Citi Strata Premier credit card review: Valuable earning rates on top spending categories

Citi Strata Premier Card overview

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) is an under-the-radar gem with a phenomenal range of bonus categories. While the card isn't as strong on the redemption side as similar offerings from Chase or Amex, the ability to earn 3 points per dollar on eligible travel and dining purchases for just $95 a year is still a pretty great deal. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐`

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The Citi Strata Premier Card is one of the best earners on a wide variety of everyday spending. It accrues 3 points per dollar with airlines, hotels, gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, restaurants and supermarkets — an excellent slate of bonus categories for a card with a $95 annual fee.

Also, the points you earn with the Citi Strata Premier are among the most versatile rewards currencies and are worth 1.8 cents each, according to TPG's November 2024 valuations. Citi has improved the ThankYou Rewards program substantially over the years to compete with American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The card underwent a minor refresh back in May, introducing a new name, EV charging bonus category and travel protections; the annual fee has stayed the same.

The recommended credit score for the Citi Strata Premier card is 670 or above.

If you're there and are considering applying, here's what else you should know about this card — and why you might want to apply now.

Related: The best Citi credit cards

Citi Strata Premier pros and cons

Citi Strata Premier welcome offer

The Citi Strata Premier is offering 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

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According to TPG's November 2024 valuations of ThankYou points at 1.8 cents apiece, this bonus is worth $1,350.

In the past, the card has offered welcome bonuses of up to 80,000 points for new cardholders (no longer available). Still, the standard offer is 60,000, so now may be a good time to pick it up.

The welcome bonus is not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Premier or Citi Strata Premier account in the past 48 months.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Citi Strata Premier benefits

Much of Citi Strata Premier's value proposition comes from its ability to earn bonus points in many categories without charging a hefty annual fee. As such, you shouldn't expect an overwhelming number of perks.

However, there are several benefits of this card that can help you recoup your annual fee:

• $100 annual hotel credit: You'll enjoy a $100 credit once per calendar year for single-stay hotel bookings of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) made through the Citi travel portal.
• World Elite Mastercard benefits: As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi Strata Premier confers several travel-related perks that consumers might not know about. These include a $5 monthly Lyft credit after taking three rides in a calendar month and access to the Mastercard luxury hotels and resorts portfolio for on-property perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades upon availability. Through the World Elite Mastercard program, you'll also enjoy perks like cellphone protection and Global Emergency Services.
• Citi Entertainment: This program gives cardholders special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events — from concerts and sporting events to unique dining experiences and movie screenings — before the general public can buy them.
• No foreign transaction fees: Like any good travel card, the Citi Strata Premier allows you to travel freely without incurring a fee on international spending.

Citi Strata Premier card also helps you travel with ease of mind, providing the following travel protections:

• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Trip delay
• Lost or damaged luggage
• Car rental coverage

I always make sure to utilize the $100 annual hotel credit as it's a sure way to offset the annual fee. However, apart from this, there aren't many other benefits to take advantage of for substantial savings.

Related: Is the Citi Premier worth the annual fee?

Earning points on the Citi Strata Premier

The Citi Strata Premier's earning structure is where the card shines.

The card offers 10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal.

Cardholders also earn 3 points per dollar on purchases in the following categories, with no caps or annual limits:

• Air travel
• Hotels
• Gas stations
• EV charging stations
• Supermarkets
• Restaurants (including takeout)

The card earns 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

These earning rates are among the most impressive of any travel rewards card, especially considering the Citi Strata Premier's affordable annual fee. This is my go-to card for gas purchases as it earns an unlimited 3 points per dollar, which lessens the sting of my high gas prices in California.

I also often use this card to earn bonus points at supermarkets because, unlike the American Express® Gold Card, there is no spending cap on this category.

Related: The best credit cards with annual fees under $100

Redeeming points on the Citi Strata Premier

Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed for statement credits, cash rewards or third-party gift cards. Additionally, they can be transferred to any of Citi's 21 transfer partners.

You can redeem your ThankYou Points for travel directly through the Citi portal at a rate of 1 cent each, but that's well below TPG's November 2024 valuation of ThankYou points at 1.8 cents each. To get a higher value, you'll want to take advantage of the option to transfer your points to Citi's extensive list of transfer partners.

Related: The ultimate guide to Citi ThankYou points

Transferring points on the Citi Strata Premier

The Citi Strata Premier is also a top choice for travelers, thanks to its participation in the ThankYou Rewards program, which currently has 15 airline transfer partners, five hotel partners and one shopping partner.

While you'll notice that many of the frequent flyer programs are those of international airlines, you can still book high-value (and easily redeemable) awards through them.

For instance, you can leverage Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for decent business-class award availability on those airlines and their SkyTeam partners. You can also access some phenomenal deals on Star Alliance awards using Avianca LifeMiles and snag Oneworld tickets through Qatar Privilege Club.

I find great value in several transfer partners, including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which offers business-class flights at 50,000 miles and the ability to add a stopover for free for as short as 24 hours to as long as one year.

Another transfer partner I have utilized is Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, as it's a sure way to book premium cabins on Singapore Airlines.

Related: The best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou points

Which cards compete with the Citi Strata Premier?

As an affordable travel rewards card, the Citi Strata Premier has a few direct competitors that might be a better fit for you:

• If you prefer Chase cards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card competes directly with the Citi Strata Premier with an annual fee of $95. While Chase's transfer partners — including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt — might be more beneficial for many travelers, there are also some overlaps like Singapore KrisFlyer, Emirates Skywards and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
• If you want a flat earnings rate: Try the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It also charges a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees), but this card earns a flat 2 miles per dollar on most purchases instead of offering bonus categories. For more information, read our full review of the Venture Rewards card.
• If you want added perks: If you dine out frequently, you might prefer the American Express® Gold Card, as it has a higher earning rate of 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 per dollar) and at restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). It also comes with valuable credits that help offset most of the higher $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). Enrollment is required for select benefits. For more information, read our full review of the Amex Gold.

For additional options, check out our full list of the top travel rewards cards.

Bottom line

Despite a bevy of competitors, the Citi Strata Premier's long list of bonus categories and solid sign-up bonus make it one of the most lucrative points-earning cards in its price range. The wide range of ThankYou Rewards transfer partners makes this card compelling, especially for travelers who desire the flexibility to redeem points with various loyalty programs. It's worth a look if you're partial to Citi or looking for a versatile travel rewards card to add to your wallet.

Apply here: Citi Strata Premier with a 75,000-point bonus

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.