Forget the Chase Trifecta: This 3-Card Combo Wins for Everyday Spending
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For years, points-maxers have talked about the "Chase trifecta," a combination of three Chase cards that can earn big rewards on a variety of purchases.
However, Citi has stepped up its game this year with new and updated cards. And it's about time we started talking about the Citi trifecta, because it could earn a lot more rewards for the average person.
I'll break down these two "trifectas" and show you why Citi's three-card combo is, in my opinion, the better choice.
The Chase trifecta: high upside and high maintenance
The Chase trifecta includes:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
- Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees)
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees)
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
|
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= PoorBest for travel and points transfers
|
75,000 bonus points Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 5x on Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 2x on all other travel Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases |
Intro: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 19.74% - 27.99% Variable |
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= PoorBest for travel and points transfers
|
Chase Freedom Flex®
|
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
$200 bonus Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening! | 5% cash back offer 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 18.74% - 28.24% Variable |
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
|
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= PoorBest for cash back
|
Earn $200 cash back Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 18.74% - 28.24% Variable |
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= PoorBest for cash back
|
Here are the top rewards rates you can earn between these three cards:
| Category | Rewards Rate | Card |
|---|---|---|
| Travel (when booking through Chase Travel) | 5X points | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
| Rotating quarterly category | 5% cash back* | Chase Freedom Flex® |
| Dining | 3X points | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
| Online grocery purchases** | 3X points | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
| Drugstore purchases | 3% cash back | Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
| All other purchases | 1.5% cash back | Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
The Chase trifecta is solid. You'll earn big rewards on some purchases and decent rewards on the rest. Only the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has an annual fee -- a reasonable $95, which you can earn back several times over.
Still, the average person can do better. This combo will usually earn just 1.5% on common spending categories like in-store grocery purchases and gas. The Chase Freedom Flex®'s rotating 5% categories are hit or miss; odds are, they won't always be categories you spend a lot of money on.
The Citi trifecta: simple and practical
The Citi trifecta includes:
- Citi Strata Premier® Card
- Citi Double Cash® Card
- Citi Custom Cash® Card
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Citi Strata Premier® Card
|
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
60,000 ThankYou® Points Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. | 1x - 10x points 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases |
Intro: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 19.74% - 27.74% (Variable) |
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Citi Double Cash® Card
|
4.90/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
$200 Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | 2% cash back Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. |
Intro: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months on Balance Transfers Regular: 17.74% - 27.74% (Variable) |
4.90/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Here are the top rewards rates you can earn between these three cards:
| Category | Rewards Rate | Card |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels, rental cars, and attractions (when booking through Citi Travel) | 10X points | Citi Strata Premier® Card |
| Your top eligible spending category (includes groceries, gas, and more) | 5% cash back* | Citi Custom Cash® Card |
| Flights | 3X points | Citi Strata Premier® Card |
| Restaurants | 3X points | Citi Strata Premier® Card |
| Supermarkets** | 3X points | Citi Strata Premier® Card |
| Gas and EV charging stations | 3X points | Citi Strata Premier® Card |
| All other purchases | 2% cash back*** | Citi Double Cash® Card |
The Citi trifecta earns higher rewards on most everyday purchases -- especially groceries and gas.
The Citi Custom Cash® Card earns 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent). Eligible categories include grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, drugstores, home improvement stores, and more.
I use my Citi Custom Cash® Card just for groceries, so I automatically get 5% back on $500 a month (and 1% on the rest). I earn about $28 in cash back every month, or $336 per year -- for no annual fee.
The Citi Strata Premier® Card earns 3X points on several common spending categories. Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, it has a $95 annual fee, which is easily recouped.
For everything else, you can use the Citi Double Cash® Card for 2% cash back on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases -- higher than the Chase Freedom Unlimited®'s 1.5% catch-all rate.
Bonus: Citi also has a great no-annual-fee "trifecta"
If you don't want to pay any annual fees, or you don't travel often, then you can swap out the Citi Strata Premier® Card for the Citi Strata℠ Card. It lacks the Citi Strata Premier® Card's best travel perks, but it has no annual fee.
And you'll still get big rewards on a variety of purchases:
- 5X ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com
- 3X ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible self-select category of your choice (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores); earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at supermarkets, on select transit purchases, and at gas & EV charging stations
- 2X ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at restaurants
- 1X ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on all other purchases
Plus, new cardholders can earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within 3 months of account opening. Sound like a good deal to you? Then click here to learn more and apply for the Citi Strata℠ Card today.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= PoorEarn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months on Purchases
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months on Balance Transfers
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
Rewards Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services. Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations. Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
1X-5X ThankYou® Points
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
30,000 bonus points
-
This no-annual-fee card delivers outsized value for everyday spenders who want flexibility and rewards without the cost. With up to 5X points on Citi Travel® bookings, 3X on gas, supermarkets, transit, and a self-select category, plus 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, the Citi Strata℠ Card is a strong fit for anyone looking to earn points and save on interest at the same time.
Read Full Review -
- No annual fee
- Welcome offer
- Earn rewards on travel, gas and grocery purchases
- Rotating self-select bonus category
- 0% intro APR
- Balance transfer fee
-
- For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.74% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Our Research Expert
James McClenathen is a full-time Managing Editor and Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, overseeing the production and quality of editorial content while also writing about credit cards, investing, and everyday money management. He has worked at The Motley Fool since 2012 and brings extensive experience as an editor, reporter, and finance expert. A graduate of the University of Michigan, James has spent more than a decade of his career helping readers make smarter financial decisions.