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Side-by-side

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Citi Strata Premier Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited comes from Chase 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 ($820 more in estimated value) than the Chase Freedom Unlimited's. Get the Citi Strata Premier Card first; revisit the Chase Freedom Unlimited after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureChase Freedom UnlimitedCiti Strata Premier Card
Annual fee$0$95
Sign-up bonus$200 bonus60,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)$200$1,020
Min spend to unlock bonus$500 in 3 mo$4,000 in 3 mo
IssuerChaseCiti
Card categorycashbacktravel
Best earning category (Travel)5x3x
Transfer partnerschase-urciti-ty
Headline benefits
  • 1.5% everywhere
  • 5% on travel via Chase
  • 3% dining + drugstores
  • Free if paired with Sapphire
  • 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
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$0/yr · $200 bonus
Read the full review
Citi Strata Premier Card
$95/yr · 60,000 bonus points

Editorial take: Chase Freedom Unlimited

The best no-fee cash back card in the Chase family. Stack it with a Sapphire and your cash back converts into transferable Ultimate Rewards points, a free upgrade most people miss. Note: Cell phone protection is on Freedom Flex, not Freedom Unlimited.

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, Chase Freedom Unlimited or Citi Strata Premier Card?
The Citi Strata Premier Card has the bigger bonus, 60,000 bonus points, worth roughly $1,020, versus $200 bonus (~$200) on the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Premier Card?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited 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 Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Can I have both the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Citi Strata Premier Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Chase 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 Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Citi Strata Premier Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Chase Freedom Unlimited: $500 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.