Capital One Venture X Card vs. Citi Strata Elite Card [Detailed Comparison]

Key Takeaways

• The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Citi Strata Elite℠ card offer the highest reward-earning rates when purchasing select travel through their respective travel portals. The Citi Strata Elite card also earns well on dining purchases, especially on weekend nights.
• The Capital One Venture X card has a rewards-earning edge, earning 2x miles on all other purchases, while the Citi Strata Elite card earns 1.5x points on all non-bonus purchases.
• Both cards offer flexible redemption options, worldwide lounge access, luxury hotel program benefits, shopping protections, and no foreign transaction fees.

Capital One, as a financial institution, is known for issuing cards to fit every type of consumer and for the simplicity of the cards’ earning and redemption structures. The Capital One Venture X card is Capital One’s premium flagship rewards card, popular for delivering value to frequent travelers.

For our comparison today, the Citi Strata Elite card stands out because it was recently introduced and is making waves with travelers. Does the card deliver enough value to warrant the hype?

Here’s how the cards compare when we examine their rewards earning, redemption options, and key features and benefits.

Overview

Before diving into all the details, let’s get a quick overview of our featured cards.

Here is an overall comparison of the Capital One Venture X card and the Citi Strata Elite card:

Comparing Welcome Offers

The Capital One Venture X card and Citi Strata Elite card each have a generous welcome bonus offer that you can earn after meeting the minimum spending requirements within the specified period after card approval.

Welcome offers are a unique opportunity to earn a large number of rewards quickly. The faster you earn rewards, the sooner you can redeem them for travel.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

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.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,280

Annual Fee

$595

APR

21.24% to 29.24% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
• 6x points on airfare through Citi Travel
• 6x points on dining on Citi Nights (Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 3x points on dining at all other times

Cons

• $595 annual fee
• Boosted dining rewards are limited to 2 nights per week

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
• 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points on air travel booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, and 3x points any other time
• 1.5x points on all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Up to $300 annual hotel benefit
• Up to $200 annual splurge credit
• Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit
• 4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes every calendar year
• Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to partners like American Airlines
• Complimentary Priority Pass membership
• No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.24% to 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

We value Capital One miles at approximately 1.8 cents each and Citi ThankYou Points at a rate of 1.6 cents each. You can use Upgraded Points’ general valuation to calculate the approximate value of the welcome offer when redeemed for travel.

Hot Tip:

See how the newest card on the block stands up to an old favorite in our comparison of the Citi Strata Elite card vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Earning Potential

A key factor in selecting a travel rewards card is its earning power. The Capital One Venture X card and the Citi Strata Elite card earn rewards on every purchase and feature bonus categories where specific purchases earn additional rewards.

The Capital One Venture X card earns Capital One miles, while the Citi Strata Elite card earns ThankYou Points. Both reward currencies are valuable and flexible at redemption time.

Here’s how you’ll earn rewards on our featured cards:

The Capital One Venture X card and Citi Strata Elite card offer the best earning potential when booking travel through the cards’ travel portals. The Citi Strata Elite card offers foodies elevated earnings on dining, especially on weekend nights when earning rates are 6x points.

On all other purchases, the Capital One Venture X card earns 2x miles, while the Citi Strata Elite card earns 1.5x points. This difference makes the Capital One Venture X card a better option for everyday purchases.

The Capital One Venture X card also earns 10,000 bonus miles after each card anniversary.

Redemption Options

After working hard to earn rewards, you’ll want to receive as much value as possible at redemption time. Fortunately, the Capital One Venture card and the Citi Strata Elite card have several flexible redemption options.

You may realize the best value at redemption time by transferring rewards to airline or hotel partners. Once transferred, you can book flights or free hotel nights.

American Airlines loyalists may want to note that the airline is a transfer partner of Citi. You can transfer ThankYou Points earned on the Citi Strata Elite card at a 1:1 ratio. The card also offers 4 lounge passes each year to the Admirals Club.

Another option for redeeming your rewards is to purchase travel from the cards’ travel portals. With either card, your rewards will be worth 1 cent each toward travel costs. You can also purchase travel from any travel provider and redeem miles or points for 1 cent each toward a statement credit for that travel purchase (within 90 days with Capital One miles).

With either card, you can find great value when redeeming rewards for travel purchases.

The Citi Strata Elite card offers a 1-cent value for each point when redeeming rewards for a general statement credit. This type of redemption, as well as transferring points to an eligible Citi account, can be good options if you need them.

Finally, all other redemption options may result in a value of less than 1 cent per mile or point.

Travel Protections and Benefits

Travel protections can provide financial relief in the event of a covered incident during your travels. Travel benefits can make your trip more comfortable or save you money.

Here are the travel protections and benefits offered on the Capital One Venture X card and the Citi Strata Elite card:

Worldwide Lounge Access

The Capital One Venture X card and the Citi Strata Elite come with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. Priority Pass has more than 1,500 lounge properties worldwide.

The Capital One Venture X card also offers access to Capital One Lounges. Several Capital One Lounges are currently open, and more will be added.

The Citi Strata Elite card partners with American Airlines to offer 4 Admirals Club passes each year.

Hotel Program Benefits

Capital One Venture X Card

As a Visa Infinite card, the Capital One Venture X card offers access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotels and Resorts Collection. The card also has access to the Premier Collection. Both hotel programs offer cardholders elite-style benefits, including an upgraded room when available, daily breakfast for 2, late checkout when available, an on-site amenity, and more with every booking. Additionally, the Visa Infinite hotel benefit includes a $25 food-and-beverage credit, as well as VIP guest status. The Premier Collection offers a $100 on-site amenity.

