Blog

The no-annual-fee Citi Strata℠ Card (see rates and fees) offers compelling earning rates for everyday purchases and is a good entry point into the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem.

Let’s look at what the Citi Strata has to offer to help you decide whether you’ll benefit from having it in your wallet.

Key benefits of the Citi Strata

Before we know who should (and shouldn’t) get the Citi Strata, let’s walk through its main perks.

Solid welcome bonus

New cardholders of the Citi Strata can earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

This bonus is worth $570, per TPG’s September valuations.

Related: The best time to apply for these popular Citi credit cards based on offer history

Valuable ThankYou Rewards points

The Citi Strata earns Citi ThankYou Rewards points. The way to get maximum value from them is to transfer them to one of Citi’s airline, hotel and retail partners. This card offers most transfers at a 1:0.7 ratio, meaning you’ll get 0.7 points or miles for every ThankYou point transferred.

However, if you also have a premium Citi card like the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees) or the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees), you can combine points earned by the Citi Strata with points in your “premium” card account for a higher transfer rate — and transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage (which the Strata does not offer).

For example, Citi Strata Card holders can transfer to Air France-KLM Flying Blue at a rate of 1:0.7. But if you’re also a Citi Strata Elite Card holder, then you can combine your points and transfer them at a better 1:1 ratio.

Related: Best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou Rewards points

Lucrative bonus categories

The Citi Strata has excellent earning rates, making it a good choice for everyday purchases. They include:

• 5 points per dollar spent on attractions, car rentals and hotels booked through the Citi Travel portal
• 3 points per dollar spent at supermarkets
• 3 points per dollar spent at electric vehicle charging and gas stations and on select transit
• 3 points per dollar spent on an eligible self-select 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-select category stands out as being one of the card’s greatest perks. You can change the category each quarter. Options include the following eligible purchase categories:

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

Who should get the Citi Strata?

The Citi Strata can be useful for anyone to add to their purse or wallet, but there are some specific types of people who can benefit the most from it.

Those who want to earn bonus points on gas, groceries and EV charging

Many credit cards offer bonus rewards on spending at supermarkets and gas stations — and this card offers a solid rate of 3 points per dollar spent. But the best part is that there is no spending limit on any of the card’s purchase categories, giving it an edge over its competitors.

Granted, other no-annual-fee cards earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations — but often with a cap. For example, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (see rates and fees) earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations but only on up to $6,000 of purchases annually (then 1% per dollar thereafter). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at amazon.com checkout.

Fewer cards award bonus rewards on EV charging purchases. If you’re looking for a card that earns bonus points in these categories and doesn’t have an annual fee, the Citi Strata is a decent choice since you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent.

Related: Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card review: Decent earning and no annual fee

Those who can take advantage of the self-select category

If the Citi Strata’s self-select category options fit your spending habits, this card can be especially rewarding. Being able to switch categories each quarter makes it easy to maximize points on expenses like gyms, streaming and live entertainment.

Citi Strata challenges competitors like the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees), which sometimes includes gyms and streaming services in its quarterly bonus categories (activation required). However, the Freedom Flex’s earnings are capped at $1,500 in combined spending each quarter, a notable limitation for those looking to earn maximum rewards.

Those who like transferring to travel partners with no annual fee

The best use of Citi points is to transfer them to Citi airline and hotel partners. Recently, Citi introduced the ability to transfer points from most Citi cards to its full range of partners (except American Airlines AAdvantage), including Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Singapore KrisFlyer.

Many no-annual-fee cards only offer cash back or transfers to a small number of partners, which sets the Strata apart.

Those who have a premium Citi card

If you already have the Citi Strata Elite, the Citi Strata Premier or the Citi Prestige® Card, the points earned on your Citi Strata can be even more valuable. You can split your spending between a premium Citi card and the Strata to ensure you’re earning maximum points across all your purchases and then redeem your points at the highest value.

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.

Bottom line

The Citi Strata excels in two areas:

• It has a wide range of bonus-earning categories.
• It offers the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners.

The card covers popular bonus categories for most consumers, and the ability to choose a self-select category each quarter gives it a competitive edge.

If you fall into any of the categories discussed above, the Citi Strata could likely provide significant value to you.

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

Apply here: Citi Strata Card

For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday, click here.