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Side-by-side

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs Citi Strata Premier Card

Both are travel travel cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus comes from Chase at $99/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 ($1,020 more in estimated value) than the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus's. Get the Citi Strata Premier Card first; revisit the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureSouthwest Rapid Rewards PlusCiti Strata Premier Card
Annual fee$99$95
Sign-up bonus50,000 bonus points60,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)-$1,020
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 3 mo$4,000 in 3 mo
IssuerChaseCiti
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Travel)2x3x
Transfer partnersNoneciti-ty
Headline benefits
  • $99 fee (post-2025 refresh)
  • 3k anniversary points
  • Free first checked bag
  • Companion Pass qualifying
  • 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
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
$99/yr · 50,000 bonus points
Read the full review
Citi Strata Premier Card
$95/yr · 60,000 bonus points

Editorial take: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

The entry-level Southwest card after the 2025 refresh raised the fee to $99. Worth it primarily if you're chasing the Companion Pass; the Priority card delivers more value if you fly Southwest 2+ times per year.

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, Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus or Citi Strata Premier Card?
The Citi Strata Premier Card has a public bonus (60,000 bonus points, worth roughly $1,020), while the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus doesn't advertise one right now.
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus's $99 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Premier Card?
At $99/yr, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Citi Strata Premier Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus or the Citi Strata Premier Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus: $1,000 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.