American Express
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Credit cards
$95/yrAnnual fee
Explore this product Your shortlist, side by side
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Citi Strata Premier Card
Find the differences that matter for your next decision.
Citi
Citi Strata Premier Card
Credit cards
$95/yrAnnual fee
Explore this product What matters most to you?
Start with all rankable specifications, or focus on a particular use.
Your starting point
Buy the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express.
- Leads 2 of 3 rankable overall specs; Citi Strata Premier Card takes 1.
- Regular APR: 19.24% – 29.99% Variable APR vs 21.24% – 29.24% Variable APR
How we reached this
We compare the published specifications relevant to your priority. Each rankable specification counts once; your selected requirements can rule a product out. This is a guide to the numbers, not a laboratory performance score.
Late fee: Up to $40 vs Up to $41
Same annual fee, so the spec lead is the whole story.
The trade-off to know
Check first: the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has foreign transaction fee. Tick them under deal-breakers if that rules it out.
Look at the differences ↓Refine your requirements
What would rule one out?
Side by side
The differences, in detail.
Start with the key specs, then explore as much as you need.
| What you’re comparing | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | Citi Strata Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual feeFees & Rates | $95 | $95 |
| Regular APRFees & Rates | 19.24% – 29.99% Variable APR | 21.24% – 29.24% Variable APR |
| Foreign transaction feeFees & Rates | 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars | None (0%) |
| Late feeFees & Rates | Up to $40 | Up to $41 |
| Rewards rateRewards & Perks | 6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 6% on select US streaming subscriptions, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 1% on other purchases | 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions via Citi Travel; 3X points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, EV charging stations, air travel, and other hotels; 1X on all other purchases |
Showing 5 of 10 specifications. Missing values stay unlisted. About the sources
Both sides of the decision
What you gain. What you give up.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Reasons to choose it
- Market-leading 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6k/year)
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations
Worth considering
- $95 annual fee ($0 intro fee in first year for select offers)
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee
Citi Strata Premier Card
Reasons to choose it
- Broad 3X bonus categories across everyday and travel spending (dining, groceries, gas, hotels, flights)
- $100 annual hotel benefit on bookings of $500+ via CitiTravel.com
- No foreign transaction fees and 1:1 point transfers to airline and hotel loyalty programs
Worth considering
- $95 annual fee
- No airport lounge access benefit
Beyond the spec sheet
Living with your choice.
Explore the ownership details available for this pair.
What three years could cost
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
3-Year Estimated Total$285
Citi Strata Premier Card
3-Year Estimated Total$285
Know what’s behind the comparison
Published specs. Visible sources.
Clinchmark compares manufacturer specifications and other published information. We have not independently lab-tested these products. Editorial assessments and unknown values are identified in the specification details.
Catalog snapshot: September 1, 2026. Prices, availability, and provider terms can change.
Still weighing it up?
Which card has the lower annual fee, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Citi Strata Premier Card?
Both charge the same annual fee.
What is the biggest catch with the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Citi Strata Premier Card?
Both has this deal-breaker: annual fee. You pay before a single reward is earned.
Which is better for travel, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or the Citi Strata Premier Card?
Too close to call on travel from the spec sheets. Only foreign transaction fee is rankable here. Rewards rate: 6% cash back at US supermarkets vs 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and… Sign-up bonus: $250 statement credit after spending $3,000… vs 70,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending…
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 10 specs tracked here, 7 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.
A few other possibilities.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express ↗Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Discover it Cash Back ↗American Express Gold Card vs Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express ↗American Express Gold Card vs Citi Strata Premier Card ↗