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.
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Side-by-side
Discover it Cash Back vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Discover it Cash Back comes from Discover at $0/yr; the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire from American Express at $550/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($675 more in estimated value) than the Discover it Cash Back's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first; revisit the Discover it Cash Back after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Discover it Cash Back | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $550 |
| Sign-up bonus | Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) | 175,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $875 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 12 mo | $6,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Discover | American Express |
| Card category | cashback | hotel |
| Best earning category (Rotating) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Discover it Cash Back
$0/yr · Cashback Match (first year, unlimited)
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 175,000 points
Editorial take: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Pretty much a no-brainer if you stay at Hilton hotels. The $550 annual fee pays for itself with just the free night reward alone, which can be used at any standard room property, even $1,000+ per night hotels.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Discover it Cash Back or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has the bigger bonus, 175,000 points, worth roughly $875, versus Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) (~$200) on the Discover it Cash Back.
- Is the Discover it Cash Back's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Discover it Cash Back has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's $550 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's benefits to clear $550 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Discover it Cash Back.
- Can I have both the Discover it Cash Back and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Discover and American Express) 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 Discover it Cash Back or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Discover it Cash Back: $0 spend in 12 months. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire: $6,000 in 6 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.