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All comparisons
Head-to-head, 2026

American Express Blue Cash Preferred Citi Strata Premier

Annual fee, welcome offer, top earning categories, and key benefits — compared side-by-side using Perqt's catalog data.

Lower annual fee: Citi Strata PremierBigger welcome offer: Citi Strata Premier

American Express

Blue Cash Preferred

Annual fee
$95
Network
amex
Welcome value
$300
Min spend
$3,000 / 6mo

Top earning rates

  • 6×Groceries · Reward Dollar Balance
  • 6×Streaming · Reward Dollar Balance
  • 3×Gas · Reward Dollar Balance
  • 3×Transit · Reward Dollar Balance

Key benefits

  • Disney Streaming Credit · $10
  • Purchase Protection · $0
  • Extended Warranty · $0
  • Return Protection · $0
  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance · $0
Full American Express Blue Cash Preferred review

Citi

Strata Premier

Annual fee
$0
Network
mastercard
Welcome value
$600
Min spend
$4,000 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 10×Car rentals · Citi ThankYou Rewards
  • 10×Attractions · Citi ThankYou Rewards
  • 10×Hotels · Citi ThankYou Rewards
  • 3×Hotels · Citi ThankYou Rewards

Key benefits

  • $100 Annual Hotel Benefit · $100
  • Trip Delay Protection · $0
  • Lost or Damaged Luggage Protection · $0
  • MasterRental Coverage · $0
  • The Reserve by Citi Travel Hotel Benefits · $0
Full Citi Strata Premier review

Wondering which one is right for your wallet?

Spec sheets can't tell you which card actually earns more for the way you spend. Perqt connects to your wallet, runs the math against your real transactions, and tells you which of these two — or another card entirely — gives you the biggest annual uplift.

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