American Express Blue Business Cash Card vs Citi Strata Elite℠
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express Blue Business Cash Card | Citi Strata Elite℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $595 |
| Welcome offer | $250 statement credit | 100,000 ThankYou® Points |
| Advertising | 2% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 2% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 2% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 2% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 2% | 12% |
| Everything else | 2% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $900 | $1,206 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of business spending, the American Express Blue Business Cash Card earns about $900 a year in rewards and the Citi Strata Elite℠ about $1,206, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express Blue Business Cash Card has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Citi Strata Elite℠ charges $595, but carries about $700 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Citi Strata Elite℠ delivers more total value, about $61 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the American Express Blue Business Cash Card pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the American Express Blue Business Cash Card if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Strata Elite℠ currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express Blue Business Cash Card if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ if your spending leans toward travel.