Citi Diamond Preferred Card vs. Discover it Student Cash Back
On the criteria below, Discover it Student Cash Back wins 2 of 4. The verdict depends on which criteria matter to you.
Citi Diamond Preferred Card
Citi
Discover it Student Cash Back
Discover
Discover it Student Cash Back wins 2 of 4 criteria here, making it the stronger all-rounder.
Discover it Student Cash Back leads on earning ceiling and foreign transactions, while Citi Diamond Preferred Card only ties the rest.
Who wins what
0 vs 2 (2 tie)- First-year math Tie
Both cards land within $25 of each other after the annual fee.
- Annual fee Tie
Same annual fee.
- Earning ceiling Discover it Student Cash Back
Discover it Student Cash Back earns more on its best category (5× vs 0×).
- Foreign transactions Discover it Student Cash Back
Discover it Student Cash Back has a lower (or zero) foreign transaction fee.
By the numbers
- Annual fee
- Free
- Free
- Welcome offer (typical value)
- —
- —
- First-year net
- +$0
- +$0
- Peak earning rate
- —
- 5×
- Top categories
- —
- Rotating Quarterly
- Lounge access
- No
- No
- Travel insurance
- No
- No
- Elite status
- No
- No
- Foreign transaction fee
- 3.00%
- None
- Reward currency
- —
- 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.