Citi Strata Card vs. Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card [Detailed Comparison]

Key Takeaways

• The Citi Strata℠ Card and Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express earn well on everyday spending. The Citi Strata card offers unlimited earnings, whereas the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is limited to $6,000 in annual purchases in each of 3 categories.
• Neither card has an annual fee. However, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card charges foreign transaction fees of 2.7% (rates & fees), while the Citi Strata card does not.
• The Citi Strata card offers the option to transfer points to airline and hotel partners, while the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card earns Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for cash-back.

Perhaps you’re looking for an everyday spending card that earns rewards without incurring a high annual fee. You’d also like a card that provides value when it’s time to redeem those rewards.

You might think that’s a tall order for a no-annual-fee card, but today’s card comparison features 2 cards that fit that description perfectly.

The Citi Strata card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card will surprise you with their earning potential, but their similarities end there.

Join us as we explore the earning potential, redemption options, and benefits of our 2 featured cards.

Overview

Comparing Welcome Offers

No-annual-fee cards typically do not include generous welcome offers. Still, the Citi Strata card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card have offers that allow you to earn bonus ThankYou Points or cash-back in the immediate period following card approval.

Meeting minimum spending requirements in the specified period will result in earning the welcome bonus offer and jumpstarting your rewards account. The sooner you earn rewards, the sooner you can redeem them for something special.

These card snapshots contain the most recent welcome offers and more information on our featured cards:

Citi Strata℠ 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.

Citi Strata℠ Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 30,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

30,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$480

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, and then a variable APR 19.24%-29.24%.

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

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata card offers a fresh way to earn Citi ThankYou Points with a $0 annual fee, allowing you to maximize your spend at gas stations, supermarkets, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com
• 3x points at supermarkets, select transit, gas and EV charging stations, and an eligible self-select category of your choice (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salon or pet supply stores)
• 2x points at restaurants

Cons

• Doesn’t offer the best transfer ratio to Citi’s airline and hotel partners
• Charges foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• Earn 5x points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3x points per $1 on supermarkets, select transit, gas, and EV charging stations, and an eligible self-select category of your choice every quarter (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores).
• Earn 2x points per $1 at restaurants.
• Earn 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, and then a variable APR 19.24%-29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

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.

This cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!

Apply Now(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.

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

This cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.99%-28.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months

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

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cash-back credit cards, there are dozens of options to choose from. So what sets the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express apart from the rest?

This card is excellent at earning cash-back on your everyday purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases. So if you regularly spend money on everyday purchases, this could be the perfect card to add to your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3% back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases on online retail purchases on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.

Cons

• Rewards are not flexible and can only be redeemed for cash-back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.99% to 28.99% variable APR.
• Plan It^®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express^® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
• Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
• Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday^® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at Disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
• 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: 19.99%-28.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Earning Potential

The Citi Strata card earns flexible ThankYou Points, while the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card earns cash-back as Reward Dollars.

We’ll discuss redemption options next, but first, we’ll explain how the earning process works with each of our featured cards:

The Citi Strata card and Amex Blue Cash Everyday card earn rewards mostly on everyday purchase categories, rather than travel.

The self-select quarterly category on the Citi Strata card can add a 3x points earning category for your choice of purchases at fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores. The unlimited earnings could impact your earning potential if you have significant expenses in any of these categories.

While the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card earns well on common spending categories, purchases that earn 3% are limited to $6,000 each year per category.

The better card for earning will depend on your spending mix and level of spending. Big spenders will earn more with the Citi Strata card, which offers unlimited rewards. The Amex Blue Cash Everyday may be a good fit if you spend $18,000 or less annually at U.S. gas stations, supermarkets, and online retailers (with a maximum of $6,000 per category).

Redemption Options

Once you’ve accumulated rewards earned on the Citi Strata card or Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, you can redeem them for something special.

Here are the options you’ll have at redemption time with our featured cards:

The Citi Strata card offers a flexible redemption option to transfer ThankYou Points to Citi airline and hotel partners. The transfer ratio is less than that of Citi premium cards, such as the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card and the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, but it is still a good value for your rewards.

Sweet spots for transferring ThankYou Points include booking business class flights to Europe with Air France-KLM Flying Blue Promo Rewards flights or hotel award nights in the Nordic countries with Choice Privileges.

Other options for Citi Strata cardholders include redeeming points at a rate of 1 cent each for travel through Citi Travel or for a statement credit.

