Chase Sapphire Reserve (8.2/10) wins for most people. Discover it Cash Back wins for a specific profile.
Frequent travelers who use airport lounges. Better than Preferred at $500+/month travel spend. Lounge access tips the math.
Apply now →First credit card / building credit. Best first card. Year-one Cashback Match doubles every dollar earned.
Apply now →| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Discover it Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Claire's score | 8.2/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Price | $550. | — |
| Top strength | $300 travel credit nearly halves the effective fee | Year-one Cashback Match effectively doubles all earnings |
| Biggest drawback | $550 annual fee requires high spend to justify | Rotating 5% categories require quarterly activation |
Chase Sapphire Reserve is Claire's recommendation for most people reading this comparison. Score: 8.2/10. Better than Preferred at $500+/month travel spend. Lounge access tips the math.
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.
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