Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Discover it Cash Back
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top credit cards picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory
The gold standard travel rewards card with flexible point redemptions
Discover it Cash Back
Ranked #5 of 15 in this directory
Rotating 5% cash back categories with first-year cash back match
Our pick: Chase Sapphire Preferred. Our editors rank Chase Sapphire Preferred higher overall in Credit Cards — but Discover it Cash Back can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Discover it Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Free |
| Starting price | See website | Free |
| Category | Travel Rewards | Cashback |
| Editorial rank | #1 of 15 | #5 of 15 |
Strengths
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- ✓Excellent sign-up bonus worth $750+ in travel through Chase
- ✓1:1 point transfers to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs
- ✓25% bonus value when redeeming points through Chase Travel portal
- ✓Primary car rental insurance saves money on rental car coverage
- ✓Reasonable $95 annual fee for the rewards delivered
Discover it Cash Back
- ✓First-year Cashback Match effectively doubles all rewards earned
- ✓5% back on rotating categories up to $1,500 per quarter
- ✓No annual fee ever with solid ongoing rewards
- ✓Free FICO score and Social Security number monitoring
- ✓US-based customer service with high satisfaction ratings
Watch out for
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- !3% foreign transaction fee is absent but annual fee still applies abroad
- !No airport lounge access included unlike premium tier cards
- !5x earning rate limited to travel booked through Chase portal only
- !Lower earning rates than category-specific cards in some spending areas
Discover it Cash Back
- !Must activate quarterly rotating categories to earn 5%
- !5% bonus capped at $1,500 in spending per quarter
- !International acceptance is limited compared to Visa or Mastercard
- !1% base rate on non-category spending is below the best flat-rate cards
Best use cases
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- →Frequent traveler wanting flexible points with multiple transfer partners
- →Dining enthusiast who eats out regularly and wants 3x earning
- →Travel hacker seeking a strong entry point into the Chase ecosystem
Discover it Cash Back
- →New credit card user wanting a generous first-year bonus through Cashback Match
- →Strategic spender willing to optimize around rotating 5% categories
- →Student or young adult building credit with a forgiving no-fee card
About each tool
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is widely considered the best all-around travel rewards credit card for its combination of a generous sign-up bonus, flexible Ultimate Rewards points, and a reasonable annual fee. Points transfer 1:1 to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs, or can be redeemed for 25% more value when booked through Chase Travel. The card earns 5x on travel through Chase, 3x on dining and streaming, 2x on other travel, and 1x on everything else. With a $95 annual fee, it delivers premium travel rewards without the premium price tag.
Discover it Cash Back
The Discover it Cash Back card stands out with its first-year Cashback Match that automatically doubles all cash back earned in the first 12 months. The card earns 5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 per quarter) and 1% on everything else. With no annual fee and acceptance at over 99% of US merchants, the Discover it is an excellent first credit card or complement to a rewards strategy that maximizes quarterly bonus categories.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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