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Side-by-side

Citi Strata Premier Card vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Strata Premier Card comes from Citi at $95/yr; the PayPal Cashback Mastercard from Synchrony 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 PayPal Cashback Mastercard's. Get the Citi Strata Premier Card first; revisit the PayPal Cashback Mastercard after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureCiti Strata Premier CardPayPal Cashback Mastercard
Annual fee$95$0
Sign-up bonus60,000 bonus points$200 cash back
Bonus value (est.)$1,020$200
Min spend to unlock bonus$4,000 in 3 mo$500 in 3 mo
IssuerCitiSynchrony
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
    Read the full review
    Citi Strata Premier Card
    $95/yr · 60,000 bonus points
    Read the full review
    PayPal Cashback Mastercard
    $0/yr · $200 cash back

    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: PayPal Cashback Mastercard

    Common questions

    Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Strata Premier Card or PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
    The Citi Strata Premier Card has the bigger bonus, 60,000 bonus points, worth roughly $1,020, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the PayPal Cashback Mastercard.
    Is the Citi Strata Premier Card's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
    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 PayPal Cashback Mastercard's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
    Can I have both the Citi Strata Premier Card and PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
    Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and Synchrony) 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 PayPal Cashback Mastercard first?
    Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Strata Premier Card: $4,000 spend in 3 months. PayPal Cashback Mastercard: $500 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.