Citi Strata℠ Card Review [2025]: Earn on Gas and Groceries, Redeem for Travel

Card basics

Who should get the Citi Strata℠ Card?

People who make frequent purchases at gas stations and supermarkets

If you spend frequently on gas or at supermarkets or if you have an electric vehicle, you'll stand to benefit from carrying the Strata. Cardmembers earn 3X points per dollar spent at supermarkets, on select transit purchases, and at gas & EV charging stations.

People who want a convenient self-select bonus category

Not everyone wants a card with a rotating bonus category, especially one that you have to self-select. Many issuers make it a bit of a hassle to manage flexible earning categories, but that's not the case here.

The Citi strata earns 3X on 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), but the category requires no opt-in and automatically defaults to streaming.

As soon as you open your Strata card, you'll earn on any spending with streaming services until you update your self-select category via your account page online or over the phone. You can change your category once per quarter. Your selection will carry over if you don't want to change it, so there's no need to reset it each quarter.

People who want a 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases

Do you have a balance hanging around on a high-interest credit card? Then this Citi card may be a great option for you. It offers a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR); balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening.

There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. And while 15 months isn't the longest intro APR period out there, there aren't many balance transfer cards that will deliver the level of rewards earning you'll get with the Strata, so the card's worth considering for this use.

Citi Strata℠ Card's top benefits

In replacing the Rewards+ card with the Strata, Citi cut two valuable perks: the points round-up feature, which rounded all purchase earnings up to the nearest 10 points, and the 10% points-back perk on redemptions.

While these were certainly useful benefits, the new Strata card comes with enough earning power and fringe benefits to make it even more attractive.

Easy-to-earn welcome offer

While it's not the biggest offer on the market, the Strata's welcome offer will bank you a decent chunk of Citi ThankYou Points for a relatively low minimum spend, as cardholders, for a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

Elevated earn rates for travelers

Like the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card and the Citi Strata Premier^® Card, the Strata was designed with travelers in mind. Cardholders earn 5X points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com.

Globetrotting foodies can earn 2X points per dollar spent at restaurants, which includes cafes, bars, lounges, fast-food, delivery, and takeout, so you'll get a little back as you sample the local fare.

Drawbacks: Why you may want a different card

No bonus on general travel spending

The Strata seems to be tiptoeing toward travel card territory, granting cardholders access to the Citi travel portal and a broad range of airline and hotel transfer partners, but it comes up short for big-time travelers in a pretty significant way.

The Strata doesn't earn an elevated rate on direct spending with airlines, hotels, or rental car companies, and airlines aren't included in the bonus category for portal spending.

Issuer travel portals can be convenient and deliver a little extra value on your spending, but some prospective cardholders might be looking for a little more flexibility in how they earn on travel expenses.

Foreign transaction fee

While you may be able to earn extra rewards on some travel spending through the Citi portal, the Strata does come with a 3% foreign transaction fee, which means its not ideal for use abroad once you actually get to your destination.

Earning and redeeming Citi ThankYou Points

Potential earnings in years one and two

Here's a look at how your ThankYou Points can add up with the Citi Strata Card. To calculate these values, we used a valuation of one cent per point.

Remember, this is an estimation. Your actual earnings will vary depending on your spending overall as well as in specific categories.

Year one earnings: $1,120

Year two earnings: $820

These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which takes a look at points earned via spending, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee.

Best ways to earn

Earning ThankYou points with the Citi Strata may look complex, but the card's earning structure is actually fairly simple. Cardmembers can 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.

You don't need to be aware of which specific supermarkets qualify for extra points. The restaurants category includes pretty much every type of dining establishment you could think of, and you don't even need to select the self-select category if you don't want to — it will default to streaming at card opening and remain such if you don't make any changes.

Portal redemptions and transfer partners

You have plenty of options for redeeming your rewards points, but a great way to maximize redemptions is by booking travel through the Citi Travel portal. You'll get one cent per point this way, so 10,000 points would be worth $100. You can book flights, hotels, cruises, and rental cars.

You can also explore transfer options to Citi's partner loyalty programs for airlines and hotels.

Strata cardholders get access to nearly the full range of Citi's travel transfer partners, albeit at less favorable transfer ratios than you'd get with the Strata Elite or Strata Premier and with one notable exception: American Airlines.

FAQs

Bottom line

Overall, you could do a lot worse on a no-annual-fee card than the Citi Strata, especially if you've got a mild case of wanderlust.

You'll miss out on the statement credits and travel perks that come with the other, higher-fee Strata cards, but you'll still earn extra on some portal bookings and can potentially squeeze more value out of your rewards through partner transfers.

The card's solid earning potential across a range of categories — including the customizable self-select category — make it a good choice for anyone interested in having a low-risk go at earning and redeeming points in the Citi ThankYou program.

For similar cards, check out our list of the best cards without an annual fee.

Elevated rewards

Citi Strata℠ Card

4.5

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Citi Strata℠ Card

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

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.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
• $0 annual fee
• Earn 5X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com
• Earn elevated points on purchases at supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations, and in an eligible category of your choice

Drawbacks

• No elevated points on airfare purchases via cititravel.com
• Highest travel rewards only available by booking through cititravel.com
• Foreign transaction fee

Card Details

• For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• 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.
• No Annual Fee