Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
vs. Discover it® Cash Back Card

Shield Insurance

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Both the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Discover it® Cash Back Card offer compelling cash back rewards and no annual fee. The Amazon Prime Rewards Card is the superior choice for frequent Amazon and Whole Foods shoppers due to its high unlimited 5% cash back in these stores. However, if you're looking for a card with a solid introductory offer, the Discover it Cash Back has a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.

While the Discover it Cash Back is excellent for balance transfers, the Amazon Prime Rewards Card's bonus categories and co-branded benefits with Amazon make it a standout for loyal Amazon customers.

Credit Card logo for Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Credit Card logo for Discover it® Cash Back Card
Discover it® Cash Back Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.3/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
3.8/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Amazon Prime Rewards Card if you're a frequent shopper at Amazon or Whole Foods Market. The card offers a generous 5% cash back on these purchases and travel and shopping protections. These features make it a strong choice for loyal Amazon customers who already have or are willing to get a Prime membership.

You might prefer the Discover it Cash Back if you value flexibility in earning rewards. This card offers various ways to save, with 5% cash back in rotating categories that you activate quarterly and a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. The first-year cash back match can also significantly boost your rewards.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and other features will help determine which card aligns with your spending and financial strategy. For example, frequent Amazon shoppers may lean towards the Amazon Prime Rewards Card for its high cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, while those who prefer varied spending categories might find the Discover it Cash Back's rotating rewards more beneficial.

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    Regular APR: Discover it Cash Back

    The Discover it Cash Back offers a slightly better regular APR range, starting at 17.24%, compared to the Amazon Prime Rewards Card's 19.49%. This could benefit users who qualify for the lower end of the APR range.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Amazon Prime Rewards Card and the Discover it Cash Back have no annual fee, making them equally appealing to those looking to avoid extra costs.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Discover it Cash Back

    For those seeking an introductory 0% APR offer, the Discover it Cash Back outshines the Amazon Prime Rewards Card. The Discover it Cash Back provides a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. It also offers a 3% introductory balance transfer fee, which increases to up to 5% on future transfers. The Amazon Prime Rewards Card has no introductory 0% APR period.

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    Rewards: Amazon Prime Rewards Card

    For avid Amazon shoppers, the Amazon Prime Rewards Card outshines. It offers up to 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases and 2% on dining, gas and transit. The Discover it Cash Back offers a versatile 5% in rotating categories, but the consistent high rewards rate for Amazon and Whole Foods purchases with the Amazon card provides unmatched value for those with Prime membership.

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    Welcome Offers: Discover it Cash Back

    The Discover it Cash Back card outshines with its welcome offer. It matches all cash back earned at the end of the first 12 months, providing a potentially high return on spending. In contrast, the Amazon Prime Rewards Card offers a $100 Amazon Gift Card upon approval.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Amazon Prime Rewards Card and the Discover it Cash Back are designed for users with good to excellent credit scores, making them equally accessible in terms of credit requirements.

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    Penalties and Fees: Discover it Cash Back

    The Discover it Cash Back is better for penalties and fees. It offers no penalty APR and a waiver for the first late payment fee. Both cards have no foreign transaction fees, but Discover it Cash Back's more forgiving approach to penalties makes it the preferable choice in this category.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Discover it Cash Back

    When it comes to issuer satisfaction, Discover it Cash Back leads with a rating of 4.5 for its issuer, Discover Bank. Amazon Prime Rewards Card is issued by Chase Bank, which has a rating of 4.1. This suggests that Discover Bank customers are generally more satisfied with their card issuer's service.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks. The Amazon Prime Rewards Card includes travel protections and purchase benefits, making it ideal for travelers and shoppers. The Discover it Cash Back offers online data protection, appealing to those focused on safeguarding personal information. Choosing depends on individual priorities.

Rewards Comparison

The Amazon Prime Rewards Card leads with a strong rewards program, particularly for those with an Amazon Prime membership. With an expected reward value of nearly $395 and an effective reward rate of over 1.3%, it's a solid choice for Amazon and Whole Foods enthusiasts. The 5% cash back on these purchases can add up quickly, while the 2% on dining, gas and drugstore purchases is also competitive.

However, the Discover it Cash Back card's most compelling bonus category is its 5% cash back on rotating categories. The rewards can surpass the Amazon card's benefits during certain quarters, especially if those categories align with your spending habits. For example, if the rotating category is gas stations and you have a long commute, the Discover it Cash Back card could be more beneficial during that period. The Discover it Cash Back card's rotating categories offer a strategic advantage for those willing to track and activate these bonuses each quarter.

The table below compares each card's bonus categories, helping you see where you might earn more cash back for your spending.

Category
Amazon Prime Rewards Card
Discover it Cash Back

Amazon and Whole Foods

5% with Prime membership/3% without Prime

1%

Restaurants

2%

1%/5% if in quarterly category

Gas Stations

2%

1%/5% if in quarterly category

Local Transit and Commuting

2%

1%/5% if in quarterly category

Quarterly Rotating Categories

N/A

5% on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases, then 1%

All Other Purchases

1%

1%

Redeeming Rewards

The Amazon Prime Rewards Card allows you to apply points instantly to Amazon.com purchases or use them as a statement credit, ensuring your points are as good as cash when shopping on Amazon. These points remain valid indefinitely, provided your account stays active.

The Discover it Cash Back offers a broader range of redemption options in addition to statement credits, including gift cards and direct deposits. You also have the flexibility to pay with cash back at certain retailers. Discover's cash back remains yours without expiration, although inactivity for 18 months could lead to forfeiture of accumulated rewards.

Methodology

MoneyGeek conducts thorough reviews and evaluations of credit cards for various use cases, such as balance transfers and cash back rewards. In this comparison, the highest-scoring use case for the Amazon Prime Rewards Card is cash back; for the Discover it Cash Back card, it's balance transfers.

For cash back cards, the most significant factors influencing scores include the effective reward rate and the regular APR. For balance transfer cards, the introductory purchase APR and the regular APR significantly influence scores.

FAQ: Amazon Prime Rewards Card vs. Discover it Cash Back

What are the cash back rewards for each card?

Do either of the cards have an annual fee?

What are the introductory offers for these cards?

Are there foreign transaction fees for either card?

What credit score is required for each card?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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