Comparing the Citi Premier (Strata Premier) to Competitors (U.S.)

If you’ve been eyeing the Citi Premier®, note that Citi refreshed and rebranded it in 2025 as the Citi Strata Premier®.

The core idea remains: strong everyday earn rates, flexible points, and a light annual fee—now paired with a few travel extras.

Below, we stack it up against its closest rivals for U.S. consumers: Chase Sapphire Preferred®, American Express® Gold Card, and Capital One Venture Rewards.

We’ll focus on what actually changes your bottom line: earning rates, redemption value (especially transfers), perks/credits, protections, fees, and who each card is best for.

Snapshot: Where Each Card Wins

• Best for well-rounded, low-maintenance travel earn: Citi Strata Premier (broad 3X categories + $100 hotel benefit).
• Best for dining + U.S. supermarkets: Amex Gold (4X categories, rich dining/Uber credits).
• Best for travel portal + 1:1 transfer breadth under $100 fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred (5X in Chase Travel, 1:1 partners).
• Best for simple 2X everywhere with flexible transfers: Capital One Venture (2X flat + solid partner list).

Earning Rates (everyday spending)

• Citi Strata Premier®
  • 10X hotels, car rentals, attractions via CitiTravel.com
  • 3X air travel & other hotel purchases; 3X restaurants; 3X supermarkets; 3X gas & EV charging
  • 1X everything else
• Chase Sapphire Preferred®
  • 5X travel via Chase Travel (select exclusions), 2X other travel
  • 3X dining, 3X online groceries (excl. Target/Walmart/wholesale), 3X select streaming
  • 1X everything else
• Amex Gold
  • 4X restaurants worldwide; 4X U.S. supermarkets (up to a yearly cap)
  • Other purchases typically 1X
• Capital One Venture
  • 2X on all purchases (simple, uncapped)
  • Elevated earn via Capital One Travel on certain bookings

Takeaway: If most of your spend is groceries + dining, Amex Gold can out-earn. If you want simple earn everywhere, Venture is effortless.

If you want broad 3X with extra punch on portal travel, Strata Premier is compelling; if you maximize a portal and transfers, the Sapphire Preferred combo is tried and true.

Redemption & Transfer Partners

• Citi ThankYou® (Strata Premier): Transfer to numerous airline partners and select hotel partners. Citi has recently expanded and updated the ecosystem, with points transfers and periodic promos. You can also redeem via Citi Travel or for cash-back/gift cards.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards® (Sapphire Preferred): 1:1 transfers to leading programs such as United, Southwest, Air Canada Aeroplan, Hyatt. This 1:1 breadth at the $95 tier is a major draw.
• Amex Membership Rewards® (Gold): Deep roster of airline/hotel partners and frequent transfer bonuses; redemptions include travel, statement credits, and more.
• Capital One Miles (Venture): Robust transfer list (1:1 to many partners), plus “erase travel” at a fixed value for simplicity.

Takeaway: For pure transfer flexibility, Chase and Amex still set the pace. Citi’s program is strong and keeps improving, and Capital One balances simplicity with credible transfer depth.

Key Perks & Credits

• Citi Strata Premier
  • $100 annual hotel benefit once per calendar year on a single $500+ booking via Citi Travel
• Chase Sapphire Preferred
  • $50 annual hotel credit via Chase Travel, strong travel protections, 1:1 transfers
• Amex Gold
  • Annual dining credits (e.g., $120 Dining Credit) and Uber Cash ($120), plus additional brand-specific credits; $325 annual fee. Credits can easily offset the fee if you’ll use them.
• Capital One Venture
  • TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit, no foreign transaction fees; straightforward perks

Note on premium cards: Amex just signaled large-scale perk expansions (and a fee hike) on Platinum—not a direct competitor here, but it shows the market’s trend toward “high fee, high credits.” If you’re considering stepping up a tier, monitor these shifts.

Travel Protections & Insurance (high-level)

• Chase Sapphire Preferred is generally regarded as strong at this price point for trip interruption/cancellation, primary rental coverage on many rentals, etc.
• Citi Strata Premier lists travel protection benefits alongside its booking perks; specifics and eligibility hinge on issuer documentation.
• Amex Gold provides various protections, but the headliners are still its earn categories and statement credits; for heavyweight insurance, Amex Platinum/Chase Sapphire Reserve are the classic upgrades.
• Venture offers baseline protections typical for the segment; details vary by issuer and network.

Annual Fees (personal U.S. consumer versions)

• Citi Strata Premier®: $95
• Chase Sapphire Preferred®: $95
• Amex Gold: $325
• Capital One Venture: $95

Side-by-Side Quick Compare

Which One Should You Pick?

