Citi Strata Premier℠ vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Premier℠ | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $149 |
| Welcome offer | 60,000 ThankYou® Points | 60,000 points |
| Advertising | 1% | 1% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1% |
| Travel | 3% | 3% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $630 | $588 |
| 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 business spending, the Citi Strata Premier℠ earns about $630 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business about $588, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi Strata Premier℠ charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business charges $149, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Citi Strata Premier℠ delivers more total value, about $96 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Strata Premier℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Citi Strata Premier℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business 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.