Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs Citi Strata Premier
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Citi Strata Premier wins 3-2. Replaces Premier — solid mid-tier travel with hotel-direct boost. Capital One Spark Cash Plus is still the right call if high-spend small business — 2% flat with $1,200 welcome..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Citi Strata Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · $150 | $95 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 2% (general) | 10% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | 2% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $1,200 cash bonus after $30,000 spend in first 3 months | = 75,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 720 | 700 |
| Editorial rating | 4.5/5 | · 4.4/5 |
Benefits compared
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
- Unlimited 2% cashback on every purchase
- 5% on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel
- No preset spending limit
- Annual fee refund of $150 if you spend $150K/year
- No foreign transaction fees
Citi Strata Premier
- 10x on hotels, car rentals, and attractions via Citi Travel
- 3x at restaurants + supermarkets + gas stations
- 1x on everything else
- $100 hotel benefit on $500+ Citi Travel hotel bookings
- Transfer to 16 airline + hotel partners
FAQ
›Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs Citi Strata Premier: which is better?
Citi Strata Premier wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Capital One Spark Cash Plus for its best categories, Citi Strata Premier for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Capital One Spark Cash Plus: $1,200 cash bonus after $30,000 spend in first 3 months. Citi Strata Premier: 75,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months.