Home / Compare / Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Discover it Cash Back

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Discover it Cash Back

Claire's comparison · last verified June 2026
Claire's quick verdict

Chase Sapphire Preferred (8.7/10) wins for most people. Discover it Cash Back wins for a specific profile.

Winner
Chase Sapphire Preferred
8.7/10
Fee: $95
3x dining, 2x travel
Full review →
Runner-up
Discover it Cash Back
7.6/10
Fee: $0
5% rotating, 1% base
Full review →
Who should choose Chase Sapphire Preferred

Entry-level premium travel card for $300+/month dining. Best first rewards card. 3x dining + $95 fee = correct math for most people.

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Who should choose Discover it Cash Back

First credit card / building credit. Best first card. Year-one Cashback Match doubles every dollar earned.

Apply now →

Head to head, by the numbers

Chase Sapphire Preferred Discover it Cash Back
Claire's score8.7/107.6/10
Price
Top strength3x points on diningYear-one Cashback Match effectively doubles all earnings
Biggest drawback$95 annual feeRotating 5% categories require quarterly activation
The case for Chase Sapphire Preferred
3x points on dining
2x on all travel
1x on everything else
60,000 point welcome bonus (worth $750+)
The case for Discover it Cash Back
Year-one Cashback Match effectively doubles all earnings
No annual fee
Free FICO score monitoring
Good approval odds for limited credit history
Bottom line

Chase Sapphire Preferred is Claire's recommendation for most people reading this comparison. Score: 8.7/10. Best first rewards card. 3x dining + $95 fee = correct math for most people.

Discover it Cash Back (7.6/10) is the right choice for a specific situation: first credit card / building credit. If that describes you, the full review has the complete math.

Common questions

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