Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs Citi Strata Elite Card: Which Card Wins for Your Spending?

Choosing between the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card ($95/yr) and the Citi Strata Elite Card ($595/yr) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value — let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.

Meet the Contenders

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Strongest in travel at 5% via portal. 5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x on dining and online groceries, 2x on other travel.

Annual fee: $95 Sign-up bonus: 75,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months Foreign fees: 0%

Perfect if: You're comfortable booking through the issuer's portal for the best rate.

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Citi Strata Elite Card

Strongest in travel at 6% via portal. 12x on hotels/car rentals via Citi Travel, 6x on flights via Citi Travel, 3x on dining. Earns a solid 1.5% on everything else.

Annual fee: $595 Sign-up bonus: 75,000 points after $6,000 spend in 3 months Foreign fees: 0%

Perfect if: You maximize portal bookings and want premium perks to offset the fee.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Citi Strata Elite Card
Annual Fee $95 $595
Sign-Up Bonus 75,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months 75,000 points after $6,000 spend in 3 months
Foreign Transaction Fee 0% 0%
Base Reward Rate 1.0% <strong>1.5%</strong>
Travel Rewards 5% <strong>6%</strong>
Dining Rewards 3% 3%
Groceries Rewards <strong>3%</strong> 1.5%
Key Benefits 5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x on dining and online groceries, 2x on other travel. 12x on hotels/car rentals via Citi Travel, 6x on flights via Citi Travel, 3x on dining.

The Verdict

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card pulls ahead for groceries spending.

Citi Strata Elite Card wins on travel, gas.

The $500/year fee difference means Citi Strata Elite Card needs to earn at least that much more in rewards to justify its cost.

Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math.

See Which Card Wins for YOU

Enter your typical monthly spending and we’ll show you exactly which card earns more — including fees and bonuses.