Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express
vs. Discover it® Cash Back Card

Both the Blue Cash Preferred and the Discover it Cash Back card offer compelling cash back rewards and introductory APRs. However, the Blue Cash Preferred edges ahead with its high cash back rates on supermarkets and streaming services. Despite its annual fee after the first year, the value of cash back earned can outweigh the cost for frequent shoppers in these categories.

Meanwhile, the Discover it Cash Back remains a solid choice, especially with its unique first-year cash back match and the advantage of a longer 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers.

You might prefer the Blue Cash Preferred if you spend significantly at U.S. supermarkets and on streaming services. The high cash back rates in these categories, along with additional rewards on gas and transit, can offset the annual fee after the first year. The introductory offer is also a strong incentive for new cardholders.

You might prefer the Discover it Cash Back if you value flexibility and want to maximize cash back in different categories throughout the year. The lack of an annual fee and the unique first-year cash back match can provide substantial savings. Additionally, the longer 0% intro APR period is ideal for managing larger purchases or balance transfers.

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features side by side clarifies which card aligns with your financial habits. For instance, if you spend heavily on groceries, Blue Cash Preferred's 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets may appeal to you, whereas Discover it Cash Back could be more beneficial if you prefer earning on rotating categories.

The Blue Cash Preferred leads with a higher expected reward value, particularly for those who spend regularly on groceries and streaming services. Its 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets is capped at $6,000 per year. The 3% back at gas stations and on transit also adds value for commuters and travelers.

While the Discover it Cash Back doesn't quite match up in terms of overall rewards, its rotating 5% cash back categories can be lucrative if your spending aligns with those quarterly categories. The Discover card's categories require activation and have a quarterly cap, but they can offer higher rewards in areas like dining or Amazon.com during specific quarters.

For the Discover it Cash Back, the eligible spending categories for the 5% cash back rotate each quarter and have included gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and Amazon.com.

Following this section, you'll find a detailed table of bonus categories for both cards.

Moving from earning to redeeming rewards, both cards offer cash back but differ in redemption flexibility. The Blue Cash Preferred allows redemption as a statement credit or for Amazon.com purchases, with no expiration. The Discover it Cash Back offers more options, including gift cards and direct deposit, with rewards that do not expire but may be forfeited after 18 months of inactivity.

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards using a tailored scoring system for various use cases, such as cash back and balance transfers. The Blue Cash Preferred scores highest for cash back, while Discover it Cash Back leads in balance transfers.

The most influential factors in these scores include the reward rate and introductory offers for cash back, and the introductory offers and regular APR for balance transfers. For a deeper understanding of our scoring process, you can review our ranking methodology.