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Side-by-side

Bilt Blue vs Citi Strata Premier Card

Both are travel travel cards. The Bilt Blue comes from Bilt / Cardless 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 ($920 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Blue's. Get the Citi Strata Premier Card first; revisit the Bilt Blue after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureBilt BlueCiti Strata Premier Card
Annual fee$0$95
Sign-up bonus$100 Bilt Cash60,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)$100$1,020
Min spend to unlock bonus$0 in 0 mo$4,000 in 3 mo
IssuerBilt / CardlessCiti
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Rent)1x1x
Transfer partnersbiltciti-ty
Headline benefits
  • $0 annual fee
  • 1x everywhere, no caps
  • Up to 1.25x on rent
  • Rent Day 2x on the 1st
  • 10x CitiTravel.com hotels/cars/attractions
  • 3x on restaurants, groceries, flights, hotels, gas, EV
  • $100 hotel savings benefit
  • No foreign transaction fees
Read the full review
Bilt Blue
$0/yr · $100 Bilt Cash
Read the full review
Citi Strata Premier Card
$95/yr · 60,000 bonus points

Editorial take: Bilt Blue

The no-fee entry tier of Bilt 2.0, launched February 7, 2026 by Cardless. Flat 1x earn (no bonus categories — those live on Obsidian and Palladium). Best for renters who want the no-fee anchor + full transfer partner access without paying $95+. The 5-transactions-per-cycle minimum from legacy Bilt is gone, and Rent Day still doubles everyday earn on the 1st.

Editorial take: Citi Strata Premier Card

A strong mid-tier card with the late-2024 refresh adding 10x on CitiTravel.com and EV charging to the 3x grid. The $100 hotel benefit and 16 transfer partners (Avianca, Flying Blue, Turkish, Virgin Atlantic, Wyndham) make it competitive with Sapphire Preferred at the same $95 fee.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bilt Blue or Citi Strata Premier Card?
The Citi Strata Premier Card has the bigger bonus, 60,000 bonus points, worth roughly $1,020, versus $100 Bilt Cash (~$100) on the Bilt Blue.
Is the Bilt Blue's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Premier Card?
The Bilt Blue 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 Bilt Blue.
Can I have both the Bilt Blue and Citi Strata Premier Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bilt / Cardless 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 Bilt Blue or the Citi Strata Premier Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bilt Blue: $0 spend in 0 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.