Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Citi Strata Elite Card?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has the bigger bonus, 75,000 points, worth roughly $1,500, versus 75,000 points (~$1,350) on the Citi Strata Elite Card.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Elite Card?

At $95/yr, the Chase Sapphire Preferred 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Strata Elite 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 Sapphire Preferred or the Citi Strata Elite Card first?

Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 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.

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Side-by-side

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Citi Strata Elite Card

Both are travel travel cards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes from Chase at $95/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

These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.

Feature	Chase Sapphire Preferred	Citi Strata Elite Card
Annual fee	$95	$595
Sign-up bonus	75,000 points	75,000 points
Bonus value (est.)	$1,500	$1,350
Min spend to unlock bonus	$5,000 in 3 mo	$6,000 in 3 mo
Issuer	Chase	Citi
Card category	travel	travel
Best earning category (Travel)	5x	1x
Transfer partners	chase-ur	citi-ty
Headline benefits	5x on travel booked via Chase 3x on dining & streaming $100 annual hotel credit Transfer to 13 partners (Hyatt 1:1)	12x on Citi hotels $300 hotel + $200 Splurge + $200 Blacklane 4 Admirals Club passes Citi TY transfer to 16 partners

Read the full review

Chase Sapphire Preferred

$95/yr · 75,000 points

Read the full review

Citi Strata Elite Card

$595/yr · 75,000 points

Editorial take: Chase Sapphire Preferred

The best starter travel card, period. Transferable points, solid bonus categories, and a low annual fee make this the card we recommend to almost everyone getting into the points game. Note: the 10% anniversary points bonus sunsets October 1, 2026.

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.

The real-world take

TL;DR. A $95 card versus a $595 card. Sapphire Preferred is the right entry point for points beginners with low fee and Hyatt/United transfers. Strata Elite is for established points users who want premium earn rates on dining (6x) and hotels through Citi Travel (12x), plus 4 Admirals Club passes. They do not directly compete; Strata Elite is several tiers above CSP.

The three dimensions that actually decide it. First, fee. $500 difference. Strata Elite needs that much in additional value to compete. Second, transfer partners. CSP has Hyatt; Strata Elite (Citi ThankYou) has no Hyatt access. Third, lounge access. Strata Elite has 4 Admirals passes; CSP has none.

Real customer scenario for each. If you are new to points or want a single low-fee card that earns transferable points, CSP is the right answer. If instead you spend $15k a year on dining at the 6x rate, the Strata Elite earns 90,000 transferable ThankYou points on dining alone, worth $1,800 at 2 cpp, easily clearing the fee delta.

The trap to avoid. Comparing these as if they are in the same tier. CSP is an entry travel card. Strata Elite is a premium card. The right comparison for CSP is Venture, Autograph Journey, or Premium Rewards. The right comparison for Strata Elite is Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Citi Strata Elite Card?: The Chase Sapphire Preferred has the bigger bonus, 75,000 points, worth roughly $1,500, versus 75,000 points (~$1,350) on the Citi Strata Elite Card.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Elite Card?: At $95/yr, the Chase Sapphire Preferred 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Strata Elite 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 Sapphire Preferred or the Citi Strata Elite Card first?: Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 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.