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Side-by-side

Citi Strata Premier Card vs United Explorer Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Strata Premier Card comes from Citi at $95/yr; the United Explorer Card from Chase at $150/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.

FeatureCiti Strata Premier CardUnited Explorer Card
Annual fee$95$150
Sign-up bonus60,000 bonus points50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus
Bonus value (est.)$1,020$1,040
Min spend to unlock bonus$4,000 in 3 mo$3,000 in 3 mo
IssuerCitiChase
Card categorytravelairline
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
  • Free checked bag
  • 2 United Club passes/year
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
Read the full review
Citi Strata Premier Card
$95/yr · 60,000 bonus points
Read the full review
United Explorer Card
$150/yr · 50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus

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: United Explorer Card

Solid for United flyers. The free checked bag and 2 United Club passes per year add up, and the 70k + 10k AU bonus is a great starting point for domestic award flights. $0 intro annual fee, then $150.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Citi Strata Premier Card or United Explorer Card?
The United Explorer Card has the bigger bonus, 50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus, worth roughly $1,040, versus 60,000 bonus points (~$1,020) on the Citi Strata Premier Card.
Is the Citi Strata Premier Card's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the United Explorer Card?
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 United Explorer Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Citi Strata Premier Card and United Explorer Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi and Chase) 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 United Explorer Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Strata Premier Card: $4,000 spend in 3 months. United Explorer Card: $3,000 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.