The rewards earned on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card are highly liquid. You can redeem Reward Dollars earned on the card for cash-back through a statement credit or at checkout on Amazon. Redeeming Reward Dollars is easy: log in to your online account, select Use Reward Dollars, and then Cash-Back.

Accumulating cash-back is a great way to save for a family vacation.

Bottom Line:

The $0-annual-fee Citi Strata card is ideal for consumers who want to earn rewards on everyday purchases and redeem them for travel. The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is a good choice for earning cash-back on everyday purchases to offset immediate or upcoming expenses. The Citi Strata card has greater redemption value potential, as you can transfer points to airline and hotel partners. In contrast, Rewards Dollars earned on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card have a fixed value of 1 cent each.

Travel Protections and Benefits

Travel protections can provide reimbursement should you experience a covered loss during your trip. Travel benefits can save you money.

No-annual-fee cards typically do not include many travel protections and benefits. Such is the case with the Citi Strata card and Amex Blue Cash Everyday card.

Citi Strata Card

The Citi Strata card includes several World Elite Mastercard travel and lifestyle benefits, including Lyft credits, Mastercard Global Service, and World Elite concierge services.

Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card

• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Reserve and pay for your car rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive secondary car rental insurance. Secondary means you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage applies. For one low fee that covers the entire car rental period, cardholders can purchase Premium Protection that includes primary coverage.

Shopping Protections and Benefits

Shopping protections can provide coverage for eligible items purchased with your card. Shopping benefits can save you money or allow you to earn additional rewards.

Here are some of the key shopping protections and benefits of the Citi Strata card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card:

Citi Strata Card

• Extended warranty coverage: Eligible items, purchased with the Citi Strata card, can be covered for an additional 24 months, up to a maximum of 7 years, in conjunction with the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Introductory 0% APR period on purchases: Cardholders with large purchase(s) may save money on interest rate charges with the 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, and then a variable APR 19.24%-29.24%.
• Citi Merchant Offers: Find offers in your online card account that provide a statement credit after you add the offer to your card and make the required purchase.

Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card

• Purchase protection: Eligible items purchased with your card may receive coverage for damage or theft, up to 90 days from the purchase date, for up to $1,000 per item and up to $50,000 per card account per year.
• Introductory 0% intro APR period on purchases: Save money on interest charges with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.99%-28.99% variable APR.
• Disney streaming credit: Enroll your card in this offer and receive up to $7 in credit each month for a Disney streaming bundle subscription of $9.99 or more, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+.
• Home Chef subscription credit: When you enroll your card and make a qualifying meal kit purchase with Home Chef, you can receive up to $180 in statement credits, up to $15 each month.
• Amex Offers: Log in to your online card account to find offers from retailers or service providers. Add the offer to your card, purchase, and receive a statement credit. Enrollment required.

Hot Tip:

Consumers with large, high-interest credit card balances may save money on interest rate charges by taking advantage of the introductory 0% APR period for balance transfers on the Citi Strata card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card. For the Citi Strata card, you’ll get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months, and then a variable APR 19.24%-29.24%. This offer applies to transfers made in the first 4 months after card approval. For the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, you’ll get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR of 19.99%-28.99%. The offer applies to transfers made within the first 60 days after card approval. There is a minimum fee of $5 or 3% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater, for either card.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

Understanding any associated fees you might incur with card membership is essential.

Fortunately, the Citi Strata card has a $0 annual fee, and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card also has a $0 annual fee.

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% on the transaction amount.

Additionally, neither card charges a fee to add authorized users.

Final Thoughts

The Citi Strata card is a stronger choice for travelers, as unlimited points can accumulate quickly with everyday spending and can then be transferred to Citi airline and hotel partners for award flights or free hotel nights.

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is also well-suited for everyday spending, but the 3% earning rate is limited to $6,000 in purchases per year per 3% category. Cash-back earned on the card can accumulate to help offset the cost of an annual family vacation, a significant purchase, home repairs, or even serve as an emergency fund. Since the card charges foreign transaction fees, it is not a good choice to use while traveling.

Additionally, the Citi Strata card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card can help cardholders save on interest charges by taking advantage of the introductory 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers.

With no annual fees and distinct card features and benefits, either card could be a suitable fit, depending on your spending level, preference for earning flexible points or cash-back, and redemption priorities.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase with their eligible card, purchase protection can help protect their covered purchases for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.