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Discover It Cash Back Credit Card

Written by: Lenny Pappano

The Discover It Cash Back card offers cash back rewards that get matched after your first year, but we don't recommend it since better travel rewards cards exist with simpler earning structures and more valuable redemption options.

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Discover It Cash Back Credit Card Review

Key Takeaways

While you can earn up to $600 in rewards with relatively low spending on the Discover It Cash Back card, we don't recommend it for several reasons. First, the rewards are in the form of cash back. We rarely recommend cash back cards because our hobby focuses on earning free travel. Cards with airline and hotel transfer partners offer the best value in rewards redemptions, and Discover does not have transfer partners.

Second, earning up to $600 in rewards is complicated and requires a full year of commitment. This card doesn't offer a traditional sign-up bonus tied to spending a specific amount. Instead, you must maximize rotating quarterly spending categories to earn 5% back throughout the entire year. Only then will Discover match your earnings after your first year ends. This requires too much effort to earn the same bonus you could receive in just three months with similar spending on many other available cards.

Why This Card Could Be Right For You

The rewards in the first year of owning the Discover It Cash Back card could reach upwards of $600 while spending $6,000, which is attractive considering the card has no annual fee. This card offers 5% back each quarter on rotating spending categories chosen by Discover. They cap the 5% back at $1,500 each quarter, allowing you to earn an extra $75 quarterly on that specific spending category.

If you maximize the 5% back category each quarter, you'll spend $6,000 annually and earn $300 back. Rather than offering a traditional sign-up bonus, Discover matches your earned rewards at the end of your first card year. This means you could receive up to $600 back if you maximize the 5% category every quarter. The card also offers 1% back on all other spending, providing additional cash back rewards on any other purchases.

You can redeem your cash back in several ways: direct deposit into any account, statement credit on your credit card, donations to select charities, or gift cards. You can also redeem on Amazon by linking your Discover card to your Amazon account, shop through PayPal, or pay with rewards using Apple Pay. Unfortunately, travel redemptions are not available.

When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply

The exceptions where this card might not be good for you:

You want to transfer points and miles to airlines and/or hotels to find good deals that maximize your points, which isn't possible with Discover
This Discover card only allows you to redeem rewards as cash back or through shopping on Amazon or PayPal

How The Discover It Cash Back Credit Card Fits In The Cash in Cents Ecosystem

Discover offers another no annual fee cash back card similar to the Discover It Cash Back card. The Discover It Chrome card provides 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, then 1% on everything else. You will also receive a matching bonus at the end of your first year, just like with the Cash Back card. The Chrome card also doesn't have an annual fee and is a cash back card as well, so you cannot redeem rewards for travel-related purchases.

The Discover It Miles card simplifies things by offering 1.5% back on all purchases every day with no limits. It features the same matching bonus as the other two cards and also has no annual fee. This card does allow you to redeem rewards by offering credit for travel purchases, but being a Discover card, there are no airline or hotel transfer partners.

Discover as a system ranks low on our list of recommended rewards programs. None of their cards offer a significant enough sign-up bonus to justify getting one, they don't have partners to transfer points to, and you can only open one card every 12 months. Because of these limitations, we suggest exploring other rewards systems for your points and miles journey.

Card Information

Bonus Points	Minimum Spend	Point Value	Annual Value	Annual Fee	1st Year Value
1	$1	1.0 ¢	$1	$0	$1

Best Value	Differentiating Perks	Rules
Cash Back, Gift Cards	Discover will match all cash back at the year end, making rotating categories 10% for the first year	No 5/24

Award System

Bank

Reconsideration Phone 800.290.9885

Current Offer

1 Bonus Points for
$1 spend.

Spend Categories

All Other = »

2X points
2¢ Per Dollar Spent

Grocery Stores + »

5X points
5¢ Per Dollar Spent

Wholesale Clubs = »

5X points
5¢ Per Dollar Spent

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Card Benefits

No Foreign Transaction Fees »
You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.

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Point Transfer Options

Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes

Transfer To Friends Yes

Travel Partner Transfers

Outside Point System Cash in Cents

Transfers In From

Amex Member Rewards

1:1 71% value retained

Barclay Miles

1:1 100% value retained

Capital One Miles

1:1 91% value retained

Chase Ultimate Rewards

1:1 63% value retained

US Bank Flex Perks

1:1 91% value retained

Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards

1:1 71% value retained

View All Point Transfer Options »

Discover It Cash Back Application Rules

No 5/24

Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule

Ranking of Cards Offering Cash in Cents

Citi Costco Business »

Amex Blue Cash Everyday »

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite »

Amex Blue Business Cash »

Amex Blue Business Plus »

Bank of America Platinum Plus Business »

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards »

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards »

Bank of America Premium Rewards »

Bank of America Business Travel »

Bank of America Travel Rewards »

Chase Ink Business Premier »

Amex Blue Cash Preferred »

US Bank Cash Plus »

Capital One Savor »

Capital One Quicksilver »

#10

Citi Costco »

#11

Discover It Cash Back »

#13

Citi Double Cash »

#15

Discover It Chrome »

Breaking Points

March 6, 2023

Mini Points - March 2023

- JetBlue Plus Card - Limited time offer - Barclay Bank - earn 60,000 points after spending $1000 in 3 months, $99/annual fee.

- Venture One Card - Limited time offer - Capital One Bank - earn 40,000 miles after spending $1000 in 3 months, $0/annual fee.

- Alaska Airlines Business Card - Limited time offer - Bank of America - earn 70,000 miles after spending $4000 in 3 months, $70/annual fee.

- Marriott Bonvoy Business Card - Limited time offer - American Express - earn 125,000 points after spending $5000 in 3 months, $125/annual fee.

- Chase Freedom / Chase Freedom Flex cardholders Q2 2023 - Activation is now open - Amazon & Lowes.

- Discover It - cash back Categories are Live - April - June Restaurants & Wholesale Clubs.

December 15, 2022

Mini Points - December 2022

- Activation is now open for Chase Freedom & Chase Freedom Flex Cardholders, for Q1 running 1/01/2023 - 3/31/2023.

- Discover has released it's Cash Back calendar for quarterly categories.

- Southwest is offering an extension for expiring Companion Passes or refund flights that experienced disrupted holiday travel from 12/24/22 - 1/2/23.

March 8, 2022

Mini Points - March 2022

- AAdvantage loyalty program is getting a face-lift.

- Barclay is bringing back it's AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard. Get this great sign up offer now, 70,000 miles after spending only $1000.

- Chase Freedom Cards Q2 5% categories now open (Amazon.com & streaming services),activate here.

- Keep up with Discover it Cash back 5% quarterly calendar, changing to second quarter starting April 1, 2022.

September 16, 2021

Mini Points - October 2021

- Discover It 5% Cash Back starting October 1st for Amazon.com, Walmart.com & Target.com, activate offer now.

- Hilton Honors is extending Elite Perks for another year.