Apple Card vs Citi Strata Elite℠
Side-by-side comparison
| Apple Card | Citi Strata Elite℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $595 |
| Welcome offer | No current offer | 100,000 ThankYou® Points |
| Dining | 2x | 3x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1x |
| Gas | 2x | 1x |
| Travel | 2x | 12x |
| Streaming | 2x | 1x |
| Everything else | 2x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $583 | $628 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Mastercard | 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 Apple Card earns about $583 a year in rewards and the Citi Strata Elite℠ about $628, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Apple Card 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 Apple Card delivers more total value, about $183 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Apple Card pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Apple 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 Apple Card if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ if your spending leans toward dining, travel.