Beta

Free during beta. Plus launches at $12/mo or $99/yr on July 1. Annual is locked for 12 months during beta.

Skip to content
RewardZ Travel
All credit cards
Side-by-side

Capital One VentureOne vs Citi Strata Elite Card

Both are travel travel cards. The Capital One VentureOne comes from Capital One 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 ($980 more in estimated value) than the Capital One VentureOne's. Get the Citi Strata Elite Card first; revisit the Capital One VentureOne after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureCapital One VentureOneCiti Strata Elite Card
Annual fee$0$595
Sign-up bonus20,000 miles75,000 points
Bonus value (est.)$370$1,350
Min spend to unlock bonus$500 in 3 mo$6,000 in 3 mo
IssuerCapital OneCiti
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one)5x1x
Transfer partnerscapital-oneciti-ty
Headline benefits
  • 1.25x everywhere
  • No annual fee
  • 15+ transfer partners
  • No foreign tx 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
Capital One VentureOne
$0/yr · 20,000 miles
Read the full review
Citi Strata Elite Card
$595/yr · 75,000 points

Editorial take: Capital One VentureOne

The no-fee version of Venture. The 1.25x vs 2x is a real earnings hit, so only use this if you absolutely won't pay any annual fee, otherwise Venture pays back its $95 quickly.

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, Capital One VentureOne or Citi Strata Elite Card?
The Citi Strata Elite Card has the bigger bonus, 75,000 points, worth roughly $1,350, versus 20,000 miles (~$370) on the Capital One VentureOne.
Is the Capital One VentureOne's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Elite Card?
The Capital One VentureOne 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 Capital One VentureOne.
Can I have both the Capital One VentureOne and Citi Strata Elite Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One 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 Capital One VentureOne or the Citi Strata Elite Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One VentureOne: $500 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.