American Express
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Credit cards
$95/yrAnnual fee
Explore this product Your shortlist, side by side
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Discover it Cash Back
Find the differences that matter for your next decision.
Discover
Discover it Cash Back
Credit cards
$0/yrAnnual fee
Explore this product What matters most to you?
Start with all rankable specifications, or focus on a particular use.
Your starting point
Buy the Discover it Cash Back.
- Leads 3 of 5 rankable overall specs; Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express takes 2.
- Annual fee: $0 vs $95
How we reached this
We compare the published specifications relevant to your priority. Each rankable specification counts once; your selected requirements can rule a product out. This is a guide to the numbers, not a laboratory performance score.
Regular APR: 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR vs 19.24% – 29.99% Variable APR
It also charges $95 less a year.
The trade-off to know
Discover it Cash Back: Requires quarterly category activation
Look at the differences ↓Refine your requirements
What would rule one out?
Side by side
The differences, in detail.
Start with the key specs, then explore as much as you need.
| What you’re comparing | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | Discover it Cash Back |
|---|---|---|
| Annual feeFees & Rates | $95 | $0 |
| Regular APRFees & Rates | 19.24% – 29.99% Variable APR | 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR |
| Foreign transaction feeFees & Rates | 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars | None (0%) |
| Late feeFees & Rates | Up to $40 | None on first late payment, then up to $41 |
| Rewards rateRewards & Perks | 6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 6% on select US streaming subscriptions, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 1% on other purchases | 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases with activation), 1% unlimited on all other purchases |
Showing 5 of 10 specifications. Missing values stay unlisted. About the sources
Both sides of the decision
What you gain. What you give up.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Reasons to choose it
- Market-leading 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6k/year)
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations
Worth considering
- $95 annual fee ($0 intro fee in first year for select offers)
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee
Discover it Cash Back
Reasons to choose it
- 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories (grocery stores, restaurants, gas, Amazon.com) up to $1,500 with activation
- Unlimited Cashback Match: Discover automatically doubles all cash back earned at the end of your first year
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and free FICO Credit Scorecard
Worth considering
- Requires quarterly category activation
- 5% bonus rate is capped at $1,500 quarterly spend (then 1%)
Beyond the spec sheet
Living with your choice.
Explore the ownership details available for this pair.
What three years could cost
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
3-Year Estimated Total$285
Discover it Cash Back
3-Year Estimated Total$0
Know what’s behind the comparison
Published specs. Visible sources.
Clinchmark compares manufacturer specifications and other published information. We have not independently lab-tested these products. Editorial assessments and unknown values are identified in the specification details.
Catalog snapshot: September 1, 2026. Prices, availability, and provider terms can change.
Still weighing it up?
Which card has the lower annual fee, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Discover it Cash Back?
Discover it Cash Back charges $95 a year less.
What is the biggest catch with the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Discover it Cash Back?
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has this deal-breaker: annual fee. You pay before a single reward is earned.
Which is better for travel, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or the Discover it Cash Back?
For travel, buy the Discover it Cash Back. Leads 2 of 3 rankable travel specs; Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express takes 1. Annual fee: $0 vs $95
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 10 specs tracked here, 5 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.
A few other possibilities.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express ↗Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Citi Strata Premier Card ↗American Express Gold Card vs Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express ↗American Express Gold Card vs Discover it Cash Back ↗