Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ($95/yr) and the Citi Strata Premier® Card ($95/yr) comes down to where you spend most. Both cost $95 a year, so it comes down to where you spend: Blue Cash Preferred earns more on groceries and other travel, Citi Strata Premier Card on dining, flights and hotels. Enter your monthly spending above to see which comes out ahead for you.
Strongest in groceries at 6% (up to $6,000/yr). 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.
Perfect if: Your monthly spending stays within the bonus cap for maximum value.
Apply NowStrongest in flights and hotels at 3%. 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com; 3x on air travel, restaurants, supermarkets, gas & EV charging.
Perfect if: You're comfortable booking through the issuer's own site for the best rate.
Apply Now| Feature | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | Citi Strata Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 | $95 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months | 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in 3 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.7% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 1% |
| Flights Rewards | 1% | 3% |
| Hotels Rewards | 1% | 3% |
| Other travel Rewards | 3% | 1% |
| Dining Rewards | 1% | 3% |
| Groceries Rewards | 6% (up to $6,000/yr) | 3% |
| Gas Rewards | 3% | 3% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
None |
10% through Citi Travel Earns 10% only on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi Travel, Citi's own booking site. Booking direct with a hotel or rental company earns 3%. |
| Key Benefits | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas. | 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com; 3x on air travel, restaurants, supermarkets, gas & EV charging. |
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pulls ahead for groceries spending.
Citi Strata Premier Card wins on travel, dining.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express carries $120/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings), while Citi Strata Premier Card carries $100/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.