Card guide · ThankYou Points
Citi Strata
Card guide overview
A no-annual-fee ThankYou Points card with a self-select 3X category and limited native transfer partners. Full transfer access unlocks with a Strata Premier or Strata Elite.
Key card attributes
| Issuing bank | Reward currency | Currency type | Network | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi | ThankYou Points | Cash back | Mastercard | $0 |
Closest alternatives
At a glance
A $0 ThankYou Points card with a self-select 3X category and limited native transfers.
The Citi Strata earns 5X on hotels, car rentals, and attractions through Citi Travel; 3X on supermarkets, select transit, and gas/EV charging; 3X on a self-select category (fitness clubs, streaming, live entertainment, cosmetics/barber, or pet supply); 2X on restaurants; and 1X on everything else. The 20,000-point bonus requires $1,000 in spend over 3 months. There is no annual fee.
Unlike the Double Cash, the Strata earns native ThankYou Points with limited direct transfer to select airline and hotel partners (American Airlines, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Choice Hotels, Leading Hotels of the World). For the full 15+ partner roster, pair with a Strata Premier or Strata Elite.
Best fit
Citi loyalists who want a $0 TYP card with a flexible bonus category
If one of the self-select categories matches your spending (e.g., $200/month on streaming and live entertainment), the 3X rate is competitive. The limited native transfers give you AA and JetBlue access without a premium card.
Current timing
20,000 bonus points is the standard welcome offer
The 20K bonus has been consistent on the Strata. The self-select 3X category and native transfer partners are the ongoing value proposition.
Main watchout
The self-select category list is narrow, and the Double Cash earns more on everything else
Fitness clubs, streaming, live entertainment, cosmetics/barber, and pet supply are niche categories. If none of these fits your spending, the Double Cash's 2% everywhere is a better no-fee earner. As a general rule, you should never carry a balance on any rewards credit card—the interest cost always exceeds the value of points or cash back earned.
Current & historical offer
20,000 points is the standard public offer.
We compare public offers with public offers. Referral, branch, targeted and mixed cash-plus-points offers are outside this ladder.
Timing assessment
20K is the standard offer. The self-select 3X category is the reason to hold this card.
At $0 annual fee, the bonus is a one-time bonus—not the ongoing value proposition. The Strata's value is in the self-select 3X category and limited native transfer partners. on any rewards card.
Why someone may prefer the Double Cash
2% everywhere beats 1% everywhere. The self-select category must justify the difference.
If you don't spend significantly in the self-select categories, the Double Cash earns double on all non-bonus spending (2% vs 1%). The Strata only wins if the 3X self-select category generates enough points to offset the lower base rate.
Card benefits
The self-select 3X category is the differentiator; 1X everywhere is the liability.
The tiers are a Points Brief editorial assessment of decision importance and rarity among comparable $0 ThankYou Points cards—not labels supplied by Citi.
Tier 1 · The reason to hold this card
The benefit that defines the Strata and drives the decision to carry it.
Self-select 3X category—changeable once per quarter
Choose one 3X category from: fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores. You may change your selection once per calendar quarter (Jan–Mar, Apr–Jun, Jul–Sep, Oct–Dec), and the change takes effect the following day. This gives you 3X on a niche category that most cards ignore entirely.
- Change your category once per quarter via citi.com/selfselect or by calling Citi.
- Default category at account opening is Select Streaming Services.
- At 3X TYP valued at 1.5 cents, effective return is 4.5% on the chosen category.
Know the limits: The quarterly change limit is why we rate Coupon Book 2/5—you cannot switch categories mid-quarter to chase spending. The categories themselves are fairly niche: fitness clubs, streaming, live entertainment, cosmetics/barber, and pet supply are not big-spend categories for most households. If none of these matches your regular spending, this benefit is worthless and the Double Cash's 2% everywhere is a better no-fee earner.
Tier 2 · Decent everyday categories
Benefits that add value but are not unique to the Strata.
Limited Native transfer partners
Limited direct transfer to American Airlines, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Choice Hotels, and Leading Hotels of the World. Full 15+ partner roster unlocks with Strata Premier or Strata Elite.
AA and JetBlue are notable native partners not available through Chase or Amex. For full transfer value, pair with a Strata Premier or Strata Elite.
Tier 3 · Expected protections and services
Useful benefits that should not drive the decision alone.
No annual fee, no authorized user fee Card baseline
$0 annual fee with no additional cost for authorized users.
Multiple redemption options Redemption
Redeem for cash back, gift cards, travel through Citi Travel, or transfer to select airline and hotel partners.
Comparison method: No-fee TYP and cash-back cards including Citi Double Cash, Chase Freedom Flex, and Amex Blue Business Plus; public positioning reviewed in July 2026. Tiering is editorial.
Earning rates
The self-select 3X category is the peak; 1% everywhere is the floor.
ThankYou Points are earned on every purchase. Limited native transfer to select partners; full transfer access with a Strata Premier or Strata Elite.
Citi Travel (hotels, car rentals, attractions)
Bookings through the Citi Travel portal.
Supermarkets
Grocery purchases at most supermarkets.
Select transit, gas, and EV charging
Commuting, fuel, and electric vehicle charging stations.
Restaurants
Dine-in, takeout, and eligible delivery.
All other purchases
The floor is lower than the Double Cash's 2%.
Citi Trifecta context: Pair with a Strata Premier or Strata Elite for full transfer partner access (15+ airline and hotel partners). ThankYou Points are estimated at 1.5–1.8 cents when transferred. At 3X on the self-select category, effective return is 4.5–5.4%.—interest always costs more than points are worth.
The Citi Trifecta
Citi Strata + Strata Premier or Elite = full transfer partner access.
The Strata earns ThankYou Points with limited native transfer. Pair it with a Strata Premier or Strata Elite to unlock the full 15+ airline and hotel transfer partner roster. Combine points from all three Citi cards for maximum flexibility.
Trifecta strategy
3Xself-select
Use the Strata for its self-select 3X category, then combine points into a Premium card.
The Strata fills a niche in the Citi Trifecta: 3X on a category of your choice. Combine ThankYou Points with your Strata Premier or Strata Elite account for full transfer partner access.
How the Citi Trifecta earning works
Which card to use for each spending category.
- Citi Strata: 3X TYP on self-select category, 3X supermarkets/gas/transit, 2X restaurants
- Citi Double Cash: 2% → 2X TYP on all non-bonus spending
- Strata Premier or Strata Elite: 3X TYP on dining, grocery, gas, air travel, and hotels
- Combine all points into Strata Premier or Strata Elite for full transfer partner access
Transfer partners available through Strata Premier or Strata Elite
Full ThankYou Points transfer roster at 1:1.
- Aeromexico Rewards
- Air France–KLM Flying Blue
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- Avianca LifeMiles
- Cathay Pacific
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- EVA Air
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Singapore KrisFlyer
- Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- Turkish Miles&Smiles
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- ALL – Accor
- Choice Privileges
- Leading Hotels of the World
- Preferred Hotels I Prefer
- Wyndham Rewards
Sources and methodology
Sources for this page
- Last checked: July 24, 2026
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