Amex Gold Card vs. Citi Strata Premier Card [Detailed Comparison]

Most of us make purchases every single day. It’s not uncommon to take a trip to the grocery store, pick up a prescription at the drugstore, fill up the car with gas, and then order pizza for dinner. And, if you have a family, chances are those purchases are just the beginning.

Having a credit card that earns rewards on common daily expenses can be a smart financial move, especially if those points could help you offset the cost of a nice annual vacation or weekend getaway.

On the agenda today are 2 very popular rewards-earning cards, the American Express^® Gold Card and the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card. Both cards have the potential to be at the top of your wallet for everyday spending.

We’ll help you decide what card is better for you by comparing how you earn rewards on each card, the options you’ll have when it’s time to redeem those rewards, and all the additional benefits and protections that come with each card.

Overview

Here’s a quick summary of all the key features and benefits that come with the Amex Gold card and the Citi Strata Premier card. Details of each benefit will be explained more thoroughly later in the story.

Welcome Offer Comparison

Welcome offers provide the opportunity for cardholders to earn a lump sum of rewards within the first months after card approval. Fortunately, after being approved and meeting the minimum spending requirements, you’ll earn a generous welcome offer with either the Amex Gold card or Citi Strata Premier card.

Welcome offers change constantly, so be sure to check the most recent offer before applying for any card.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90k points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.

75,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% to 28.49% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% to 28.49% Variable APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Bottom Line: Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Strata Premier card come with generous welcome offers that are generally worth more than $1,000 when redeemed for travel. 

Earning Points

The Amex Gold card earns Membership Rewards points and the Citi Strata Premier card earns ThankYou Points. The 2 cards have somewhat similar points-earning structures and redemption options.

However, depending on your spending mix and redemption preferences, one card may be a better choice for you than the other.

Let’s review what you can expect regarding points-earning and redemption options on our 2 featured cards.

Earning Potential

If you’re selecting a card to use for everyday purchases, you’ll want to pay close attention to a card’s bonus points-earning categories as they can help you rack up rewards quickly.

Here’s how the Amex Gold card and Citi Strata Premier card earn rewards on every purchase and which categories have bonus earnings.

Example of Earning Rewards

Different spending mixes result in different levels of earned rewards. Here’s an example of how rewards are earned on each of our featured cards.

Let’s say you spend the following each year:

• $10,000 on flights purchased with the airline or the card’s travel portal
• $18,000 on groceries
• $5,000 on gas
• $3,000 dining out

Here’s how your earnings would play out on the Amex Gold card and on the Citi Strata Premier card:

Amex Gold Card

• 3x points on $10,000 of flights = 30,000 points
• 4x points on $18,000 of groceries = 72,000 points
• 1x points on $5,000 of gas = 5,000 points
• 4x points on $3,000 of dining out = 12,000 points

Total: 119,000 points x 2.2 cents = $2,618 in value when redeemed for travel via the card’s transfer partners

Citi Strata Premier Card

• 3x points on $10,000 of flights = 30,000 points
• 3x points on $18,000 of groceries = 54,000 points
• 3x points on $5,000 of gas = 15,000 points
• 3x points on $3,000 of dining out = 9,000 points

Total: 108,000 points x 1.6 cents = $1,728 in value when redeemed for travel via the card’s transfer partners

Of course, this example is arbitrary as your spending mix will differ, plus how you actually redeem your rewards will determine the value you’ll receive. The example is meant to illustrate how the same spending mix can result in different earnings depending on the card you use.

You’ll want to evaluate your spending habits and match them to each card’s bonus-earning categories to determine the best option for you.

Bottom Line: Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Strata Premier card have robust earning structures for everyday purchases and travel. The better card for you will depend on your spending mix and how it matches the card’s bonus category earnings. If your greatest household expense is gas, for example, you may find the Citi Strata Premier card is a better fit since it earns 3x points on gas, compared to the Amex Gold card which earns only 1x points for the same purchases. 

Redemption Options

Once you’ve accumulated a nice stash of rewards, you’ll want to receive the best value when redeeming your points. While you’ll often realize the most value when transferring points to travel partners, you will still have several other ways to use your points.

Here are the choices you’ll have for redeeming points earned on the Amex Gold card or the Citi Strata Premier card:

While Membership Rewards Points and Citi ThankYou Points can normally be redeemed through the cards’ respective travel portals for 1 cent each, greater value can be had by transferring points to airline or hotel partners.

The Amex Gold card allows you to transfer Membership Rewards points to airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 ratio. You could also redeem points for flights or stays with The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels & Resorts at the rate of 1 cent each via AmexTravel.com. Other eligible travel can be booked via the portal at the rate of just 0.7 cents for each point. You can also redeem points to bid on airline seat upgrades.

