Citi Strata℠ vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata℠ | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 20,000 ThankYou® Points ($200 value) | No current offer |
| Dining | 2x | 1.5x |
| Groceries | 3x | 1.5x |
| Gas | 3x | 1.5x |
| Travel | 1x | 1.5x |
| Streaming | 3x | 1.5x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $511 | $437 |
| Points type | Pools with Citi → transferable | Cash back only |
| 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 Citi Strata℠ earns about $511 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $437, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi Strata℠ has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the Citi Strata℠ delivers more total value, about $74 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 PayPal Cashback Mastercard pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Strata℠ if you will use travel transfers, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Strata℠ currently has the larger welcome offer. 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 dining, groceries, gas. Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward travel, everything else.