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Side-by-side

Citi Strata Premier Card vs Discover it Cash Back

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Strata Premier Card comes from Citi at $95/yr; the Discover it Cash Back from Discover at $0/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 Discover it Cash Back's. Get the Citi Strata Premier Card first; revisit the Discover it Cash Back after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureCiti Strata Premier CardDiscover it Cash Back
Annual fee$95$0
Sign-up bonus60,000 bonus pointsCashback Match (first year, unlimited)
Bonus value (est.)$1,020$200
Min spend to unlock bonus$4,000 in 3 mo$0 in 12 mo
IssuerCitiDiscover
Card categorytravelcashback
Best earning category (Travel)3x1x
Transfer partnersciti-tyNone
Headline benefits
  • 10x CitiTravel.com hotels/cars/attractions
  • 3x on restaurants, groceries, flights, hotels, gas, EV
  • $100 hotel savings benefit
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 5% rotating categories
  • First-year match
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign tx fees
Read the full review
Citi Strata Premier Card
$95/yr · 60,000 bonus points
Read the full review
Discover it Cash Back
$0/yr · Cashback Match (first year, 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.

Editorial take: Discover it Cash Back

The first-year Cashback Match effectively doubles your earnings, someone who earns $300 in cash back gets $600 total. It's the best no-fee first card for building credit with real rewards.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Strata Premier Card or Discover it Cash Back?
The Citi Strata Premier Card has the bigger bonus, 60,000 bonus points, worth roughly $1,020, versus Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) (~$200) on the Discover it Cash Back.
Is the Citi Strata Premier Card's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Discover it Cash Back?
At $95/yr, the Citi Strata Premier Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Discover it Cash Back's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Citi Strata Premier Card and Discover it Cash Back?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and Discover) 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 Citi Strata Premier Card or the Discover it Cash Back first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Strata Premier Card: $4,000 spend in 3 months. Discover it Cash Back: $0 in 12 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.