American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs Discover it® Cash Back
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Discover it® Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $300 statement credit | Cashback Match, all cash back earned in year 1 doubled |
| Dining | 1x | 1x |
| Groceries | 6x | 1x |
| Gas | 3x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 6x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $679 | $292 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Cash back only |
| Network | Amex | Discover |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year in rewards and the Discover it® Cash Back about $292, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred charges $95, but carries about $84 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Discover it® Cash Back has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred delivers more total value, about $335 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming.