here: Strata
Apply here: Strata Premier
Apply here: Strata Elite