Discover it Cash Back vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Chase Sapphire Reserve wins 3-2. Annual travelers — the upgrade path from Sapphire Preferred. Discover it Cash Back is still the right call if rotating-category optimizers; first card for thin-credit-file applicants.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Discover it Cash Back | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $550 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 5% (shopping) | 10% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | · 1% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback Match — Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically | = 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 740 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
Discover it Cash Back
- 5% cashback on rotating quarterly categories (Amazon, gas, restaurants, grocery)
- 1% cashback on everything else
- Cashback Match: Discover matches all cash back earned in your first year
- No annual fee
- Free FICO score on every statement
- No foreign transaction fees
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- 10x on hotels and rental cars booked via Chase Travel
- 5x on flights booked via Chase Travel
- 3x on all other dining + travel
- $300 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounge access
- 50% bonus when redeeming for travel via Chase portal
FAQ
›Discover it Cash Back vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: which is better?
Chase Sapphire Reserve wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Discover it Cash Back for its best categories, Chase Sapphire Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Discover it Cash Back: Cashback Match — Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically. Chase Sapphire Reserve: 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months.