• Pick Citi Strata Premier if you want broad 3X everyday categories (dining, supermarkets, gas/EV, air/hotel) plus an easy $100 hotel discount to defray the already-modest fee. It’s a great “one-card” setup for travelers who still value transfers and like booking through a portal occasionally.
• Pick Chase Sapphire Preferred if you plan to lean into the Chase portal and maximize 1:1 transfers (Hyatt, United, Aeroplan, etc.). It’s a perennial sweet spot for travelers who want strong protections and an easy on-ramp to advanced redemptions at $95.
• Pick Amex Gold if your spending is dining-heavy and U.S. supermarket-heavy, and you know you’ll reliably use the recurring credits. The fee is higher, but the net cost can be low if you’re disciplined about redemptions and credits.
• Pick Capital One Venture if you want simplicity (2X everywhere) with the option to transfer when it makes sense. It’s a favorite for people who want good value with minimal management.

The Citi Strata Premier is the natural evolution of the Citi Premier—still a terrific under-$100 annual fee traveler’s card, now sweetened with a $100 hotel benefit and strong everyday 3X categories.

If you value balanced earn across groceries, dining, gas/EV, and travel—and want access to airline/hotel transfers without babysitting a stack of credits—it’s a standout pick.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the Citi Strata Premier® Card?
It’s the refreshed version of the Citi Premier®, offering strong 3X categories, a $100 annual hotel benefit, and access to Citi’s ThankYou® Rewards transfer partners, all with a $95 annual fee.

2. How does the Citi Strata Premier differ from the old Citi Premier?
The biggest change is the new $100 annual hotel benefit on bookings of $500+ through Citi Travel, plus rebranding and refined travel earn categories.

3. What are the main competitors of the Citi Strata Premier?
The closest competitors are the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Amex Gold Card, and Capital One Venture Rewards.

4. Which card earns the most points on dining?
The Amex Gold Card, with 4X points worldwide on dining.

5. Which card earns the most on U.S. supermarkets?
Amex Gold leads again with 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to a cap), but Citi Strata Premier earns 3X with no cap.

6. Is the Citi Strata Premier good for groceries?
Yes, it offers 3X points at supermarkets, making it one of the few travel cards rewarding grocery spend broadly.

7. Which card has the best transfer partners?
Chase and Amex have the widest and most valuable 1:1 transfer ecosystems, though Citi and Capital One continue to expand and improve their lists.

8. Which card is simplest to use?
The Capital One Venture, with a flat 2X earn rate and easy “erase travel” redemption, is the simplest option.

9. Which card is best for beginners?
Chase Sapphire Preferred is often recommended as a first premium travel card due to strong protections, straightforward transfer partners, and low annual fee.

10. Which card is better for international travel?
All four cards waive foreign transaction fees, but Chase and Amex often have more premium airline/hotel partners, while Citi offers balanced earn and Venture gives simplicity.

11. What is the annual fee for the Citi Strata Premier?
$95, which can be offset easily with the $100 annual hotel benefit.

12. How does the Amex Gold’s higher fee compare?
At $325, it looks steep, but the card comes with $120 dining credits and $120 in Uber Cash, making it worthwhile if you’ll use those credits fully.

13. Does the Citi Strata Premier offer travel protections?
Yes, but coverage may be less robust than Chase Sapphire Preferred, which is known for best-in-class protections at the $95 level.

14. Which card is best for booking through a travel portal?
Citi Strata Premier and Chase Sapphire Preferred both reward heavily on portal bookings (10X and 5X, respectively), but Chase’s Ultimate Rewards often have stronger ecosystem value.

15. Which card is best if I prefer Hyatt hotels?
Chase Sapphire Preferred, since Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Hyatt.

16. Which card is best if I fly American Airlines often?
Citi’s ThankYou® Points transfer to American Airlines through periodic promotions, making the Citi Strata Premier a good pick.

17. What sign-up bonuses are typical for these cards?
They often range between 60,000 and 75,000 points/miles for spending a set amount in the first three months, though offers vary.

18. Which card gives the best first-year value?
Chase Sapphire Preferred usually wins here due to a large sign-up bonus and versatile transfer partners, though Citi Strata Premier’s balanced categories and $100 hotel credit are competitive.

19. Can I have more than one of these cards at the same time?
Yes, many people hold multiple travel rewards cards to maximize categories, transfers, and perks.

20. Which card is right for me if I want one card only?
If you want balance and simplicity under $100, the Citi Strata Premier is a top choice. If you want flexibility with strong partners, Chase Sapphire Preferred is best. If you’ll use dining/grocery credits, Amex Gold shines. If you want simplicity with optional transfers, Capital One Venture is perfect.

Carl Depay