Citi Strata Elite℠ vs Ink Business Preferred®
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Elite℠ | Ink Business Preferred® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 ThankYou® Points | 100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points |
| Advertising | 1.5% | 3% |
| Shipping | 1.5% | 3% |
| Office supplies | 1.5% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 1.5% | 3% |
| Travel | 12% | 3% |
| Everything else | 1.5% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $1,206 | $846 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| 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 Preferred® about $846, 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 Preferred® charges $95, but carries about $10 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Citi Strata Elite℠ delivers more total value, about $222 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. 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 office supplies, travel, everything else. Pick the Ink Business Preferred® if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, phone & internet.