Citi Strata Elite vs Amex Platinum
Strata Elite costs $300 less and earns 1.5× on everyday spending and 3× on dining, where Platinum earns 1×. Platinum earns 5× on flights booked with airlines and has the bigger lounge network and more credits, but most of them are tied to specific merchants. Everyday and dining spenders lean Strata Elite; people who fly a lot and would use the credits lean Platinum.
Which card earns more on your spending?
Enter what you spend in a typical month. We estimate a year of rewards on each card, after its annual fee.
Estimated rewards per year, after the annual fee
Strata Elite Wins on your numbers
1.5× everywhere, 3× dining (6× Friday and Saturday nights)
+$67
Rewards $662 · Fee −$595
Credits if counted: $300 Citi Travel hotel benefit
Amex Platinum
5× flights booked with airlines, 1× most else
−$310
Rewards $585 · Fee −$895
Credits if counted: $200 airline fee credit + $200 Uber Cash
Strata Elite comes out ahead by $377 a year on these numbers.
Break-even: about $900 a month on flights, with your other amounts as entered. Above that, Amex Platinum wins. Below it, Strata Elite does.
How we estimate
- Transferable points (Amex, Chase Sapphire and Ink, Citi Strata, Capital One, Bilt) are valued at 1.5¢. Cash back is valued at 1¢, SkyMiles at 1.1¢, and Hilton points at 0.5¢.
- Net is a year of rewards minus the annual fee. Credits count only when you tick the box, and only the ones listed under each card.
- Welcome bonuses are left out so the numbers reflect an ordinary year.
- Strata Elite: 3× dining (we leave out the 6× on Friday and Saturday nights), 1.5× everything else including direct flights and hotels, 12× hotels and 6× air through Citi Travel.
- Platinum: 5× flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel, 1× else.
- Strata Elite’s $200 Splurge and $200 Blacklane credits, and Platinum’s other lifestyle credits, are left out. Each card has a worth-it tool where you can tick the ones you use.
- Earn rates checked with issuers in October 2026. Offers change, so confirm terms with the issuer before you apply. Educational estimate, not financial advice.
Two cards are only part of the picture. Take these amounts to the full calculator to see which wallet wins across all your spending, including cards you already hold.
Compare every card on your spending →{"a":{"key":"citi-strata-elite","name":"Strata Elite","fee":595,"cpp":0.015,"base":1.5,"earn":[{"inputs":["dining"],"rate":3},{"inputs":["portal"],"rate":12}],"credits":300},"b":{"key":"amex-platinum","name":"Amex Platinum","fee":895,"cpp":0.015,"base":1,"earn":[{"inputs":["airfare"],"rate":5},{"inputs":["portal"],"rate":5}],"credits":400},"focus":"","inputs":[{"key":"dining","prefill":"dining","noun":"dining"},{"key":"airfare","prefill":"airfare","noun":"flights"},{"key":"hotels","prefill":"hotels","noun":"hotels"},{"key":"other","prefill":"other","noun":"everyday spending"}],"max":20000,"path":"/credit-card-rewards-calculator","pivot":"","step":10}Which one should you get?
Pick Strata Elite if…
- Dining and everyday spending are your biggest lines, where Strata Elite earns 3× and 1.5× against Platinum’s 1×.
- You want American AAdvantage transfers and four Admirals Club passes a year.
- You would rather pay $595 than $895 for a card you use for most purchases.
Pick Amex Platinum if…
- Airfare is your biggest travel cost, and you would rather earn 5× on it.
- You fly Delta, or want Centurion Lounges and Hilton and Marriott Gold status.
- You would use the hotel, Resy, entertainment, and Uber credits anyway.
What actually differs
Checked with the issuers in October 2026. Terms change, so confirm with the issuer before you apply.
Annual fee
Strata Elite
$595
Amex Platinum
$895
Earning
Strata Elite
3× dining (6× Fri–Sat nights); 1.5× else; 12× hotels and 6× air via Citi Travel
Amex Platinum
5× flights with airlines or Amex Travel; 5× prepaid Amex Travel hotels; 1× else
Credits
Strata Elite
$300 Citi Travel hotel benefit; $200 Splurge credit; $200 Blacklane
Amex Platinum
$600 hotel; $400 Resy; $300 digital entertainment; $219 CLEAR+; $200 airline fee; $200 Uber Cash; lifestyle credits
Lounges and status
Strata Elite
Priority Pass; four Admirals Club passes a year
Amex Platinum
Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club when flying Delta; Hilton and Marriott Gold
Transfer partners
Strata Elite
American AAdvantage, Air France-KLM, Turkish, Singapore, Virgin Atlantic
Amex Platinum
Delta, ANA, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Hilton, Marriott
| Feature | Strata Elite | Amex Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | $895 |
| Earning | 3× dining (6× Fri–Sat nights); 1.5× else; 12× hotels and 6× air via Citi Travel | 5× flights with airlines or Amex Travel; 5× prepaid Amex Travel hotels; 1× else |
| Credits | $300 Citi Travel hotel benefit; $200 Splurge credit; $200 Blacklane | $600 hotel; $400 Resy; $300 digital entertainment; $219 CLEAR+; $200 airline fee; $200 Uber Cash; lifestyle credits |
| Lounges and status | Priority Pass; four Admirals Club passes a year | Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club when flying Delta; Hilton and Marriott Gold |
| Transfer partners | American AAdvantage, Air France-KLM, Turkish, Singapore, Virgin Atlantic | Delta, ANA, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Hilton, Marriott |
FAQ
For dining and everyday spending, often yes: it costs $300 less and earns 3× on dining and 1.5× on everything else against Platinum’s 1×. Platinum wins if most of your travel spend is airfare, where it earns 5×, and you will use its credits and lounges.
Platinum. It has Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, and Sky Club visits when flying Delta. Strata Elite has Priority Pass and four American Airlines Admirals Club passes a year.
Strata Elite’s $300 benefit needs a hotel stay booked through Citi Travel. Most of Platinum’s credits are tied to specific merchants and paid monthly or twice a year, so the total only counts if you would spend there anyway.