Citi Strata Elite Card

The Citi Strata Elite card offers access to the Reserve by Citi Travel luxury hotel collection. Book your stay through Citi Travel and receive elite-style benefits, including room upgrades at check-in (when available), complimentary breakfast for 2, free Wi-Fi, a $100 experience credit that varies by property, early check-in, and late checkout (when available).

The Hotel Collection offers cardholder benefits, including daily breakfast for 2, complimentary Wi-Fi, early check-in, and late checkout (when available). You must book stays through Citi Travel.

The Citi Strata Elite card also offers up to $300 in annual credits for hotel bookings made through Citi Travel. A 2-night or longer stay is required.

Additional Travel Benefits

The Capital One Venture X card and Citi Strata Elite card offer reimbursement for Global Entry application or renewal fees (up to $120) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85) every 4 years.

Also, neither card charges foreign transaction fees. As a frequent traveler, this benefit can save you money when using your card for foreign purchases, as these fees can be as high as 3%.

Capital One Venture X Card

Purchase travel through Capital One Travel and receive up to a $300 annual travel credit.

Cardholders also receive complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status with the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program.

Citi Strata Elite Card

The Citi Strata Elite card offers $200 in annual credits with Blacklane, a global chauffeur company. Credits are available in 2 installments: $100 from January through June and $100 from July through December. Additionally, with the card’s World Elite Mastercard benefits, you can earn $5 in monthly credit with Lyft after taking 3 rides. Mastercard benefits also include car rental discounts.

Cardholders can also access Citi Entertainment benefits with ticket presales, exclusive events, and discounts.

Please note that we have abbreviated descriptions of travel insurance coverage. The full descriptions and terms and conditions can be found in each card’s guide to benefits, distributed to you after card approval.

Bottom Line:

The Capital One Venture X card and Citi Strata Elite card have similar travel protections and benefits. Both offer standard trip protections, with the Capital One Venture X card having primary auto rental coverage. In contrast, the Citi Strata Elite card offers primary coverage outside the U.S. Both offer worldwide lounge access, hotel program benefits, no foreign transaction fees, and travel-related statement credits for specific purchases.

Shopping Protections and Benefits

Shopping protections can provide economic relief if an eligible item, purchased with your card, becomes damaged or suffers another covered loss.

Shopping benefits can save you money or allow you to earn additional rewards.

Here’s a quick overview of the shopping protections and benefits for the Capital One Venture X card and the Citi Strata Elite card, followed by more details:

Capital One Venture X Card

• Cellular telephone protection: Pay for your monthly cell phone bill with your card and receive up to $800, after a $50 deductible, if your cell phone is damaged or stolen, or in the case of involuntary or accidental parting.
• Purchase security: If an eligible item purchased with your card is lost or damaged within the first 120 days after the purchase date, you may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 per item, to a maximum of $50,000 per account per year.
• Extended warranty: For eligible items (purchased with your card) with a manufacturer’s warranty of less than 3 years, coverage is extended by 1 year.
• Return protection: If a merchant refuses to accept the return of an eligible item purchased with your card within 90 days of the purchase date, you may be eligible to receive up to $300 per item, with a maximum of $1,000 per year.
• Capital One Offers: Log in to your online account and click through Capital One Offers to earn statement credits or additional rewards on purchases at select retailers.

Citi Strata Elite Card

• Purchase Assurance Plus (also known as purchase protection) and extended warranty coverage are included benefits. Coverage details, along with terms and conditions, can be found in the card’s guide to benefits, which you’ll receive after approval.
• The up to $200 Splurge Credit allows you to select 2 merchants to use the credit each calendar year. Options include 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation.
• Citi Merchant Offers: Log in to your online account and select merchant offers to earn statement credits for purchases made with your card.

Bottom Line:

The Capital One Venture X card has the edge in shopping protections, with cell phone and return protection. For shopping benefits, the $200 Splurge Credit on the Citi Strata Elite card could provide value. Both cards offer purchase protection, an extended warranty, and shopping offers.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

It’s essential to understand any fees associated with the cards you hold. Here are the annual and authorized user fees for our featured cards:

The Capital One Venture X card has an annual fee of $395 and does not charge a fee to add up to 4 additional authorized users.

The Citi Strata Elite card has an annual fee of $595 and charges $75 for each authorized user.

Hot Tip:

Citigold relationship clients receive $145 annually toward their annual fee. Cardholders with a Citigold Private Client relationship receive $595 the first year and $145 each subsequent year.

Final Thoughts

It’s surprising how similar the Capital One Venture X card and Citi Strata Elite card are. The cards’ earning focus is on travel purchased through their respective travel portals, both have a long list of travel partners, and even their travel benefits are similar.

However, a few differences stand out. The Capital One Venture X card earns a minimum of 2x miles on every purchase and offers 10,000 bonus miles each card anniversary. In comparison, the Citi Strata Elite card earns a minimum of 1.5x points. If you spend a lot on dining and can earn up to 6x points, the Citi Strata Elite card could still be a good overall choice.

Then, there’s the issue of the annual fee, of which the Citi Strata Elite card has the higher of the 2 cards. The bottom line for which card is better for your situation comes down to doing the math.

Determining which card best rewards your specific spending mix, how you’ll redeem your rewards, and which statement credits and benefits you’ll utilize will help provide the answer.

Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits may be provided by Visa^® or Mastercard^® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.