Editorial take: Blue Business Plus from Amex
The silent workhorse of the Amex MR ecosystem. 2x on everything up to $50k/year with no annual fee. Pair it with the Platinum or Gold to unlock transfers, and you have a powerful everyday earner.
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Side-by-side
Blue Business Plus from Amex vs Citi Strata Premier Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Blue Business Plus from Amex comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Citi Strata Premier Card from Citi at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Citi Strata Premier Card is the stronger pick today — the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($720 more in estimated value) than the Blue Business Plus from Amex's. Get the Citi Strata Premier Card first; revisit the Blue Business Plus from Amex after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Blue Business Plus from Amex | Citi Strata Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | 15,000 points | 60,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $300 | $1,020 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $4,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Citi |
| Card category | business | travel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases) | 2x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | citi-ty |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Blue Business Plus from Amex
$0/yr · 15,000 points
Read the full review
Citi Strata Premier Card
$95/yr · 60,000 points
Editorial take: Citi Strata Premier Card
A solid mid-tier card with 3x across multiple useful categories. The hotel savings benefit and strong transfer partners (especially for international flights) make it worth a look.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Blue Business Plus from Amex or Citi Strata Premier Card?
- The Citi Strata Premier Card has the bigger bonus — 60,000 points, worth roughly $1,020, versus 15,000 points (~$300) on the Blue Business Plus from Amex.
- Is the Blue Business Plus from Amex's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Premier Card?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Citi Strata Premier Card's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Citi Strata Premier Card's benefits to clear $95 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Blue Business Plus from Amex.
- Can I have both the Blue Business Plus from Amex and Citi Strata Premier Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Citi) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both — they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Blue Business Plus from Amex or the Citi Strata Premier Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Blue Business Plus from Amex: $3,000 spend in 3 months. Citi Strata Premier Card: $4,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time — confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.