American Express® Blue Cash Everyday vs Citi Strata Elite℠
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Everyday | Citi Strata Elite℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $595 |
| Welcome offer | $200 statement credit | 100,000 ThankYou® Points |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Groceries | 3x | 1x |
| Gas | 3x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 12x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $455 | $628 |
| 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 household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday earns about $455 a year in rewards and the Citi Strata Elite℠ about $628, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Citi Strata Elite℠ charges $595, but carries about $735 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday delivers more total value, about $187 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. 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 Cash Everyday pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday 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 Cash Everyday if your spending leans toward groceries, gas. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ if your spending leans toward dining, travel, everything else.