Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Discover it Cash Back leads on rotating quarterly; the Hilton Honors American Express Card on hotels.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Discover it Cash Back | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels | 1X | 7X |
| Dining | 1X | 5X |
| Gas Stations | 1X | 5X |
| Grocery Stores | 1X | 5X |
| Rotating Quarterly | 5X | 3X |
| Everything Else | 1X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
The Hilton Honors American Express Card wins in 5 of 5 categories. The Discover it Cash Back leads in 0. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.
Rotating Quarterly
Depends: up to $1,500/quarter; Must activate each quarter
Discover it Cash Back earns 5X when conditions are met; Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X (3X without restrictions)
Hotels
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X vs 1X
Dining
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 1X
Gas Stations
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 1X
Everyday purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 1X
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Hilton Honors American Express Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Both scenarios favor the Hilton Honors American Express Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Discover it Cash Back | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $120 Year one: $120 | Rewards: $182 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $182 Year one: $502 | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $480 Year one: $480 | Rewards: $730 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $730 Year one: $1,050 | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Card if you:
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
