Strata vs Strata Elite

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

Economics

Dollar figures are per year unless the row says otherwise. Ongoing annual value is Miles' estimate of what the card adds per year after its annual fee: statement credits discounted for realistic use, benefits, and earning above a strong flat-rate card on a typical spending profile. First-year value is a separate net figure that includes the welcome bonus. A welcome bonus shown at its advertised maximum may not be available to every applicant; that figure is not marked as stronger. ★ marks the stronger comparable figure on other rows, and no row is marked when either figure is unknown.
Figure	Strata Citi	Strata Elite Citi
Annual fee	Best: $0 $595/yr less	$595
Ongoing annual value, after fee	Best: $95 $26/yr more	$69
First-year value	$285	Best: $884 $599/yr more
Foreign transaction fee	3%	Best: None
Authorized user fee	Best: $0 $75 less	$75

Sign-up Bonus

The current welcome offer as recorded in the dataset. No winner is marked: a bonus is points times a valuation times a spend requirement you may or may not clear, and the first-year value above already prices it.
Offer	Strata Citi	Strata Elite Citi
Current offer	20K points after $1K spend in the first 3 months	75K points after $6K spend in the first 3 months

Earning

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. ★ marks the higher return on a row. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.
Category	Strata Citi	Strata Elite Citi
Attractions booked through Citi Travel	5X7.5%	Best: 12X18%
Car rentals booked through Citi Travel	5X7.5%	Best: 12X18%
Hotels booked through Citi Travel	5X7.5%	Best: 12X18%
Air Travel booked through Citi Travel	—Unknown	Best: 6X9%
Dining for purchases authorized Friday 6:00 PM through Saturday 6:00 AM ET, and Saturday 6:00 PM through Sunday 6:00 AM ET (Citi Nights, based on authorization time not posting time)	—Unknown	Best: 6X9%
Dining (including delivery services) outside of Citi Nights	—Unknown	Best: 3X4.5%
EV charging	Best: 3X4.5%	—Unknown
Gas Stations	Best: 3X4.5%	—Unknown
Grocery Stores	Best: 3X4.5%	—Unknown
Self-select category (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores)	Best: 3X4.5%	—Unknown
Transit	Best: 3X4.5%	—Unknown
Dining	Best: 2X3%	—Unknown
All other purchases	1X1.5%	Best: 1.5X2.2%

Benefits

Statement credits, lounge access and elite status as listed in the dataset; protections are counted, not listed. No winner is marked: twelve small credits are not more than two large ones, and the row that prices them, ongoing annual value, is under Economics.
Benefit	Strata Citi	Strata Elite Citi
Statement credits	Lyft: $5 (Monthly)	Hotel via Citi Travel: $300 (Annual Calendar Year) Blacklane: $100 (Semi Annual Calendar Year) Splurge: $200 (Annual Calendar Year) Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
Lounge access	—Unknown	Priority Pass Select (unlimited) Admirals Club (4/yr)
Elite status	—Unknown	—Unknown
Protections	0	6

The same on both cards (4)

Rows where both cards state the same figure or the same earning rate. Nothing is marked, because there is no stronger side.
Fact	Strata	Strata Elite
Issuer	Citi	Citi
Rewards currency	Citi ThankYou Rewards	Citi ThankYou Rewards
Card type	Personal	Personal
Network	Mastercard	Mastercard

Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

Ask Miles which to get