Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the Discover it Cash Back (no annual fee) and the Hilton Honors American Express Card (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.
5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else. Cashback Match doubles all cash back in first year.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply NowStrongest in dining at 5%. 7x at Hilton hotels, 5x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. Earns a solid 3.0% on everything else.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply Now| Feature | Discover it Cash Back | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | None | 70,000 points after $2,000 spend in 6 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 3% |
| Dining Rewards | 1% | 5% |
| Groceries Rewards | 1% | 5% |
| Gas Rewards | 1% | 5% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
None |
7% at Hilton hotels Earns 7% only on stays at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Travel booked anywhere else earns the flat 3%. |
| Key Benefits | 5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else. Cashback Match doubles all cash back in first year. | 7x at Hilton hotels, 5x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. |
Hilton Honors American Express Card wins on travel, dining, groceries, gas.
Hilton Honors American Express Card carries $200/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.