Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card vs. Discover it Student Cash Back
On the criteria below, Discover it Student Cash Back wins 3 of 4. The verdict depends on which criteria matter to you.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Chase
Discover it Student Cash Back
Discover
Discover it Student Cash Back wins 3 of 4 criteria here, making it the stronger all-rounder.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card wins on travel insurance; Discover it Student Cash Back wins on first-year math, annual fee, and earning ceiling.
Pick the Discover it Student Cash Back if year-one math is your priority; take the Discover it Student Cash Back if you want a cheaper card to keep long-term.
Who wins what
1 vs 3- First-year math Discover it Student Cash Back
Discover it Student Cash Back wins on bonus value minus annual fee.
- Annual fee Discover it Student Cash Back
Discover it Student Cash Back is $99 cheaper to keep.
- Earning ceiling Discover it Student Cash Back
Discover it Student Cash Back earns more on its best category (5× vs 2×).
- Travel insurance Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card carries built-in travel insurance.
By the numbers
- Annual fee
- $99
- Free
- Welcome offer (typical value)
- —
- —
- First-year net
- $-99
- +$0
- Peak earning rate
- 2×
- 5×
- Top categories
- Airfare, Gas, Groceries
- Rotating Quarterly
- Lounge access
- No
- No
- Travel insurance
- Yes
- No
- Elite status
- No
- No
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- None
- Reward currency
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- Discover Cashback
Welcome-offer dollar values use each program's typical-tier valuation from our signup bonus calculator. See the methodology page for sourcing details.