Editorial take: American Express Green Card
Hard to justify vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 with stronger earning. The CLEAR credit is nice but only useful if your airport has CLEAR lines. Most people are better off with Sapphire or Amex Gold.
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Side-by-side
American Express Green Card vs Citi Strata Elite Card
Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Green Card comes from American Express at $150/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 ($630 more in estimated value) than the American Express Green Card's. Get the Citi Strata Elite Card first; revisit the American Express Green Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | American Express Green Card | Citi Strata Elite Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $595 |
| Sign-up bonus | 40,000 Membership Rewards points | 75,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $720 | $1,350 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $6,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Citi |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Travel) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | citi-ty |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
American Express Green Card
$150/yr · 40,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Citi Strata Elite Card
$595/yr · 75,000 points
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, American Express Green Card or Citi Strata Elite Card?
- The Citi Strata Elite Card has the bigger bonus, 75,000 points, worth roughly $1,350, versus 40,000 Membership Rewards points (~$720) on the American Express Green Card.
- Is the American Express Green Card's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Elite Card?
- At $150/yr, the American Express Green Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Citi Strata Elite Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the American Express Green 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 American Express Green Card or the Citi Strata Elite Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Green Card: $3,000 spend in 3 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.