American Express® Platinum vs Discover it® Cash Back
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Platinum | Discover it® Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $895 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points | Cashback Match, all cash back earned in year 1 doubled |
| Dining | 1x | 1x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 5x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $364 | $292 |
| 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 household spending, the American Express® Platinum earns about $364 a year in rewards and the Discover it® Cash Back about $292, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Platinum charges $895, but carries about $1,229 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 Discover it® Cash Back delivers more total value, about $208 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® Platinum earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Discover it® Cash Back pays plain cash back. Favor the American Express® Platinum if you will use travel transfers, the Discover it® Cash Back if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Platinum 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® Platinum if your spending leans toward travel.