Note that redeeming Membership Rewards points for gift cards, shopping, or statement credits could result in a value of less than 1 cent per point.

Citi ThankYou Points can be redeemed for travel for 1 cent each through ThankYou.com or transferred to airline and hotel partners for even greater potential value.

ThankYou Points can also be transferred to the Sears Shop Your Way program where it’s possible to find some decent gift card redemptions or use points to shop at Sears and Kmart.

Membership Rewards points cannot be redeemed for cash while ThankYou Points can be redeemed for cash at a value of 1 cent each.

Examples of Transfer Redemptions

Amex Gold Card

While you’ll have several redemption options, the best value for your Membership Rewards points will be realized by transferring to the Amex airline partners.

JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, and ANA are just a few of Amex’s airline transfer partners, but here’s how you can use your Amex points for big value on a bucket-list trip.

• Fly Qatar Airways Qsuites From the U.S. to Doha — Transfer Membership Rewards points to British Airways Executive Club and use Avios to book a one-way Qatar Airways business class award ticket starting at 70,000 Avios plus taxes and fees. This flight normally costs thousands of dollars.
• Fly ANA Business Class From the U.S. to Japan — Transfer Membership Rewards points to ANA Mileage Club and book a flight in ANA business class from the U.S. to Japan, with round-trip rates starting at just 75,000 miles, plus taxes and fees.

To learn more about the best way to maximize Membership Rewards transfer partners, read our story where we list dozens of examples on how to get the most value out of your Amex points.

Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi ThankYou Points can be redeemed for travel for 1 cent each through ThankYou.com or transferred to airline and hotel partners for even greater potential value.

The Citi Strata Premier card earns ThankYou Points that can be transferred to many popular airline partners at a 1:1 ratio and a couple of hotel partners. Transfer partners include Air France-KLM Flying Blue, EVA Air, and Turkish Airlines, just to name a few.

Here’s a quick glimpse at the best ways to maximize Citi ThankYou Points when you utilize airline transfer partners.

• Fly Singapore Suites to Europe — Transfer ThankYou Points to Singapore Airlines’ Krisflyer program and enjoy first class luxury in your A380 suite from New York to Frankfurt. Prices start at 97,000 miles for Saver awards.
• Fly a Family of 4 to Hawaii on United — Transfer just 60,000 ThankYou Points to Turkish Airlines to book 4 round-trip tickets from the mainland U.S. to the Hawaiian Islands on United Airlines.

Hot Tip: The best time to transfer Membership Rewards points or ThankYou Points is during a transfer bonus promotion. Log in to your card account and under the redemption section, select the transfer option to see if there are offers available. Examples of past transfer bonuses include a 30% bonus when transferring Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy or a 25% bonus when transferring Citi ThankYou Points to JetBlue. 

Comparing Travel Protection and Benefits

Travel benefits can save you money on travel-related purchases, provide assistance during your trips, and should something go wrong, you may have travel insurance that can reimburse you for covered expenses.

Hotel Program Benefits

Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Strata Premier card offer elite-style benefits through their associated hotel programs when you use your card to book your stay.

Travel Advantages With the Amex Gold Card

• The Hotel Collection Elite-style Benefits — Use your card to book a 2-night stay or longer with The Hotel Collection and receive room upgrades when available, $100 on-site amenities, and daily breakfast for 2. Pay with points or earn 2x points per dollar when you pay with your card.
• Car Rental Program Discounts and Benefits — Enjoy Amex discounts and benefits at Hertz, Avis, and Alamo.
• Car Rental Insurance — Use your card to reserve and pay for your car rental, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive secondary coverage for damage and theft. Card members also have access to Premium Protection for 1 low price that covers the entire rental period (up to 41 days).
• Trip Delay Insurance — If your trip is delayed for more than 12 hours for a covered reason, you could receive up to $300 in reimbursement for incidental expenses.
• Baggage Insurance — Use your card to pay for your common carrier ticket and receive coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage, up to $1,250 for carry-on and $500 for checked bags.
• Global Assist Hotline — When you’re traveling more than 100 miles from home, have access 24/7 to help to arrange emergency transportation, receive medical or legal referrals, assist with a lost passport, and more.

Benefits of Traveling with the Citi Strata Premier Card

The Citi Strata Premier card offers trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost or damaged luggage insurance, and MasterRental coverage (secondary car rental insurance).

