Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.

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

Christine Krzyszton's image
Christine Krzyszton
Christine Krzyszton's image

Christine Krzyszton

Senior Finance Contributor

334 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 98U.S. States Visited: 45

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, deta...
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
Keri Stooksbury's image

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

52 Published Articles 3470 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 50U.S. States Visited: 28

With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now editor-in-chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
& Juan Ruiz
Juan Ruiz's image

Juan Ruiz

Senior Editor & Content Contributor

234 Published Articles 866 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 41U.S. States Visited: 28

Juan has extensive experience in writing and editing content related to credit cards, loyalty programs, and travel. He has been honing his expertise in this field for over a decade. His work has been ...
Jump to Section

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Upgraded Points: Expertise You Can Trust

Our seasoned and experienced team brings years of expertise in the credit card and travel sectors. Committed to integrity, we offer data-driven guides to help you find the card(s) that best fit your requirements. See details on our intensive editorial policies and card rating methodologies.

  • Content by Leading Industry Experts
  • Routine Updates and Fact-Checks
  • First-Hand Credit Card Experience
  • Shared Across 200+ Top Outlets
  • Methodical “U.P. Rating” System
  • 1090+ Expert Credit Card Guides

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.

SCROLL FOR MORE

Feature or Benefit

American Express® Gold CardCiti Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

Earning 

  • 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (limit of $25,000 per calendar year) and restaurants worldwide (limit of $50,000 per calendar year) plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 3x points on flights purchased directly from the airlines or via AmexTravel.com
  • 1x points on all other eligible purchases
  • 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
  • 3x points on airfare, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations

Top Redemption Options

  • Redeem points for select travel via AmexTravel.com
  • Transfer points to airline and hotel partners
  • Statement credits, gift cards, shopping with retail partners, charitable donations
  • Redeem points for select travel via ThankYou.com
  • Transfer points to airline and hotel partners
  • Statement credits, gift cards, shopping with retail partners, charitable donations, cash

Travel Benefits and Protections

  • Secondary car rental insurance; trip delay insurance; baggage insurance
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost or damaged luggage insurance, MasterRental coverage (secondary car rental insurance

Shopping Benefits and Protections

  • Up to $10 monthly statement credit at select dining partners
  • Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
  • Purchase protection, extended warranty
  • Purchase protection, extended warranty

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

  • Annual fee of $325 (rates & fees)
  • Authorized Users: no charge for up to 5 additional users, $35 for each user added after that (rates & fees)
  • Annual fee of $95
  • Authorized Users: $0

Requirements

Good to excellent credit score (670 to 850)

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.

BEST FOR DINING
American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
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.

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!
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
$1,200
$325
See Pay Over Time APR
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
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
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
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.

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
$1,200
$95
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
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

Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort Spa Ascend Hotel Collection
You’ll be earning rewards on travel purchases and also have the opportunity to redeem those points for travel. Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort Spa. Image Credit: Choice

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.

SCROLL FOR MORE

Earning Category

Amex Gold Card

Citi Strata Premier Card

Travel

3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from the airlines or via AmexTravel.com

2x points per dollar on other select travel via AmexTravel.com

  • 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
  • 3x points per dollar on airfare and hotels

Additional Bonus Earning Categories

4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (limit of $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points)

4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x points), plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.

3x points per dollar at supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants, and EV charging stations

All Other Purchases

1x points per dollar

1x points per dollar

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:

SCROLL FOR MORE

Redemption Option

Amex Gold Card

Citi Strata Premier Card

Travel

  • Redeem points for flights for 1 cent each via AmexTravel.com
  • Transfer points to airline and hotel partners
  • Redeem points for 1 cent each via ThankYou.com
  • Transfer points to airline and hotel partners

Additional Redemption Options

  • Statement credits (points worth 0.6 cents each)
  • Gift cards, shopping with partners such as Amazon and Uber (point value varies)
  • Airline seat upgrades
  • Charitable donation
  • Statement credits and cash (points worth 1 cent each)
  • Gift cards, shopping at retail partners (point value varies)
  • Transfer to Sears Shop Your Way
  • Charitable donation

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.

Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Qsuite Business Class Cabin
Qatar Airways Qsuites are a sight to see. Image Credit: Greg Stone
  • 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.

Singapore Airlines new A380 First Suite seat
The new Singapore Airlines A380 First Class Suite is absolutely phenomenal. Image Credit: Greg Stone
  • 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 HertzAvis, 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.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the purchase protection and extended warranty benefits of the American Express® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the trip delay insurance benefits of the American Express Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the Global Assist Hotline benefit of American Express Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.  Card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

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.

The information regarding the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, the Amex Gold card or the Citi Strata Premier card?

Both cards function well as everyday spending cards. The Amex Gold card has the edge with travel and shopping benefits and protections. However, the Citi Strata Premier card comes with a lower annual fee of $95 while the Amex Gold card charges $325.

The better card for you will be the one that most closely matches your spending mix and provides benefits relevant to your own lifestyle.

Is the Amex Gold card hard to get?

Yes, it can be. The Amex Gold card requires a good to excellent credit score, generally 670 to 850, to qualify. You’re more likely to get approved, however, if you have a score of 700 or higher.

Can I redeem ThankYou Points for cash?

Yes, you can redeem ThankYou Points for cash for a value of 1 cent each. However, you can receive greater potential value for your points when transferring to airline or hotel partners for award flights or free hotel nights.

Doe the Citi Strata Premier card have car rental insurance?

The Citi Strata Premier card has MasterRental coverage (secondary car rental insurance).

Does the Amex Gold card come with airport lounge access?

No, the Amex Gold card does not come with airport lounge access. The Platinum Card® from American Express is the best card for airport lounge access.

Christine Krzyszton's image

About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply.

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse
DMCA.com Protection Status