Editorial take: American Express Green Card
Hard to justify vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 with stronger earning. The CLEAR credit is nice but only useful if your airport has CLEAR lines. Most people are better off with Sapphire or Amex Gold.
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Side-by-side
American Express Green Card vs Discover it Cash Back
Both are well-respected travel cards. The American Express Green Card comes from American Express at $150/yr; the Discover it Cash Back from Discover at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the American Express Green Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($520 more in estimated value) than the Discover it Cash Back's. Get the American Express Green Card first; revisit the Discover it Cash Back after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | American Express Green Card | Discover it Cash Back |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | 40,000 Membership Rewards points | Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) |
| Bonus value (est.) | $720 | $200 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $0 in 12 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Discover |
| Card category | travel | cashback |
| Best earning category (Travel) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
American Express Green Card
$150/yr · 40,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Discover it Cash Back
$0/yr · Cashback Match (first year, unlimited)
Editorial take: Discover it Cash Back
The first-year Cashback Match effectively doubles your earnings, someone who earns $300 in cash back gets $600 total. It's the best no-fee first card for building credit with real rewards.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Green Card or Discover it Cash Back?
- The American Express Green Card has the bigger bonus, 40,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $720, versus Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) (~$200) on the Discover it Cash Back.
- Is the American Express Green Card's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the Discover it Cash Back?
- At $150/yr, the American Express Green Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Discover it Cash Back's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the American Express Green Card and Discover it Cash Back?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Discover) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the American Express Green Card or the Discover it Cash Back first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Green Card: $3,000 spend in 3 months. Discover it Cash Back: $0 in 12 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.