The Platinum Card from American Express vs Citi Strata Premier Card

A detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right card for your spending.

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The Platinum Card from American Express

American Express

Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi

Annual Fee

$895

$95

Welcome Bonus

80,000 Flex point

60,000 Flex point

Base Earn Rate

Top Earn Categories

5X Hotels

5X Flights

1X Hotels

10X Hotels

10X Car Rentals

10X Attractions

3X Hotels

Network

AMEX

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

✓Lounge access

✓Travel insurance

✓Global Entry credit

None

Pros

+Access to 9 lounge networks including exclusive Centurion Lounges with 2 guests free
+$200/year Uber credit plus complimentary Uber One membership ($168 value)
+$400/year Resy dining credit at select restaurants
+Automatic Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and breakfast
+5X points on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel

+3X points on 6 everyday categories (dining, gas, groceries, flights, hotels, all travel)
+10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions through Citi Travel portal
+Lowest $95 annual fee among premium travel cards with transfer partners
+Transfer to 18+ airline and hotel partners including JetBlue TrueBlue and Turkish Miles&Smiles
+No foreign transaction fees for international purchases

Cons

−$895 annual fee requires significant credit utilization to break even
−Many credits require specific merchants (Saks, Equinox, SoulCycle)
−Only 1X points on non-travel purchases limits everyday earning
−Secondary car rental coverage unless paying $24.95/rental for primary
−$195 authorized user fee after first 3 free cards

−No airport lounge access included
−Transfer partners weaker than Chase or Amex (no United, Delta, or Hyatt)
−10X portal bonus requires booking through Citi Travel, limiting flexibility
−Welcome bonus lower than competing premium cards (60K vs 75K-90K)
−Points worth less than competitors when redeemed for cash back (1 cent each)

The Bottom Line

The Citi Strata Premier Card has a lower annual fee ($95 vs $895), making it the more accessible option.

The The Platinum Card from American Express justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access.

Explore More

The Platinum Card from American Express — Full Review All American Express Cards

Citi Strata Premier Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

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The Platinum Card from American Express vs Citi Strata Premier Card

A detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right card for your spending.

No image