Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express vs Citi Strata℠ Card
Citi Strata℠ Card leads 4 profiles (Dining-heavy · Gas-heavy · Travel-heavy · Everyday spending). The other card leads or ties the rest, so where you actually spend decides this comparison.
Fees and perks at a glance
Annual fees: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express $95/yr · Citi Strata℠ Card $0. The $95 gap has to be earned back in credits or perks.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Credits: Disney Bundle credit ($10/month)
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Signup bonus: Up to $300 cash back after $3,000 spend in 6 months
Citi Strata℠ Card Signup bonus: 20,000 ThankYou points after $1,000 spend in 3 months
Earn comparison by category
| Category | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Citi Strata℠ Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 1.00%1x × 1¢ | 3.00%2x × 1.5¢ |
| Groceries | 6.00%6x × 1¢ | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ |
| Gas / EV charging | 3.00%3x × 1¢ | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ |
| Travel | 1.00%1x × 1¢ | 1.50%1x × 1.5¢ |
| Everything else | 1.00%1x × 1¢ | 1.50%1x × 1.5¢ |
| Hotels via travel portals | 1.00%1x × 1¢ | 7.50%5x × 1.5¢ |
| Streaming | 6.00%6x × 1¢ | 1.50%1x × 1.5¢ |
| Transit | 3.00%3x × 1¢ | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ |
Verdict by spending profile
| Category | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Citi Strata℠ Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining-heavy | 1.00% | 3.00% |
| Grocery-heavy | 6.00% | 4.50% |
| Gas-heavy | 3.00% | 4.50% |
| Travel-heavy | 1.00% | 1.50% |
| Everyday spending | 1.00% | 1.50% |
How is this comparison computed?
Effective return = category earn rate × point value. Example: 4x × 2.0¢ = 8.00% back (estimate).
This page compares the two cards' catalog earn rates only. Signup bonus amounts change over time, so they are not in the table.
Every % here is an estimate: point values are catalog assumptions, and actual value depends on how you redeem.
This page compares two cards only. Inside DanHana, the same math re-ranks by the cards in your own wallet -- so your personal best may differ.
Frequently asked questions
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express vs Citi Strata℠ Card: which one is better?
Citi Strata℠ Card leads 4 profiles (Dining-heavy · Gas-heavy · Travel-heavy · Everyday spending). The other card leads or ties the rest, so where you actually spend decides this comparison.
How do the annual fees compare?
Annual fees: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express $95/yr · Citi Strata℠ Card $0. The $95 gap has to be earned back in credits or perks. Catalog credits: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has 1, Citi Strata℠ Card has 0.
Where is the biggest gap?
Hotels via travel portals is where Citi Strata℠ Card leads by the most: 1.00% vs 7.50% (1x × 1¢ vs 5x × 1.5¢).
Are these returns guaranteed?
No -- every figure here is an estimate. Point values are catalog assumptions (e.g. Membership Rewards 2.0¢, Ultimate Rewards 1.5¢, cash back 1.0¢), and your actual value depends on how you redeem. Bonus rates can have annual caps, and issuers change terms -- check the card's official terms before applying.
Sources
- DanHana data & verification method
- What is DanHana?
- Smart recommendations
- Citi Strata℠ Card official page
Page updated: October 28, 2026