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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Strata Premier: Which mid-tier travel card is better?
Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
Compliance associate Paige Balcom joined TPG in 2022 and has spent her time working in the credit card industry reviewing content across sites such as CNET, CreditCards.com and Bankrate. She has used her knowledge to train new writers and other compliance members on the intricacies of compliance across multiple brands and partners.
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
also contributed to this story
April 11, 2025 • 10 min read
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Quick summary
This article compares two popular mid-tier travel rewards cards, focusing on their benefits, earning categories and redemption options.
Both cards offer valuable welcome bonuses, flexible redemption through travel partners and travel portals, and a range of travel protections.
One card stands out for its robust travel protections and statement credits, while the other features broader bonus categories for earning points at more types of merchants.
The choice between these cards depends on which benefits and earning opportunities align best with your spending habits.
What to consider
Both cards have a modest annual fee and require meeting specific spend thresholds to unlock the welcome bonus.
Redemption values and transfer rates to hotel partners may change for new and existing cardholders after certain dates, impacting long-term value.
Some benefits, such as hotel credits and monthly statement credits, require booking through the issuer's travel portal or activating by a set deadline.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side breakdown of benefits, earning structures and redemption strategies to help you select the best mid-tier travel card for your needs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
As much as we love premium credit cards, you may find that you can't maximize their benefits or want to keep your annual fee costs low. If so, a mid-tier travel card is perfect for you.
Which is better for your wallet? This guide will help you make that decision.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Strata Premier comparison
Card details
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Citi Strata Premier
Annual fee
$95
$95
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Earn 60,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earning structure
5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through Sept. 2027) and travel booked through Chase Travel℠
3 points per dollar on dining (including takeout and delivery), select streaming, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), vacation homes at top brands*, gas and EV charging
10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi travel portal
3 points per dollar on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, EV charging stations, air travel and other hotel purchases
1 point per dollar on all other purchases
Other benefits
Up to 1.75 cents per point redemption, depending on the specific redemption (see your rewards program agreement for full details).
$100 statement credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
Complimentary DashPass membership for at least one year (when you activate by Dec. 31, 2029)
$10 each month toward non-restaurant purchases on DoorDash
Robust travel protections
$100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, when booked through CitiTravel.com (available once per calendar year)
World Elite Mastercard benefits
Citi Entertainment Access
Extended warranty
Travel protections
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Strata Premier welcome bonus
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently offering 75,000 bonus points, earned after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. According to TPG's July 2026 valuations, the bonus offer is worth $1,538. After subtracting the $95 annual fee, you'll walk away with a net value of $1,443 in the first year.
The Citi Strata Premier is offering 60,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening. TPG's July 2026 valuations peg ThankYou points at 1.9 cents a piece, making this offer worth $1,140. After accounting for the $95 annual fee, this card's net first-year value is $1,045.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred with a higher welcome bonus of more valuable points.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Strata Premier benefits
Complimentary DashPass membership for at least one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2029
Auto rental collision damage waiver
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Baggage delay protection
Trip delay insurance
Purchase protection
The Chase Sapphire Preferred's statement credits are great perks with serious value, but the card's travel protections really make it shine. Knowing you're covered if something goes wrong on your trip will give you peace of mind in addition to potential monetary value, and it's unusual to see this type of coverage on a mid-tier card.
The $100 hotel statement credit also covers the card's annual fee. And you can take advantage of this benefit with a quick one-night getaway. Plus, if you maximize the monthly DoorDash promo, you could save up to $120 annually, offsetting the annual fee entirely.
While the list isn't as extensive as the Chase Sapphire Preferred's, the Citi Strata Premier has some solid benefits. You'll get a hotel credit worth double that on the Chase Sapphire Preferred and World Elite Mastercard perks like cellphone protection and travel protections. In today's world of concert pre-sale tickets, having access to Citi Entertainment can help ensure you'll get access to your dream concert.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred. Its statement credits and anniversary points give it a more robust benefits list
Earning points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Strata Premier
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you'll earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal, 5 points per dollar on Lyft purchases through September 2027, and 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), vacation homes at top brands*, gas and EV charging. You'll also earn 2 points per dollar on other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
With the Citi Strata Premier, you'll earn 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal, 3 points per dollar on air travel, dining, supermarket, other hotel, EV charging and gas station purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
While both cards earn bonus points on dining and travel purchases, the Citi Strata Premier also earns bonus points on supermarket and gas station purchases, meaning you'll likely be able to rack up points more quickly with it than with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Winner: Citi Strata Premier. Its wider range of bonus-earning categories gives you more earning opportunities.
Redeeming points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Strata Premier
The Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you the option to redeem your points for travel by transferring them to any of Chase's 11 airline and three hotel partners or by booking through Chase Travel at a rate of up to 1.75 cents per point, depending on the specific redemption (see your rewards program agreement for full details).
You can also redeem your points for gift cards or use Chase's Pay Yourself Back feature to redeem them for cash back. However, your most valuable redemption option is to transfer your points to Chase's partners, which we'll review in the next section.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
With the Citi Strata Premier, you can redeem your points for travel by transferring them to any of Citi's 21 hotel and airline partners or booking through the ThankYou travel portal at a rate of 1 cent per point. Additionally, you can redeem them for gift cards or a statement credit for a value of 1 cent per point.
You can also use Citi's Shop with Points option and use your points to pay directly at checkout at merchants like Amazon and Walmart. However, you'll get less than one cent per point going this route, so you're better off using your points as a statement credit to cover your purchases after you've made them.
Winner: Tie. Both cards allow you to transfer your rewards to travel partners, book through their travel portal or redeem your points for cash back and gift cards.
Transferring points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Strata Premier
TPG credit card writer Danyal Ahmed loves using his Citi Strata Premier card to transfer points to partners such as Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. He recently transferred 25,000 points to Cathay Pacific to fly between Beijing and Hong Kong in business class.
Winner: Tie. Both cards allow you to transfer your points to valuable transfer partners.
Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Citi Strata Premier?
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred offering its welcome bonus of 75,000 points (after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening) and solid earning rates on travel and dining purchases for just a $95 annual fee, it's a stronger product right now.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
And, of course, for maximum versatility, you may decide you want to get both cards. If you go this route, make sure you'll be able to earn the valuable welcome bonuses on both.
Bottom line
The Citi Strata Premier and Chase Sapphire Preferred are two leaders when it comes to affordable, mid-level cards that earn valuable transferable points. Each card wins in different categories in our analysis, so the best card for you will depend on which benefits and redemption options you value most. No matter which way you go, you can feel great knowing you're adding a fantastic mid-tier card to your wallet.
