Citi Strata Elite℠ vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Elite℠ | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 ThankYou® Points | 125,000 points + 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 pts) |
| Dining | 3x | 3x |
| Groceries | 1x | 3x |
| Gas | 1x | 3x |
| Travel | 12x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $628 | $671 |
| 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 $628 a year in rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® about $671, 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 Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® delivers more total value, about $176 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 Boundless® stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® 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 Elite℠ if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, everything else.