It also comes with the following benefits:

• $100 Hotel Credit — Book a hotel of $500 or more for a single stay (excluding taxes and fees) via ThankYou.com using your card and receive an annual statement credit of $100.
• Mastercard Travel Benefits — The Citi Strata Premier card is a World Elite Mastercard offering lifestyle benefits such as hotel elite-style benefits via the Mastercard Luxury Hotel & Resorts Portfolio program, Priceless Experiences, car rental discounts, and more.

Shopping Protection and Benefits Comparison

Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Strata Premier card come with core protection coverages for eligible items purchased with either card.

Purchase Protection

The Amex Gold card provides coverage for theft or damage for 90 days after the purchase date for eligible items purchased with the card. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per covered item, up to $50,000 per event. The Citi Strata Premier card offers protection for 90 days from the date of purchase, up to $10,000 per incident, and $50,000 per calendar year.

Extended Warranty

The Amex Gold card will add 1 additional year of warranty to eligible items, purchased with the card, that have manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less. The Citi Strata Premier card provides up to an additional 24 months extended warranty, for a total of no more than 7 total years including the manufacturer’s warranty, for eligible items purchased in part or entirely with the card.

Shopping Benefits Unique to Amex Gold Card

• Monthly Dining Credit — Receive up to $10 in dining credits each month, up to $120 each year, when you enroll your card and use it for purchases at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Monthly Uber Cash — Add your Amex Gold card as your payment option to your Uber account and receive $10 in Uber Cash each month, up to $120 each year. Uber Cash can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S.
• New $100 Resy Credit: $100 annual statement credit ($50 semi-annually), redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required through your Amex account.
• New Dunkin’ Credit: $84 annual statement credit ($7/month), redeemable at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
• ShopRunner Membership — Receive free 2-day shipping and returns plus discounts at dozens of retailers with your complimentary ShopRunner membership. Enrollment required.
• Amex Offers — Login to your online card account and select from dozens of offers from select retailers and service providers. Use your card to make the associated purchases to earn additional Membership Rewards points or cash-back.

Advantages of Shopping with the Citi Strata Premier Card

• Citi Merchant Offers — Citi Merchant Offers have become more robust lately. Examples of recent offers include 10% back at Shell gas stations, 5% back at Sam’s Club, and 1.5% back at CVS. You’ll find dozens of offers by logging into your online card account and adding the offer to your card. Make the required purchase and you’ll earn cash-back in addition to any applicable ThankYou Points.
• Mastercard Shopping Benefits — Receive complimentary ShopRunner membership that comes with free 2-day shipping and returns, plus discounts at dozens of retailers. You’ll also receive a 3-month trial DoorDash membership, discounts at Lyft and Fandango, and more.

Please keep in mind that all of these benefit and protection descriptions have been abbreviated and do not include any terms and conditions that may apply. Each card’s Guide to Benefits should be your reference for full descriptions, additional benefits/protections that may be available, and any terms and conditions that apply.

Bottom Line: Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Strata Premier card come with shopping benefits and protections such as complimentary ShopRunner membership, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage. Additionally, the Amex Gold card offers monthly statement credits for select dining purchases, Uber Cash, and Amex Offers. The Citi Strata Premier card comes with Citi Merchant Offers and the Mastercard shopping benefits of a trial DoorDash membership and discounts on Lyft, Fandango, and more. 

Fees and Authorized Users

Annual Fees

It’s important to acknowledge the cost of holding a credit card in order to determine the net value you’ll actually receive. You’ll want to make sure you receive at least enough value from your card to offset its associated annual fee.

The Amex Gold card charges an annual fee of $325, while the Citi Strata Premier card charges an annual fee of $95.

Additional Users

The Amex Gold card does not charge a fee to add up to 5 authorized users. Each additional user after that incurs a $35 charge. There is no charge to add authorized users to the Citi Strata Premier card.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Use your card when you travel internationally as neither card charges foreign transaction fees.

Credit Score Requirements

You will need a good to excellent credit score, normally 670 to 850, to qualify for either the Amex Gold card or Citi Strata Premier card.

Final Thoughts

For earning rewards on common everyday purchases and travel, both the Amex Gold card and Citi Strata Premier card suit that purpose perfectly with their robust points-earning structures.

If travel benefits are not a priority, consider the Amex Gold card’s Uber and dining credits, which can help offset the $325 annual fee. The Citi Strata Premier doesn’t have as many shopping benefits, but it does have a $100 hotel credit which can offset its $95 annual fee.

Either card could work well to earn you a ton of flexible points which you be redeemed in a variety of ways. Before you make a final decision, though, analyze your spending habits to see which card would earn you the most points. Then, ask yourself how you’d like to use your points and see which card’s redemption options best align with your preferences.

The information regarding the For the rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.