American Express® Gold Card vs. Discover it® Cash Back

Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026 · Independently reviewed

American Express logo
American Express® Gold Card
American Express
4.7

4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. $120 dining credit.

Full review →
Discover logo
Discover it® Cash Back
Discover
4.5

5% rotating categories. Cashback Match at end of first year.

Full review →
WealthSpott Verdict

Discover it® Cash Back wins on more measurable categories — particularly annual cost. American Express® Gold Card may still win for your wallet depending on your spending patterns.

Feature
American Express® Gold
Discover it® Cash
Annual Fee
$250/yr
$0 Best
Sign-up Bonus
60,000 points
Cashback Match
Rewards Rate
1x-4x
1%-5%
Rewards Type
Points
Cash Back
0% Intro APR
N/A
0% for 15 months
Regular APR
See terms
18.24%-28.24% Variable Best
Foreign Transaction Fee
None Best
Yes
Recommended Credit Score
670-850
670-850
American Express® Gold Card
Pros
  • 4x at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
  • $120 dining credit + $120 Uber credit annually
  • No foreign transaction fee
Cons
  • $250 annual fee
  • Credits require specific merchants to maximise
Full review
Discover it® Cash Back
Pros
  • Cashback Match doubles first-year earnings
  • 5% rotating categories
Cons
  • Quarterly category activation required
Full review

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