Citi Strata Elite℠ vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Elite℠ | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | $99 |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 ThankYou® Points | |
| Dining | 3x | 1x |
| Groceries | 1x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 12x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $628 | $373 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus about $373, 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Citi Strata Elite℠ delivers more total value, about $126 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Strata Elite℠ currently has the larger welcome offer. Note that Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus 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 dining, travel, everything else. Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus if your spending leans toward groceries, gas.