Citi Strata Elite℠ vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold®
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Elite℠ | Marriott Bonvoy Bold® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 75,000 ThankYou® Points | |
| Dining | 3x | 4x |
| Groceries | 1x | 4x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 1.5x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 2x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $439 | $763 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy |
| 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 household spending, the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns about $439 a year in rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® about $763, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi Strata Elite℠ charges $595, but carries about $700 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® delivers more total value, about $570 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and everything else. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Strata Elite℠ currently has the larger welcome offer. Note that Marriott Bonvoy Bold® 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 Marriott Bonvoy Bold® if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.