Citi Strata Elite℠ vs United℠ Business Card
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Elite℠ | United℠ Business Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | $150 |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 ThankYou® Points | 100,000 miles |
| Advertising | 1.5% | 1% |
| Shipping | 1.5% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 1.5% | 2% |
| Phone & internet | 1.5% | 1% |
| Travel | 12% | 2% |
| Everything else | 1.5% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $1,206 | $570 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Locked to United MileagePlus |
| 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 United℠ Business Card about $570, 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 United℠ Business Card charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Citi Strata Elite℠ delivers more total value, about $541 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 United℠ Business Card stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the United℠ Business Card if you want simplicity. 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 advertising, shipping, phone & internet. Pick the United℠ Business Card if your spending leans toward office supplies.