Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card vs Citi Strata℠
Side-by-side comparison
| Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card | Citi Strata℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $295 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $1,500 cash back | 20,000 ThankYou® Points ($200 value) |
| Advertising | 2% | 1% |
| Shipping | 2% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 2% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 2% | 1% |
| Travel | 2% | 1% |
| Everything else | 2% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $900 | $510 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Pools with Citi → transferable |
| 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 Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card earns about $900 a year in rewards and the Citi Strata℠ about $510, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card charges $295, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Citi Strata℠ has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card delivers more total value, about $95 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and advertising. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Strata℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Strata℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.