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Discover it Cash Back vs Hilton Honors Amex

Not credit advice. Facts and math from issuer pages and the CFPB, each with its date. Offers change; approval depends on your credit. Verify on the issuer's site.

Rubric: Discover it Cash Back leads by 6.4 pts. Scores: Discover it Cash Back 80.7%, Hilton Honors Amex 74.3%.

At a sample $1,920/month (groceries $500, dining $300, gas $150, travel $150, online $200, other $400 …): Discover it Cash Back nets $230/yr, Hilton Honors Amex nets $460/yr after annual fees. Use your own numbers →

Criterion scores (0–10)

Annual feeBack: 10.0 · Amex: 10.0
Rewards rateBack: 6.0 · Amex: 10
Sign-up bonusBack: n/a · Amex: n/a
Intro 0% APRBack: 7.1 · Amex: 0.0
Regular APRBack: 8.4 · Amex: 7.0
Foreign transaction feeBack: 10.0 · Amex: 10.0
Regulatory record (CFPB)Back: 10.0 · Amex: 10.0

Discover it Cash Back

IssuerDiscover (Capital One)
Typecash back
Annual fee$0 discover.com, 2026-10-11
Regular purchase APR17.74%–26.74% variable discover.com, 2026-10-11
Rewards5% rotating quarterly categories (activation, quarterly max); 1% other; first-year Cashback Match discover.com, 2026-10-11
Sign-up bonus (≈$)not found discover.com, 2026-10-11
Intro APR15 months 0% intro APR 15 months on purchases and balance transfers discover.com, 2026-10-11
Foreign transaction feenone Pricing schedule (06/30/26) lists no foreign transaction fee discover.com, 2026-10-11
Penalty APRnone Discover agreement table: 'Penalty APR None' files.consumerfinance.gov, 2026-06-30
Late feeup to $41 up to; $0.00 for first occurrence; $30.00 if not charged a late fee within last six billing cycles; $41.00 otherwise files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Balance transfer fee3% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Cash advance fee5% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Credit needed620–719, 720+ (CFPB TCCP targeted tiers) files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Grace period25 days files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Cash advance APR29.24% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
CFPB survey APR (2025-12-31)16.74%–29.24% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31 older; issuer figure above is newer

Hilton Honors Amex

IssuerAmerican Express
Typeno annual fee
Annual fee$0 americanexpress.com, 2026-10-12
Regular purchase APR19.74%–28.74% variable americanexpress.com, 2026-10-12
Rewards3% base; 5% dining; 5% gas; 5% groceries americanexpress.com, 2026-10-12
Sign-up bonus (≈$)not found americanexpress.com, 2026-10-12
Intro APRnone No intro APR shown americanexpress.com, 2026-10-12
Foreign transaction feenone files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Penalty APRPrime + 26.74% Variable: Prime Rate + 26.74% per Amex agreement rate table consumerfinance.gov, 2026-06-30
Late feeup to $40 up to (first and repeat late fee) files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Balance transfer feenot found files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Cash advance fee5% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Credit needed720+ (CFPB TCCP targeted tiers) files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Grace period25 days files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Cash advance APR29.49% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
CFPB survey APR (2025-12-31)19.49%–29.24% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31 older; issuer figure above is newer

Downsides

Discover it Cash Back80.7%
Discover (Capital One) · cash back
Annual fee $0APR 17.74%–26.74% variableRewards 5% rotating quarterly categories (activation, quarterly max); 1% other; first-year Cashback MatchCredit 620–719, 720+ (CFPB TCCP targeted tiers)
⚠ Late fee up to $41 · Rotating 5% quarterly categories need activation and change each quarter; not modeled (we count the 1% base). First-year Cashback Match not counted.
Hilton Honors Amex74.3%
American Express · no annual fee
Annual fee $0APR 19.74%–28.74% variableRewards 3% base; 5% dining; 5% gas; 5% groceriesCredit 720+ (CFPB TCCP targeted tiers)
⚠ APR up to 28.74% if you carry a balance · Penalty APR Prime + 26.74% (variable) · Late fee up to $40

No paid placement. No issuer pays VaultRubric for inclusion or rank; links go to the issuer's own page. Ranks come only from the published rubric below.

FAQ

Which is better, Discover it Cash Back or Hilton Honors Amex?

On VaultRubric's rubric: Discover it Cash Back scores higher. The better card for you depends on where you spend; the calculator shows net value for your spending.

Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.