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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs Discover it Cash Back

Discover it Cash Back leads 2 to 1 on the 3 rankable specs and charges $95 a year less, which makes it the straightforward pick. Most of the 10 attributes tracked here are descriptive rather than numeric.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

  • Annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists $95 (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Discover it Cash Back lists $0 (Discover sheet, 2026-09-02).
  • Rewards rate: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists 5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online grocery/select streaming, 2X other travel, 1X other (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Discover it Cash Back lists 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases with activation), 1% unlimited on all other purchases (Discover sheet, 2026-09-02).
  • Regular APR: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists 21.49% – 28.49% Variable APR (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Discover it Cash Back lists 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR (Discover sheet, 2026-09-02).
  • Late fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists Up to $40 (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Discover it Cash Back lists None on first late payment, then up to $41 (Discover sheet, 2026-09-02).
  • Sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000 spend in first 3 months ($750 travel value) (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Discover it Cash Back lists Cashback Match: Discover will automatically match all cash back you earn at the end of your first year with no minimum or limit (Discover sheet, 2026-09-02).

Not financial advice. Annual fees, APRs, bonuses and credits change. Confirm current terms with the issuer before you apply.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
$95/yr1 spec win
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Compare a different credit card

Citi Double Cash Card$0/yrChase Freedom Unlimited$0/yrCapital One SavorOne Cash Rewards$0/yrBilt World Elite Mastercard$0/yrChase Freedom Flex$0/yrWells Fargo Active Cash Card$0/yrBlue Cash Everyday Card from American Express$0/yrCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card$95/yrBlue Cash Preferred Card from American Express$95/yrCiti Strata Premier Card$95/yrAmerican Express Gold Card$325/yrCapital One Venture X Rewards$395/yrChase Sapphire Reserve$550/yrThe Platinum Card from American Express$695/yr
Discover it Cash Back
$0/yr2 spec wins
Swap

Compare a different credit card

Citi Double Cash Card$0/yrChase Freedom Unlimited$0/yrCapital One SavorOne Cash Rewards$0/yrBilt World Elite Mastercard$0/yrChase Freedom Flex$0/yrWells Fargo Active Cash Card$0/yrBlue Cash Everyday Card from American Express$0/yrCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card$95/yrBlue Cash Preferred Card from American Express$95/yrCiti Strata Premier Card$95/yrAmerican Express Gold Card$325/yrCapital One Venture X Rewards$395/yrChase Sapphire Reserve$550/yrThe Platinum Card from American Express$695/yr

Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your credit card.

Straight answer

Overall: 1 to 2

Buy the Discover it Cash Back.

  • Leads 2 of 3 rankable overall specs; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card takes 1.
  • Annual fee: $0 vs $95
  • Regular APR: 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR vs 21.49% – 28.49% Variable APR
  • It also charges $95 less a year.
1 Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3 rankable of 10 specsDiscover it Cash Back 2

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

  • row

    You pay before a single reward is earned.

    Trips:Chase Sapphire Preferred Card · $95Clear:Discover it Cash Back · $0
  • row

    No free lounges; only matters if you fly often.

    Trips:Chase Sapphire Preferred Card · NoTrips:Discover it Cash Back · No
  • row

    Carrying a balance costs full interest from day one.

    Trips:Chase Sapphire Preferred Card · None (Variable APR applies from account…Clear:Discover it Cash Back · 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases…

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

2 of 2 differ

Annual fee

Chase

$95

Discover

$0

Rewards rate≠

Chase

5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online grocery/select streaming, 2X other travel, 1X other

Discover

5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases with activation), 1% unlimited on all other purchases

True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Upfront price + 3 years of consumables, fees & essential add-ons

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Upfront list price$0
3-Yr Annual card membership fee ($95 billed annually)+$285
3-Year Estimated Total$285

Cost over 3 years in annual fees before rewards or statement credits.

Discover it Cash Back

Upfront list price$0
3-Year Estimated Total$0

Zero annual fee card.

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

Chase: What to watch for

  • Maintenance

    Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.

    Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

Discover: What to watch for

  • Maintenance

    Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.

    Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card$95/yr1 win
Discover it Cash Back$0/yr2 wins

Fees & Rates

leads 2-1
Fees & Rates specifications. Middle column is Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, right column is Discover it Cash Back.
Annual fee$95$0 (wins this row: lower)
Regular APR21.49% – 28.49% Variable APR17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR (wins this row: lower)
Foreign transaction feeNone (0%)None (0%)
Late feeUp to $40 (wins this row: lower)None on first late payment, then up to $41

Rewards & Perks

3 differences
Rewards & Perks specifications. Middle column is Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, right column is Discover it Cash Back.
Rewards rate5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online grocery/select streaming, 2X other travel, 1X other5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases with activation), 1% unlimited on all other purchases
Sign-up bonus60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000 spend in first 3 months ($750 travel value)Cashback Match: Discover will automatically match all cash back you earn at the end of your first year with no minimum or limit
Intro APR offerNone (Variable APR applies from account opening)0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Lounge accessNoNo

Card Details

2 differences
Card Details specifications. Middle column is Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, right column is Discover it Cash Back.
Credit neededOur summaryGood to Excellent (690–850)Good to Excellent (670–850)
NetworkVisa SignatureDiscover Network

Credit-card figures are from issuer materials and go stale. This is not an offer to lend, not financial advice, and not a recommendation to apply. Verify every fee, APR, bonus and credit on the issuer's site.

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The benchmark travel rewards card with 5X points on travel through Chase, 3X dining, and 1:1 point transfers.

  • Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel
  • 1:1 point transfers to Hyatt, United, Southwest, and British Airways
  • Primary rental car collision damage waiver insurance

What you give up

  • No airport lounge access
  • $95 annual fee is not waived the first year
Full Chase Sapphire Preferred Card specs →

Pick this one if

Discover it Cash Back

No-annual-fee rewards card offering 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories, 1% on all other purchases, and an unlimited dollar-for-dollar Cashback Match in your first year.

  • 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories (grocery stores, restaurants, gas, Amazon.com) up to $1,500 with activation
  • Unlimited Cashback Match: Discover automatically doubles all cash back earned at the end of your first year
  • No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and free FICO Credit Scorecard

What you give up

  • Requires quarterly category activation
  • 5% bonus rate is capped at $1,500 quarterly spend (then 1%)
Full Discover it Cash Back specs →

Best for each use

Travel

Flights, hotels and spending abroad: no foreign fees, lounges, a big bonus

Too close to call on travel from the spec sheets. Only annual fee is rankable here.

  • Rewards rate: 5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online… vs 5% cash back on everyday purchases at…
  • Sign-up bonus: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000… vs Cashback Match: Discover will automatically…

Everyday cash back

Simple rewards on groceries and gas with nothing to pay each year

For everyday cash back, buy the Discover it Cash Back.

  • Leads 2 of 2 rankable everyday cash back specs.
  • Annual fee: $0 vs $95
  • Regular APR: 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR vs 21.49% – 28.49% Variable APR
  • It also charges $95 less a year.

Carrying a balance

Paying over time or newer to credit: APR, intro offers, approval odds

For carrying a balance, buy the Discover it Cash Back.

  • Leads 2 of 3 rankable carrying a balance specs; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card takes 1.
  • Annual fee: $0 vs $95
  • Regular APR: 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR vs 21.49% – 28.49% Variable APR
  • It also charges $95 less a year.

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card spec sheetDiscover it Cash Back spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card ↗ · Discover it Cash Back ↗

Common questions

Which card has the lower annual fee, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Discover it Cash Back?

Discover it Cash Back charges $95 a year less.

What is the biggest catch with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Discover it Cash Back?

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has this deal-breaker: annual fee. You pay before a single reward is earned.

Which is better for travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Discover it Cash Back?

Too close to call on travel from the spec sheets. Only annual fee is rankable here. Rewards rate: 5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online… vs 5% cash back on everyday purchases at… Sign-up bonus: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000… vs Cashback Match: Discover will automatically…

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 10 specs tracked here, 7 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

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