Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Discover it Cash Back
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
At a Glance
Annual Fee
$550
vs
No annual fee
Base Rewards
1x
vs
1%
Sign-Up Bonus
$900
vs
$300
Editor Score
9/10
vs
9/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 4/6 | 2/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | $550✗ Highest | No annual fee★ Lowest |
| Purchase APR | 22.49% – 29.49% | 16.49% – 27.49% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | 0% · 15 mo | |
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | 0% · 15 mo | |
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 5% | 3% |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Points | Cashback |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x★ Highest | 1% |
| Bonus Categories | 10x Hotels (Chase) · 5x Flights (Chase) · 3x Dining | 5% Rotating Categories (quarterly) |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $900 value★ Highest | $300 value✗ Lowest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Excellent (750+) | Fair (580-669) |
| Network | Visa | Discover |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Frequent luxury travelers | Those who enjoy maximizing rotating categories |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.5 / 5✗ Lowest | 4.7 / 5★ Highest |
| Editor Score | 9 / 10★ Highest | 9 / 10 |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
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| Cons |
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Our verdict: Too close to call
The Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/year) and the Discover it Cash Back (no annual fee) compete on different axes. The Chase Sapphire Reserve's strongest category is 10x on Hotels (Chase), while the Discover it Cash Back leads with 5% on Rotating Categories (quarterly). The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $550 more per year, so you need at least $550 in incremental rewards to justify it over the Discover it Cash Back. At typical spend levels this breaks even somewhere between $16,500 and $33,000 in bonus-category purchases annually. Our model scores these cards effectively even (3-2). Pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you spend heavily on hotels (chase); pick the Discover it Cash Back if you spend heavily on rotating categories (quarterly).
Too close to call — pick based on your primary spending category
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Discover it Cash Back |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $550/year | no annual fee |
| Base Reward Rate | 1x on everything | 1% on everything |
| Top Bonus Category | 10x on Hotels (Chase) | 5% on Rotating Categories (quarterly) |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months | Cashback Match — Discover matches ALL cash back earned in your first year |
| Lounge Access | Yes | No |
| Credit Score Required | excellent | fair |
Green checkmark indicates the card that leans stronger on that dimension. Our scoring model evaluates these quantitatively — your specific needs may shift the answer.
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Common Questions
Which is better: Chase Sapphire Reserve or Discover it Cash Back?
It depends on your spending habits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. The Discover it Cash Back has no annual fee and earns 1% base rewards. Compare their bonus categories above to see which aligns better with your spending.
What is the annual fee difference between Chase Sapphire Reserve and Discover it Cash Back?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee while the Discover it Cash Back has no annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $550 more per year, so it needs to deliver that much extra value in rewards and perks to justify the difference.
Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Discover it Cash Back?
Yes, since these cards are from different issuers (Chase and Discover), you can hold both. Many people pair cards from different banks to maximize bonus category coverage across all their spending.