Is the Citi Strata Card Worth It?
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Written by
Ana Gotter
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
The Citi Strata℠ Card, an advertising partner, has solid perks, especially given that it has no annual fee. It offers high earning rates, multiple bonus ThankYou® points categories (including a 3x points self-select category of your choice) and flexible redemption options. The welcome offer is also competitive, making it appealing for new cardholders.
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Quick Verdict
Yes, the Citi Strata Card is worth it — if you’re leveraging it strategically and its perks align with your spending patterns.
For a card with no annual fee, it offers competitive point-earning potential. The ThankYou points system gives you flexibility that most no-annual-fee cards can’t match, whether you’re booking travel, transferring points to partners, redeeming points for cash back or snagging gift cards.
A standout feature of this card is the self-select 3x option, which allows you to earn extra ThankYou points on purchases in an eligible category of your choice.
In my opinion, however, this card works best as a supporting player in your wallet and not quite the main star. If you’re already maxing out grocery and gas rewards on other cards, the Strata may not benefit you unless you’re able to take full advantage of the extra ThankYou points categories.
Citi Strata Card: At a Glance
- Annual fee: $0
- Welcome offer: For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Rewards structure: Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services. Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations. Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers, then 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
- Statement credits and perks: You can redeem points for cash back, use them to shop online at select retailers, purchase gift cards, make bookings through Citi Travel®, or transfer them to Citi’s airline and hotel partners — though redemption rates vary
- Estimated value: Depends on how much you use the card for purchases, especially in bonus categories, and whether you take advantage of the introductory APR offer
Who Should Consider the Citi Strata?
The Citi Strata’s solid rewards structure and bonus points categories make it appealing to plenty of cardholders. While other cards in the product line offer more advanced benefits, it’s a good option for those who want some travel perks (like the ability to use points to book flights) but who want flexible rewards redemption options, too.
You may want to consider the Citi Strata Card if you:
- Don’t already have a card that offers bonus rewards in categories like supermarkets or gas
- Can benefit from one of the 3x select categories of your choice
- Want the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel loyalty program partners
- Don’t want to pay an annual fee
Who Should Skip the Citi Strata?
The Citi Strata Card isn’t right for everyone. I’ll be honest — I took out this card for the welcome offer and for extra earning points at gas stations, and while I certainly don’t regret it, this isn’t the card I’m reaching for most often.
Here’s who should skip the Citi Strata Card:
- International travelers: The card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, which can add up quickly. Most dedicated travel credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees.
- People who want to earn cash back: ThankYou points from the Citi Strata Card are only worth 0.5 cents each when you redeem them for cash back. Consider one of the top cash-back credit cards instead.
- You want premium travel perks: While the Citi Strata is framed as a no-annual-fee travel credit card, it lacks benefits like airport lounge access and travel insurance.
How To Maximize the Citi Strata’s Value
If you want to maximize value, you’ll want to leverage the Citi Strata Card’s benefits to their fullest. Here are a few examples.
Take Advantage of Bonus Categories
Multiple spending categories allow you to earn extra ThankYou points. Take full advantage of them, using your Citi Strata whenever you’re filling up your tank or booking through Citi Travel. You can earn points faster this way.
Choose Your 3x Self-Select Category Strategically
I’m confident that the 3x self-select category is a key part of getting the most out of your Strata Card. The default category when you open your account is select streaming services, and you can change your category once every calendar quarter (but you don’t have to).
Current self-select categories are:
- Fitness clubs
- Select streaming services
- Live entertainment
- Cosmetic stores, barber shops and hair salons
- Pet supply stores
My husband and I have three dogs, so I chose the pet supply store category. Since we spend around $300 a month on dog food alone and none of our other cards offer higher points on pet supplies, this was a no-brainer.
Leverage the Introductory Offers
The card’s 0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers, then 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable) is a great deal if you’re looking to finance large purchases over time or pay down high-interest debt with a balance transfer. Just be sure you can pay off your balance before the intro period expires; otherwise, the card’s regular APR will kick in.
Be sure to plan your spending to unlock the welcome offer. New cardholders can earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. That’s a manageable amount to spend in that timeframe, and the intro bonus is competitive for a no-annual-fee card.
Assess Redemption Value
The value of Citi ThankYou points varies depending on how you redeem them, so it’s important to weigh your options. You’ll typically get the best value by using them to book travel through Citi or by transferring them to Citi’s airline and hotel partners.
In some cases, you may be able to redeem points to buy gift cards that are “on sale,” giving you more value from your rewards. Cash back redemptions are best avoided because, again, you’ll only get a value of 0.5 cents per point when you use points this way.
Final Verdict on the Citi Strata Card
The Citi Strata Card may be worth it to consumers who regularly make purchases in the card’s bonus categories, including booking through Citi Travel. It’s also a good option for cardholders who may benefit from one of the self-select 3x categories, some of which aren’t typically found on other rewards credit cards.
The welcome offer is also solid, with a great introductory APR and bonus points when you meet the spending threshold. If you have a big purchase coming up, like I did, it’s easy to meet the spending requirement to unlock the bonus.
Still, some users may prefer other cards for several reasons. For example (and based on my personal experience):
- The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good choice if you prefer cash rewards, offering a solid 1.5% back on most purchases and a great welcome bonus: For a limited time, earn $300 in welcome bonuses. Enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
- The Citi Double Cash® Card, an advertising partner, offers $200 cash back if you spend $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening. It’s a 2% cash-back credit card, earning 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay it off.
- The Prime Visa is a better option for me in terms of grocery shopping benefits, since I can get 5% back when shopping at Whole Foods (my preferred grocery store). That beats the Citi Strata’s 3x points at supermarkets.
Ultimately, for a card with no annual fee, the Citi Strata is a good option. Consider your spending patterns to determine which cards offer the perks you want and the highest earning potential.
**All information about the Prime Visa has been collected independently by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for these products.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Citi Strata Card
Is the Citi Strata Card worth it?
Whether the Citi Strata Card is worthwhile for you depends on multiple factors, including how you’re using it and how much you’re spending. Since it has no annual fee, cardholders can find it valuable, especially when maximizing the bonus categories.
Should I get the Citi Strata Card or the Citi Strata Elite?
If you’re choosing between the Citi Strata and the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, an advertising partner, keep in mind the Strata Elite is a premium credit card with a $595 annual fee. It has higher earning rates in certain categories and comes with fancy perks like airport lounge access and travel credits — up to $1,500 in annual value. Ultimately, it depends on whether you can make full use of the Citi Strata Elite’s features to get your money’s worth from the high annual fee.
Is there an annual fee for the Citi Strata Card?
No, there is no annual fee for the Citi Strata Card. However, there is a $595 annual fee for the Citi Strata Elite and a $95 annual fee for the Citi Strata Premier® Card, an advertising partner.
Is the Citi Strata a Visa or a Mastercard?
The Citi Strata is a Mastercard.
Am I eligible for a Citi Strata Card?
Citi considers multiple factors during the approval process, including your credit score. For the best chance of approval for the Strata Card, you should have a good credit score or better (a FICO score of at least 670).
