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Card Comparison

Discover it Cash Back vs The Platinum Card from American Express

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

Discover it Cash Back card art
Discover Miles
Discover it Cash Back
Discover
More Info
The Platinum Card from American Express card art
American Express Membership Rewards
The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express
More Info
Annual Fee
No annual fee
$895/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
See issuer
175,000 points
Spend $12,000 in 6 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Rotating Quarterly Categories 5x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
  • Flights (Direct or Amex Travel) 5x
  • Prepaid Hotels (Amex Travel) 5x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
Reward Type
cashback
miles
Key Credits
None
  • Prepaid Hotel Credit $200
  • Uber Cash $15
  • Airline Fee Credit $200
  • +4 more
Card Perks
None listed
  • Centurion Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass Select
  • Delta Sky Club Access
  • +6 more
Transfer Partners
Cash back only
  • Flying Blue
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • True Blue
  • Qatar Avios
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • +13 more

Common Questions: Discover it Cash Back vs The Platinum Card from American Express

Is the Discover it Cash Back or The Platinum Card from American Express better for dining?

Neither card offers a specific dining bonus — both earn their base rate on restaurant purchases.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Discover it Cash Back currently offers $200 signup bonus. The Platinum Card from American Express offers 175,000 pts signup bonus (spend $12,000 in 6 months). The Platinum Card from American Express has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the Discover it Cash Back and the The Platinum Card from American Express?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Discover it Cash Back is from Discover and The Platinum Card from American Express is from American Express, so they're governed by separate bank policies.