American Express Business Green Rewards Card vs Discover it® Student Cash Back
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express Business Green Rewards Card | Discover it® Student Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 15,000 Membership Rewards points | Cashback Match in year 1 |
| Advertising | 1% | 1% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1% |
| Travel | 1% | 1% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $450 | $450 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | 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 business spending, the American Express Business Green Rewards Card earns about $450 a year in rewards and the Discover it® Student Cash Back about $450, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express Business Green Rewards Card charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Discover it® Student Cash Back has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Discover it® Student Cash Back delivers more total value, about $95 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express Business Green Rewards Card earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Discover it® Student Cash Back pays plain cash back. Favor the American Express Business Green Rewards Card if you will use travel transfers, the Discover it® Student Cash Back if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express Business Green Rewards Card currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.