Citi Strata Premier℠ vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Premier℠ | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 60,000 ThankYou® Points | No current offer |
| Dining | 3x | 1.5x |
| Groceries | 3x | 1.5x |
| Gas | 3x | 1.5x |
| Travel | 3x | 1.5x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1.5x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $551 | $437 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Cash back only |
| 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 household spending, the Citi Strata Premier℠ earns about $551 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $437, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi Strata Premier℠ charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Citi Strata Premier℠ delivers more total value, about $18 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and dining. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Strata Premier℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the PayPal Cashback Mastercard pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Strata Premier℠ if you will use travel transfers, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Strata Premier℠ 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 Premier℠ if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas. Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward streaming, everything else.