Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs Citi Strata℠
Side-by-side comparison
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | Citi Strata℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $149 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 20,000 ThankYou® Points ($200 value) | |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 2x | 3x |
| Gas | 1x | 3x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $382 | $511 |
| Points type | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards | Pools with Citi → transferable |
| Network | Visa | 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier earns about $382 a year in rewards and the Citi Strata℠ about $511, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier charges $149, 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 Citi Strata℠ delivers more total value, about $279 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℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Citi Strata℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Citi Strata℠ if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming.