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.
All credit cards
Side-by-side
Discover it Cash Back vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Discover it Cash Back comes from Discover at $0/yr; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority from Chase at $229/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($640 more in estimated value) than the Discover it Cash Back's. Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first; revisit the Discover it Cash Back after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Discover it Cash Back | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $229 |
| Sign-up bonus | Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) | 60,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $840 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 12 mo | $2,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Discover | Chase |
| Card category | cashback | airline |
| Best earning category (Rotating) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
|
Read the full review
Discover it Cash Back
$0/yr · Cashback Match (first year, unlimited)
Read the full review
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
$229/yr · 60,000 points
Editorial take: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
If Southwest is your airline, this is the card to have. The anniversary points and $75 travel credit help offset the annual fee, and the 4x earning on Southwest is class-leading among airline cards.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Discover it Cash Back or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority has the bigger bonus, 60,000 points, worth roughly $840, 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Discover it Cash Back has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's $229 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's benefits to clear $229 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Discover and Chase) 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Discover it Cash Back: $0 spend in 12 months. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: $2,000 in 3 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.