Is the Citi Strata Elite worth it in 2026?

Keep it+$2,374 year one

Worth keeping long-term. The recurring credits you'd actually use cover the annual fee on their own, before the welcome bonus even enters the math.

Assumes you use every recurring credit and value points at 2.0¢. Adjust for your spend in the calculator →

The year-one math

Welcome bonus80,000 pts × 2.0¢: +$1,600
Recurring credits (if fully used): +$1,369
Annual fee: −$595
Year-one value: +$2,374
Ongoing (year 2+, no bonus)credits − fee: +$774

Recurring credits

Hotel Credit (semi-annual)$600/yr
$1K Mister Credit (quarterly via dining/grocery)$100/yr
Blacklane Chauffeur Credit$200/yr
Priority Pass Select$469/yr

Apply for the Citi Strata Elite

The application happens on Citi ThankYou's site. Then track every recurring credit — and your real keep/churn verdict — in the iOS app.

Apply for Citi Strata EliteiOS app coming soon

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FAQ

Is the Citi Strata Elite worth it in 2026?

Keep it. Worth keeping long-term. The recurring credits you'd actually use cover the annual fee on their own, before the welcome bonus even enters the math. This assumes you use every recurring credit and value points at 2.0¢ — adjust both in the calculator for your own situation.

Should I cancel my Citi Strata Elite?

Probably not on the numbers alone — the recurring credits ($1,369/yr) already cover the $595 fee, so it pays for itself in year 2+ if you use them.

How is "worth it" calculated?

Year-one value = welcome bonus value (points × cents-per-point) + the annualized value of the card's recurring credits − the annual fee. It's the same model the PointsCraft iOS app uses to show what your wallet is actually worth.