Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs Citi Strata Premier
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Amex Blue Cash Preferred wins 2-1. Suburban families with kids, best US-supermarket card. Citi Strata Premier is still the right call if mid-tier travel card; 10x is citi travel portal-only, 3x on everyday travel and dining..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Citi Strata Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = $95 | = $95 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 6% (shopping) | · 3% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | · 2.7% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months | = 75,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = None stated | = None stated |
| Min credit score | = 700 | = 700 |
| Editorial rating | 4.5/5 | · 4.4/5 |
Benefits compared
Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 6% cashback on US supermarkets (up to $6K/year, then 1%)
- 6% on streaming subscriptions
- 3% on US gas stations + transit
- 1% on everything else
- 0% intro APR for 12 months
Citi Strata Premier
- 10x on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal only
- 3x on air travel and other hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas
- 1x on everything else
- $100 hotel benefit on $500+ Citi Travel hotel bookings
- Transfer to 16 airline + hotel partners
FAQ
›Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs Citi Strata Premier: which is better?
Amex Blue Cash Preferred wins on more dimensions (2 vs 1). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern, see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes, if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Amex Blue Cash Preferred for its best categories, Citi Strata Premier for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Amex Blue Cash Preferred: $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months. Citi Strata Premier: 75,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months.