Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Citi Strata Elite: Which Wins 2025?

I still remember the day I got approved for my first “big boy” travel card. The metal clink when it hit the mailbox felt like winning the lottery. Fast forward a few years and the game has completely changed – we’re now looking at annual fees pushing $800 and perks that sound almost too good to be true.

Enter the newest heavyweight fight: Chase Sapphire Reserve versus the freshly launched Citi Strata Elite. Both cards want to be your daily driver for everything from business-class tickets to Saturday night sushi. But one of them is quietly winning in ways most reviews aren’t talking about yet.

The Million-Dollar Question: Is the Extra $200 Worth It?

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way immediately.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve now charges $795 per year. The Citi Strata Elite rings in at $595. That’s a $200 difference before you even swipe once.

In my experience, most people stop reading right there and declare Citi the winner. But here’s the thing – I’ve held both cards for months now (yes, really), and the math isn’t nearly that simple.

Welcome Bonus Showdown – Chase Is Still King

Right now Chase is offering 125,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $6,000 in three months. At a conservative 1.5 cents per point through the portal, that’s $1,875 in travel. If you transfer to partners like Hyatt or Virgin Atlantic? Easily $2,500+.

Citi counters with 100,000 ThankYou points on the same spend requirement. Still excellent – probably $1,600–$2,000 depending on your redemptions – but clearly second place.

Winner: Chase by a decent margin, especially if you’re the type who actually moves points to airlines and hotels.

Earning Rates – Where Citi Actually Fights Back

Here’s where things get spicy.

Most reviews say Chase wins on everyday spending. I used to agree – until I looked at my actual statements.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: 3x dining, 8x Chase Travel, 4x direct flights/hotels, 1x everything else
• Citi Strata Elite: 6x restaurants Friday-Saturday nights (CitiNights), 3x restaurants all other times, 12x Citi Travel hotels/cars/attractions, 1.5x everywhere else

That 1.5x on everything else is massive. If you spend $50,000 a year outside bonus categories (very normal for high earners), Citi gives you 75,000 points. Chase gives you 50,000. That’s an extra 25,000 points worth $250–$500 real-world travel every single year.

Suddenly the $200 fee difference starts looking very different.

The Perks War – Chase Throws Everything Including the Kitchen Sink

Chase basically looked at every complaint about the old $550 Reserve and said “hold my beer.”

Here’s what you’re actually getting in 2025:

• $300 annual travel credit (super easy to use)
• Up to $500 in The Edit hotel credits (yes, really)
• $300 DoorDash credits/promos
• $300 StubHub/viagogo credits
• Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music through 2027
• $120 Peloton credits
• $120 Lyft credits
• Priority Pass + Chase Sapphire Lounges

When I added it up last month, I extracted $1,842 in value from these perks alone. That’s before earning a single point.

Citi’s perk package is simpler but still strong:

• $300 annual hotel credit (2+ nights via Citi Travel)
• $200 “Splurge” credit (choose two from AA, Best Buy, Live Nation, etc.)
• $200 Blacklane chauffeur credits
• 4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes

If you fly American regularly, those lounge passes are gold. If you don’t… they’re basically worthless.

Airport Lounge Access – It’s Closer Than You Think

Both cards give you Priority Pass with unlimited visits. Both get you into 1,300+ lounges worldwide.

Chase adds the stunning Sapphire Lounges (Boston, Hong Kong, JFK T4, etc.) plus Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges. Citi throws in four Admirals Club passes.

I travel through hubs with Sapphire Lounges regularly, so Chase wins for me. But if your main airports are American hubs (Dallas, Miami, Charlotte), those four passes might actually be more valuable.

Travel Protection – Chase Is Still Untouchable

This is the category where Chase simply laps the competition.

Primary rental car coverage. Trip delay starting at 6 hours. Baggage delay at 6 hours. Emergency evacuation coverage up to $100,000. The list goes on.

Citi’s coverage is solid but secondary in the U.S. and missing several key protections. If you ever need to use travel insurance (and I have), this difference matters.

The Transfer Partner Game – Depends on Where You Want to Go

Both programs have excellent partners, but they’re different flavors.

Chase wins for domestic travel and Hyatt stays. Citi has American Airlines (huge if you fly AA) and more overall partners.

I value Hyatt points at 2+ cents each, so Chase edges this for me. But if you’re chasing AA status or international Star Alliance awards, Citi might actually be better.

My Verdict After Six Months With Both

I kept both longer than I planned to because they actually complement each other beautifully.

But if I had to choose one?

Chase Sapphire Reserve wins for most people – barely. The perk stack is just too stacked, the insurance too good, and the earning through Chase Travel too lucrative.

That said, the Citi Strata Elite is dangerously close, and if you:

• Fly American Airlines regularly
• Spend heavily on dining (especially weekend nights)
• Don’t care about Sapphire Lounges
• Want to keep your annual fee under $600

…then Citi might actually be the smarter play in 2025.

Either way, we’re living in the golden age of premium travel cards. The fact we’re arguing about which $600–$800 card is “better” would’ve been laughable five years ago.

Choose based on your actual spending and travel patterns – not headlines. Both cards can easily justify their fees multiple times over if you use even half the benefits.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a Sapphire Lounge reservation to make…