The premium bank card market retains including new choices. How do you decide?
This yr introduced within the introduction of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see charges and costs) and an overhaul of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs).
These playing cards come from two standard issuers and stack profitable incomes charges with a protracted checklist of advantages in trade for top annual charges.
Whereas the Strata Elite and the Sapphire Reserve are in the identical class, there are many variations between them. Let’s evaluate and see which one is the only option in your pockets.
Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve comparability
| Strata Elite | Sapphire Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual payment | $595 | $795 |
| Welcome bonus | Earn 80,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Should you apply at a Citi department in particular person, you possibly can earn a better welcome provide of 100,000 bonus factors with the identical spending necessities. | Earn 125,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening. |
| Incomes charges |
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| Standout advantages |
|
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| Factors valuation, per TPG’s September 2025 valuations | 1.9 cents | 2.05 cents |
Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve welcome provide
The Strata Elite is providing new cardholders 80,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Nevertheless, in case you apply in particular person at a Citi department, you can earn a better welcome provide of 100,000 bonus factors after assembly the identical spending requirement.
TPG’s September 2025 valuations worth this bonus at $1,520 (or $1,900 in case you apply in a Citi department).
New candidates to the Sapphire Reserve can earn 125,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
This provide is value $2,563, per TPG’s September 2025 valuations.
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Chase has additionally up to date its bonus eligibility necessities, so chances are you’ll not be capable to earn the Sapphire Reserve’s provide in case you at present maintain a Sapphire card or have beforehand earned a bonus on the Sapphire Reserve. Chase can be identified for its notorious 5/24 rule, so calculate your standing as nicely.
As all the time, it is necessary to notice software restrictions while you go to use for both card.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. Its provide is value greater than the Strata Elite’s.
Associated: The most effective bank card welcome bonuses accessible now
Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve advantages
Each the Strata Elite and the Sapphire Reserve present a protracted checklist of advantages to assist offset their excessive annual charges.
To begin with, each playing cards present airport lounge entry, albeit to completely different levels. Strata Elite Card holders obtain 4 Admirals Membership Citi Strata Elite passes every calendar yr. Should you maintain the Sapphire Reserve, you will obtain entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges. Each playing cards additionally embrace Precedence Move, which unlocks entry to greater than 1,700 lounges worldwide.
The playing cards present a number of assertion credit.
The Strata Elite affords:
- As much as $300 annual assertion credit score off a pay as you go lodge keep (minimal two-night keep is required) when booked by way of Citi Journey
- As much as $200 Splurge credit score to make use of in your selection of as much as two manufacturers: 1stDibs, American Airways, Finest Purchase, Future Private Coaching and Stay Nation
- As much as $200 in assertion credit (break up into two $100 biannual credit) for Blacklane chauffeur bookings
- World Entry or TSA PreCheck software payment credit score of as much as $120 each 4 years
The Sapphire Reserve contains:
- As much as $500 annual assertion credit score for The Edit, Chase’s curated assortment of luxurious resorts and resorts (break up into two biannual $250 credit) for pay as you go bookings of two nights or extra
- As much as $300 annual assertion credit score towards all journey purchases
- As much as $300 annual assertion credit score for StubHub or Viagogo purchases of live performance and occasion tickets by way of Dec. 31, 2027 (break up into two biannual $150 credit; activation required)
- $300 yearly in month-to-month DoorDash promotions (a $5 restaurant promo and two $10 promos on nonrestaurant purchases every month; activate by Dec. 31, 2027), plus a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership valued at $120 yearly (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
- As much as $300 annual eating credit score and primetime reservations at Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables, which you’ll be able to e-book on OpenTable (break up into two biannual $150 credit routinely utilized inside the Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables program)
- Complimentary annual memberships for Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions by way of June 22, 2027 (one-time activation per service is required by way of chase.com or the Chase Cell app)
- $120 in annual assertion credit towards a Peloton membership ($10 month-to-month by way of Dec. 31, 2027)
- $120 in annual Lyft in-app credit (as much as $10 month-to-month by way of Sept. 30, 2027)
- Entry to Chase Sapphire airport lounges and Precedence Move lounges (excluding Precedence Move eating places)
- Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite standing by way of Dec. 31, 2027 (with the flexibility to spend your solution to Diamond Elite standing)
- World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus software payment credit score of as much as $120 each 4 years
You can even obtain additional advantages after spending $75,000 on the Sapphire Reserve in a calendar yr. These embrace:
- Southwest Fast Rewards A-Record standing
- $500 Southwest Airways credit score when reserving by way of Chase Journey
- Complimentary IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite standing
- $250 credit score for The Outlets at Chase
The Strata Elite’s credit add as much as $700 in annual worth (not together with World Entry or TSA PreCheck because it kicks in as soon as each 4 years). In the meantime, the Sapphire Reserve offers as much as $2,060 in annual credit.
Nevertheless, the only option right here will rely on which credit you’d maximize probably the most and what lounge entry issues to you. Take into account the way you already spend and evaluate that to what every card offers.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. It contains extra credit at a better worth and wider lounge entry.
