IHG One Rewards Premier vs Citi Strata Premier: Which Is Better In 2025?

Citi Strata Premier® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the Citi Strata Premier® card stands out in a crowded field of travel rewards cards.

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• It offers a robust rewards structure, earning bonus points on a wide range of everyday spending categories like gas and groceries, plus elevated rewards on travel.
• You can transfer your ThankYou® Points to an extensive list of airline and hotel partners, providing excellent flexibility for booking award travel.
• The annual $100 hotel credit for a single stay of $500 or more booked through Citi Travel more than covers the card's annual fee (See Rates & Fees), making it easy to get value from the card each year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Earns bonus points across an impressively wide range of categories, from travel and dining to everyday essentials.
• ThankYou® Points offer great flexibility with a long list of airline and hotel transfer partners.
• An annual hotel credit helps offset the annual fee, and the card includes a strong set of travel protections.

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Cons

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• The annual hotel credit has restrictive booking requirements, and the best travel rewards rates are only available when booking through the Citi travel portal.
• Travel protections like car rental insurance are secondary, meaning they only kick in after your personal insurance.
• It lacks some premium perks common to other travel cards, such as airport lounge access or credits for programs like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Citi Strata Premier® vs IHG One Rewards Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, IHG One Rewards Premier or Citi Strata Premier®, depends on your travel style and what you value in a rewards card.

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: This card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who regularly stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts and want to maximize hotel-specific perks.
• Citi Strata Premier® Card: This card is ideal for travelers seeking flexible rewards that can be earned across a wide range of everyday and travel spending categories.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Rewards are redeemed as points primarily for stays within the IHG family of hotels and resorts, offering a direct path to free nights and other hotel-related perks.

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Citi Strata Premier® Card: ThankYou® Points provide significant flexibility, allowing you to transfer them to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs or redeem them for travel, gift cards, or cash back.

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Travel Perks

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• Both the IHG One Rewards Premier and Citi Strata Premier® cards are excellent for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee.
• The IHG One Rewards Premier card’s travel benefits are concentrated within the IHG hotel network, granting automatic Platinum Elite status and an anniversary free night. In contrast, the Citi Strata Premier® card offers an annual hotel credit for a qualifying stay booked through its travel portal, which can be used at a wider variety of properties.
• When booking award travel, the IHG One Rewards Premier provides a fourth-night-free benefit on point redemptions at IHG hotels. The Citi Strata Premier® card’s strength is its flexible ThankYou® Points, which can be transferred to numerous airline partners for booking flights.
• For airport conveniences, the IHG One Rewards Premier card includes a statement credit for the application fee of a trusted traveler program like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, a perk not offered by the Citi card.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To eliminate the guesswork, a financial companion like Kudos allows you to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best match for your spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see projected earnings before you apply.
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Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Premier?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is ideal for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties like Holiday Inn or InterContinental and want to maximize their loyalty. These cardholders will get the most value from its automatic Platinum Elite status, which offers perks like room upgrades, and the annual anniversary free night. Additionally, those who often book longer stays can leverage the fourth-night-free benefit on award bookings, making this card a valuable tool as detailed in this credit card review.

Who Should Choose the Citi Strata Premier®?

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The Citi Strata Premier® Card is tailored for frequent travelers and road warriors who also want to maximize rewards on everyday spending like at supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations. It's particularly well-suited for individuals who can leverage the high-earning categories, such as 10x points on travel booked through the Citi portal and 3x points on airfare and other common purchases. Ultimately, this card is for the savvy points enthusiast looking to accumulate rewards quickly and transfer them to various airline and hotel partners for premium travel redemptions.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our IHG One Rewards Premier vs Citi Strata Premier® comparison has you thinking neither card is the perfect fit, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards to consider.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Review your credit score, as good to excellent credit is generally required for approval.
• Confirm your bonus eligibility, as many issuers have rules regarding previous card ownership or recent bonuses.
• Plan your spending to meet the minimum spend requirement for the welcome offer without overspending.

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Application Strategy

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• Check bonus restrictions, as some issuers like Citi have rules on how often you can earn a bonus.
• Know the issuer's rules, as each bank has unique application guidelines and restrictions.
• Be patient after applying, as some decisions may not be instant and can take several weeks.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better for international travel?

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The Citi Strata Premier offers greater flexibility for international travel due to its transferable ThankYou® Points. However, the IHG One Rewards Premier is superior if you plan to stay primarily at IHG hotels and resorts during your travels.

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What happens to my IHG status if I cancel the IHG Premier card?

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Canceling the IHG One Rewards Premier card will result in the loss of the complimentary Platinum Elite status it provides. Your status level would then depend on your qualifying activity directly with IHG.

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Is the Citi Strata Premier good for everyday spending?

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Yes, the Citi Strata Premier is an excellent card for everyday spending, offering elevated rewards on common categories like supermarkets, gas stations, and restaurants. This makes it easy to accumulate points on your daily purchases.

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