Amex Gold vs Citi Strata Premier
Membership Rewards vs ThankYou Points
Verified October 2026
The Citi Strata Premier ($95) undercuts the Amex Gold ($325) on annual fee. Pick the Amex Gold for everyday prepaid hotel stays spending (5x); pick the Citi Strata Premier for everyday restaurants spending (3x).
At a Glance
American Express Gold Card
- Annual Fee
- $325
- Signup Bonus
- 100,000 points
- Network
- American Express
- Points Currency
- Membership Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Flights 3xRestaurants 4xUs Supermarkets 4xPrepaid Hotel Stays 5x
Citi Strata Premier Card
- Annual Fee
- $95
- Signup Bonus
- 75,000 points
- Network
- Mastercard
- Points Currency
- ThankYou Points
- Earning Rates
-
Restaurants 3xSupermarkets 3xEverything Else 1xGas Ev Charging 3xAir Hotel Travel 3x
Category Breakdown
How they compare across key categories
Annual Fee
Citi Strata Premier winsAmex Gold $325 vs Citi Strata Premier $95
Welcome Bonus
Amex Gold winsAmex Gold: 100,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months vs Citi Strata Premier: 75,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months
Top Earning Rate
Amex Gold winsAmex Gold: 5x on prepaid hotel stays vs Citi Strata Premier: 3x on restaurants
Perks & Credits
Amex Gold winsAmex Gold: 6 listed benefits vs Citi Strata Premier: 2 listed benefits
Transfer Partners
TieAmex Gold: 20+ airline and hotel partners vs Citi Strata Premier: 14+ airline and hotel partners
Perks & Benefits
American Express Gold
- Dining credit ($120)
- Resy credit ($100)
- Dunkin credit ($84)
- Uber Cash ($120)
- Hotel Collection credit ($100)
- Hertz Five Star status
Citi Strata Premier
- $100 annual hotel credit (single stay $500+)
- No foreign transaction fees
Which Is Right for You?
Get the Amex Gold if...
- Premium benefits to offset the $325 fee
- Earns 5x on prepaid hotel stays
- Earns 4x on restaurants
- Dining credit ($120)
Get the Citi Strata Premier if...
- Lower $95 annual fee
- Earns 3x on restaurants
- Earns 3x on supermarkets
- $100 annual hotel credit (single stay $500+)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Gold or Citi Strata Premier better?
The Citi Strata Premier ($95) undercuts the Amex Gold ($325) on annual fee. Pick the Amex Gold for everyday prepaid hotel stays spending (5x); pick the Citi Strata Premier for everyday restaurants spending (3x). Both earn transferable rewards, so many points collectors hold one from each ecosystem.
Which has the lower annual fee, the Amex Gold or Citi Strata Premier?
The Citi Strata Premier has the lower annual fee at $95, versus $325 for the Amex Gold.
Which card earns points faster?
The Amex Gold earns up to 5x on prepaid hotel stays, while the Citi Strata Premier earns up to 3x on restaurants.
Can I have both the Amex Gold and the Citi Strata Premier?
Yes. They're issued independently, so you can hold both and earn Membership Rewards and ThankYou Points side by side.
Ready to use your points?
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Earn bonus points with these credit card offers
Can't find availability at your current points balance? These credit cards earn points you can put towards your next flight.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Personal · Annual fee $895
175,000 points
after $12,000 in 6 months
- Airline incidentals credit ($200)
- Uber credit ($200)
- Lounge access
American Express Gold Card
Personal · Annual fee $325
100,000 points
after $8,000 in 6 months
- Dining credit ($120)
- Resy credit ($100)
- Dunkin credit ($84)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Personal · Annual fee $795
100,000 points
after $6,000 in 3 months
- Annual Travel Credit ($300)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit ($120)
- The Edit Hotel Credit ($500)
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Business · Annual fee $95
100,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $8,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- 3x points on travel & shipping
- 3x points on advertising
- 3x points on internet/cable/phone
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Personal · Annual fee $95
75,000 points
after $5,000 in 3 months
- Hotel credit ($50)
- DoorDash DashPass
- Peloton credit ($60)
Capital One Venture Rewards
Personal · Annual fee $95
75,000 points
after $4,000 in 3 months
- Capital One Travel credit ($300)
Credit card approval subject to eligibility. Terms and conditions apply. American Express cards shown are available to US residents only.