Associated: Forgettable assertion credit guidelines: Perks and advantages to not be missed
Incomes factors with the Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve
With the Strata Elite, you will earn:
- 12 factors per greenback spent on sights, automotive leases and resorts booked by way of Citi Journey
- 6 factors per greenback spent on air journey booked by way of Citi Journey
- 6 factors per greenback spent at eating places, together with restaurant supply companies on CitiNights purchases, each Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to six a.m. Jap time and three factors per greenback spent another time
- 1.5 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases
The Sapphire Reserve earns:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on eligible Peloton purchases of $150 or extra (by way of Dec. 30, 2027)
- 8 factors per greenback spent on all Chase Journey purchases
- 5 factors per greenback spent on eligible Lyft rides (by way of Sept. 30, 2027)
- 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and resorts booked immediately
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating purchases worldwide
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
Should you’re hoping to spend incessantly in an issuer’s portal, you will get extra from spending on the Strata Elite (apart from air journey). The Sapphire Reserve comes out forward on flights and resorts booked immediately.
CitiNights places the Strata Elite forward in eating earn charges on Friday and Saturday nights. The playing cards earn the identical at eating places in any other case. The Sapphire Reserve contains bonus-earning for eligible Peloton and Lyft journey purchases, whereas the Strata Elite earns 1.5 factors per greenback spent on normal purchases (higher than the Sapphire Reserve’s 1 level per greenback).
Winner: Strata Elite. It earns extra on journey portal bookings and eating (on choose nights) and has a better incomes charge on nonbonus spending. The Sapphire Reserve is the higher card in case you incessantly e-book air journey or resorts immediately.
Associated: Finest rewards bank cards
Redeeming factors with the Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve
You’ll be able to redeem Citi ThankYou Rewards factors earned with the Strata Elite for money rewards, present playing cards, assertion credit and journey booked by way of Citi Journey at 1 cent per level.
These flat-rate redemption choices are easy, however they depart potential worth on the desk. That is as a result of we advocate transferring your ThankYou Rewards factors to companions to obtain extra worth per level.
The Sapphire Reserve earns Chase Final Rewards factors, which might be redeemed for present playing cards, assertion credit and even Amazon purchases. Nevertheless, we do not normally advocate this route because it sometimes yields between 0.8 and 1 cent per level in worth.
Due to this, we usually advocate redeeming your Chase factors for journey. Should you select to e-book by way of the Chase Journey portal, you can obtain as much as 2 cents per level in worth, because of Factors Increase.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. Factors Increase offers extra worth when redeeming for journey than the flat-rate choice provided by the Strata Elite.
Associated: How (and why) it is best to earn transferable bank card factors
Transferring factors with the Strata Elite vs. Sapphire Reserve
Transferring your factors earned with the Strata Elite or the Sapphire Reserve to considered one of Citi’s or Chase’s loyalty program companions, respectively, will provide you with the perfect worth in your factors.
ThankYou Rewards factors switch to 22 companions. Citi just lately added American Airways AAdvantage as a 1:1 switch accomplice, making ThankYou Rewards the one program that transfers on to American Airways AAdvantage. This improvement is a recreation changer for American Airways loyalists.
ThankYou Rewards factors additionally switch to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles and Wyndham Rewards.
Chase Final Rewards factors switch to 14 companions, together with Air Canada Aeroplan, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt. They switch at a 1:1 ratio to the entire issuer’s companions.
World of Hyatt is a favourite amongst award vacationers due to the worth present in its revealed award chart. That is why transferring Chase Final Rewards factors to Hyatt is considered one of our favourite methods to make use of our factors.
Winner: Tie. Each packages present wonderful switch companions, so the only option relies on which packages you utilize most frequently.
Associated: Why Citi’s latest switch accomplice has modified my bank card and factors and miles methods
Ought to I get the Strata Elite or Sapphire Reserve?
Whereas each playing cards are oriented as life-style playing cards to swipe for assertion credit and excessive factors earnings, a number of components should be thought of when selecting one.
The Strata Elite earns extra for spending in its journey portal (besides on air journey) and options CitiNights perks to earn extra on eating over the weekend. It has fewer assertion credit and a decrease annual payment, which may very well be positives when in comparison with the Sapphire Reserve.
Chase Final Rewards factors and Citi ThankYou Rewards factors are each helpful currencies, although TPG’s September 2025 valuations give a slight edge to Chase. Both method, it is value contemplating the way you’d use your factors. Should you’re an American Airways loyalist hoping to earn AAdvantage miles, for example, the Citi card can be a greater choice. However in case you see your self utilizing your factors to e-book Hyatt stays, it makes extra sense to go together with the Chase card.
General, there is no one-size-fits-all reply with these two playing cards. Your journey habits, frequent bills and private preferences might want to play the biggest position in your choice.
Associated: How to decide on a bank card for airport lounge entry
Backside line
Since premium playing cards include excessive annual charges, it is necessary to take your time and look over all the advantages earlier than you select. Each of those playing cards include lists of assertion credit and a number of advantages that take intentionality to maximise. Each playing cards require thought and a little bit of group.
Plus, keep in mind to think about your eligibility for approval and bonuses, and make your choice based mostly on what you worth most.
To study extra, learn our full evaluations of the Strata Elite and Sapphire Reserve playing cards.
Apply right here: Citi Strata Elite Card
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
