Citi Strata Elite℠ vs Capital One Spark Cash Select
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Elite℠ | Capital One Spark Cash Select | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 ThankYou® Points | $750 cash back |
| Advertising | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 12% | 1.5% |
| Everything else | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $1,206 | $675 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Pools with Capital One → transferable |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*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 Capital One Spark Cash Select about $675, 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 Capital One Spark Cash Select 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 $286 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel. 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 Citi Strata Elite℠ 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.