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Side-by-side

Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card vs Citi Strata Elite Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Citi Strata Elite Card from Citi at $595/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 Elite Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,240 more in estimated value) than the Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card's. Get the Citi Strata Elite Card first; revisit the Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureDelta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express CardCiti Strata Elite Card
Annual fee$0$595
Sign-up bonus10,000 Delta SkyMiles75,000 points
Bonus value (est.)$110$1,350
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$6,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressCiti
Card categorybusinesstravel
Best earning category (Delta)2x1x
Transfer partnersdelta-skymilesciti-ty
Headline benefits
  • $0 annual fee
  • 2X Delta + 2X restaurants
  • 20% off Delta in-flight
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 12x on Citi hotels
  • $300 hotel + $200 Splurge + $200 Blacklane
  • 4 Admirals Club passes
  • Citi TY transfer to 16 partners
Read the full review
Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Delta SkyMiles
Read the full review
Citi Strata Elite Card
$595/yr · 75,000 points

Editorial take: Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card

The $0 annual fee Delta business card. Holds the SkyMiles relationship alive at zero cost and earns 2X on Delta + restaurants. For business owners flying Delta even occasionally, the $150 Gold Business's first-bag-free and 2X shipping/advertising categories usually justify the upgrade.

Editorial take: Citi Strata Elite Card

Citi's premium answer to Amex Platinum + Sapphire Reserve. The 12x on Citi-booked hotels is the best earning rate in the category; the $200 Blacklane and 4 Admirals Club passes are differentiated perks. $595 fee penciled out if you'll actually use the hotel + Splurge credits.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card or Citi Strata Elite Card?
The Citi Strata Elite Card has the bigger bonus, 75,000 points, worth roughly $1,350, versus 10,000 Delta SkyMiles (~$110) on the Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card.
Is the Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Elite Card?
The Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Citi Strata Elite Card's $595 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Citi Strata Elite Card's benefits to clear $595 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card.
Can I have both the Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card and Citi Strata Elite 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 Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card or the Citi Strata Elite Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Delta SkyMiles Blue Business American Express Card: $1,000 spend in 6 months. Citi Strata Elite Card: $6,000 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.