Citi Strata Elite℠ vs Ink Business Cash®
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Elite℠ | Ink Business Cash® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 ThankYou® Points | |
| Advertising | 1.5% | 1% |
| Shipping | 1.5% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 1.5% | 5% |
| Phone & internet | 1.5% | 5% |
| Travel | 12% | 1% |
| Everything else | 1.5% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $1,206 | $684 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Pools with Chase → transferable |
| Network | Mastercard | Visa |
*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 Citi Strata Elite℠ earns about $1,206 a year in rewards and the Ink Business Cash® about $684, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi Strata Elite℠ charges $595, but carries about $735 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Ink Business Cash® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Citi Strata Elite℠ delivers more total value, about $294 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel and everything else. Both earn transferable points rather than flat cash, so the deciding factor is whose transfer partners reach the airlines and hotels you would actually book. On the sign-up bonus, the two are currently comparable in size. Note that Ink Business Cash® is running a limited-time offer above the usual amount, so that edge may not last. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, travel. Pick the Ink Business Cash® if your spending leans toward office supplies, phone & internet.