Discover it Cash Back vs. Savor Cash Credit Card Comparison

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Both the Discover it Cash Back Card and the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offer enticing rewards and introductory APR periods, making them strong contenders for anyone looking to optimize their credit card usage. The Savor edges ahead with its higher cash back score and unlimited 3% cash back in multiple categories.

However, the Discover it Cash Back is good for its introductory APR offer and the unique first-year cash back match. Ultimately, the best card for you depends on your preference for consistent rewards versus maximizing cash back in rotating categories.

Discover it® Cash Back Card

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

MoneyGeek Rating

4.2/ of 5

Rates & Fees

MoneyGeek Rating

4.7/ of 5

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

Regular APR
18.49% - 27.49%variable
19.49% - 29.49% variable
0% APR Offer
0% for 15 months on purchases
0% for 15 months on purchases
Intro Offer
Matches cash back at the end of your first year
Earn $200 cash bonus
Rewards Summary
Earn 1%–5% cash back
Earn 1%–8% cash back
Balance Transfer Offer
0% for 15 months on balance transfers
0% for 15 months on balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)
5% of each transfer ($5 minimum)
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Recommended Credit
670–850 (good to excellent)
670–850 (good to excellent)
Penalty APR
None
Up to 29.99% (variable)
Not sure?
The Discover it Cash Back is ideal for those who can track and utilize rotating bonus categories to maximize their 5% cash back rewards. In contrast, the Savor Cash is better for consistent rewards across dining, entertainment and grocery purchases, with the added benefit of a $200 welcome offer. While both cards offer a 0% intro APR for 15 months, the Discover it Cash Back may be more cost-effective in the long run with its lower maximum regular APR. Choose Discover it Cash Back for rotating rewards or Savor Cash for consistent bonus categories and a welcome offer.

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Savor Cash if you frequently spend on dining, entertainment and travel. With its higher cash back rates in these categories and a $200 welcome offer, it's a strong choice for those who value straightforward rewards without the need to activate or track rotating categories.

You might prefer the Discover it Cash Back if you can take advantage of the rotating categories to earn 5% cash back. The first-year cash back match can be particularly lucrative if you maximize the bonus categories throughout the year.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and other features will illuminate which card aligns with your financial habits. For instance, if you dine out frequently, Savor Cash's unlimited 3% cash back on dining could be more beneficial than Discover it Cash Back's rotating categories. Use this section to match card benefits with your spending patterns.

Regular APR: Discover it Cash Back

Discover It Cash Back has a lower starting APR of 17.74% compared to Savor Cash's starting APR of 19.74%.

Annual Fee: Tie

Both the Discover it Cash Back and the Savor Cash have no annual fee, making them equally appealing for users looking to avoid extra costs.

Introductory 0% APRs: Discover it Cash Back

The Discover it Cash Back card is better for introductory 0% APRs, offering 0% intro APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, with a lower initial balance transfer fee of 3%. Both cards provide a 15-month 0% intro period, but the Savor Cash charges a higher balance transfer fee of 5%.

Rewards: Savor Cash

The Savor Cash is better for rewards, offering up to 8% cash back on entertainment and travel booked through Capital One and 3% on dining and groceries without the need to track rotating categories. Discover it Cash Back offers 5% in rotating categories but requires activation and has a quarterly cap.

Welcome Offers: Savor Cash

The Savor Cash card offers a better welcome bonus, featuring a $250 cash back after spending $500 in the first 3 months, translating to a higher return on investment (ROI) of 40% compared to the Discover it Cash Back's match offer at the end of the first year.

Recommended Credit Score: Tie

Both the Discover it Cash Back and the Savor Cash require a credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they are equally accessible to individuals with good to excellent credit.

Penalties and Fees: Discover it Cash Back

The Discover it Cash Back card is better for penalties and fees, offering no penalty APR and a first late payment waiver. Both cards charge the same for cash advances, but Discover's higher penalties rating indicates overall more lenient fees.

Issuer Satisfaction: Discover it® Cash Back Card

Discover has a higher issuer satisfaction with a rating of 4.5, compared to Capital One's 4.2.

Other Features & Perks: Tie

Discover it Cash Back matches all cash back earned in the first year, with no minimum spending required. It also helps minimize online exposure of personal data. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards offers 10% cash back on Uber & Uber Eats and complimentary Uber One membership statement credits, plus 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.

Rewards Comparison

When it comes to rewards, the Savor Cash card stands out with its higher expected reward value and diverse earning categories. With no annual fee, it offers significant cash back on dining, entertainment and travel booked through Capital One, making it a strong contender for those with varied spending.

The Discover it Cash Back card, while not as broadly rewarding, has the potential for high returns in its rotating categories, which could outpace the Savor Cash if your spending aligns with those categories. Notably, the Discover it Cash Back card requires quarterly activation to earn 5% cash back on these rotating categories, which can include gas stations, grocery stores and online shopping, among others.

Below is a table of bonus categories to help you compare the rewards programs of both cards.

Category	Discover it Cash Back	Savor Cash
Dining	1%	3%
Entertainment	1%	3%/8% on Capital One Entertainment
Grocery Stores	5% for the first $1,500 quarterly if a rotating category/1% thereafter	3%
Streaming Services	1%	3%
Travel	1%	5% if booked through Capital One Travel portal
All Other Purchases	Rotating category: 5% for the first $1,500 quarterly/1% thereafter	1%

Redeeming Rewards

After earning rewards, the next step is redeeming them. The Savor Cash allows for redemption as a statement credit, check or gift cards, with the flexibility of automatic redemptions. Rewards remain valid for the account's lifetime. The Discover it Cash Back offers a variety of redemption options, including direct deposit and payment at select retailers, with no minimum amount required and the ability to redeem at any time. However, rewards will be forfeited if the account is inactive for over 18 months.

Methodology

MoneyGeek examines and rates credit cards like Discover it Cash Back and Savor Cash using a tailored scoring system. For instance, Discover it Cash Back is assessed for its balance transfer features, while Savor Cash is rated for cash back rewards.

The important factors in these scores include the introductory purchase APR, the regular APR for balance transfers and the effective reward rate for cash back.

FAQ: Discover it Cash Back vs. Savor Cash Card

What are the cash back rewards for each card?

The Savor Cash offers 3% cash back on several categories, while the Discover it Cash Back provides 5% on rotating categories each quarter. Both are among the best cash back cards

Do either of the cards have an annual fee?

Both cards offer the benefit of a $0 annual fee.

What are the introductory APR offers for these cards?

Each card has introductory APR offers on purchases and balance transfers.

Are there any welcome offers with these credit cards?

The Savor Cash features a $250 welcome offer after meeting spending requirements. Discover it Cash Back matches cash back earned at the end of the first year.

How do the foreign transaction fees compare between the two cards?

The Savor Cash has no foreign transaction fees, while the Discover it Cash Back also does not charge for foreign transactions. Both are among the best cards for no foreign transaction fee

About Doug Milnes, CFA

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Discover it® Cash Back Card vs. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card