Apple Card vs Discover it Cash Back
Side-by-side comparison of rewards, fees, and benefits
Apple Card
Apple
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Discover it Cash Back
Discover
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Apple Card comes out ahead by $231/yr at a typical $24,000/yr spending profile.
See the assumptions and math
Everyday profile: $24,000/yr across groceries, gas, dining, online shopping, streaming, and everything else. Signup bonuses excluded (first-year only). Statement credits counted at typical usage rates, not face value.
| Card | Rewards | Credits | Fee | Net/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Card | $504 | $0 | -$0 | $504 |
| Discover it Cash Back | $273 | $0 | -$0 | $273 |
Note: Discover it Cash Back has spending caps or rotating categories not fully modeled here. Run the optimizer with your own numbers for the exact answer.
Booking through the card issuer's travel site. Point values adjust automatically.
Simple Advanced view shows effective return rates (multiplier × point value) instead of just multipliers. | Apple CardApple | Discover it Cash BackDiscover |
|---|---|---|
Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
Sign-Up Bonus | - | - |
Point Value How much each point is worth in cents. This varies based on how you redeem (cash back, travel portal, or transfer partners). | 1.0¢(Travel Portal) | 1.0¢(Travel Portal) |
Dining | 2x | 1.25x |
Grocery | 2x | 1.25x |
Flights | 2x | 1x |
Hotels | 2x | 1x |
Gas | 3x | 1.25x |
Online Shopping | 2x | 1x |
Everything Else | 2x | 1x |
Fast Food Quick-service restaurants (MCC 5814). Most "dining" bonuses include fast food. | 2x | 1.25x |
Streaming Subscriptions like Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc. | 2x | 1x |
Internet Home internet and cable bills. | 2x | 1x |
Cell Phone Cell phone bills (may incur processing fees). | 2x | 1x |
Home Utilities Electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash. | 2x | 1x |
Travel/Airline Credit | - | - |
Est. Perks Value | - | - |
Lounge Access | No | No |
* Est. Perks Value: Requires enrollment; varies by usage. Excludes Travel/Airline Credit (shown separately).
Amex Platinum ($2,884): $600 FHR/THC hotel credit, $400 Resy dining, $300 lululemon, $300 digital entertainment, $320 Uber ($200 cash + $120 Uber One), $209 CLEAR+, $200 Oura, $155 Walmart+, $100 Saks, $300 Equinox.
CSR ($828): $420 DoorDash (DashPass + credits), $288 Apple TV+ and Apple Music, $120 Lyft credits.
Quick Verdict
Apple Card earns more on travel (2x flights vs 1x). Apple Card excels at everyday spending like dining and grocery. Your best choice depends on where you spend the most.
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