Discover it® Cash Back
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Discover it® Cash Back
Let's cut right to the chase.
Our experts have decades of experience and have reviewed hundreds of credit cards.
The Discover it® Cash Back card is one of the very few that’s so good, our top experts have signed up for it personally. In fact, they named it the Best Cash Back Credit Card of 2024!
Here's why they use it:
So what can this actually add up to in the real world? We calculate that cardholders can secure $1,306 from the first-year bonus and premium cash back alone. (See how below.) Not a bad return on investment for the 2-minute application process!
Great for: Massive cash back rewards
OFFER ALERT
Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year!
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
Rewards Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer N/A
One thing we should note: it’s not uncommon to see credit card companies adjust the benefits on cards over time. While we don’t know if that’ll happen here, if you’re interested in the card we do recommend using this link to apply today to make sure you don’t miss out on all of this card’s perks.
You'll be hard-pressed to find a no-annual-fee cash-back card that offers as much value as this card. That's because of the combination of the card's lucrative 5% cash rewards program, cash back match in the first year, a long list of secondary perks, and cutting fees. Here's how the value adds up:
These categories alone tally up to $1,306 worth of value. Keep in mind that the value for many cardholders could be far higher, given the card doesn't include an annual fee, doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee, and you can avoid interest charges for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
So what can this actually add up to in the real world? We calculate that cardholders can secure $1,306 from the first-year bonus and premium cash back alone. (See how below.) Not a bad return on investment for the 2-minute application process!
One thing we should note: it’s not uncommon to see credit card companies adjust the benefits on cards over time. While we don’t know if that’ll happen here, if you’re interested in the card we do recommend using this link to apply today to make sure you don’t miss out on all of this card’s perks.
0% intro APR for 15 months for purchases -- on top of the high cash back rate, this card also features a very competitive 0% intro APR offer. This can be a smart way to finance larger purchases, or simply if you find yourself in a temporary bind and want to avoid interest until nearly 2026.
0% intro APR for balance transfers -- The same length 0% intro APR for 15 months applies for balance transfers. If you have credit card debt, you can transfer it to this card to avoid interest charges for well over a year on that transferred balance. Plus, you could use the cash back you earn from the card to help pay off any previous debt. Remember, the go-to rate of 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR applies after each intro period (see rates and fees).
Earn up to 5% cash back -- Cardholders earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum of $1,500 on purchases and when you activate. Category activation is easy: Discover will send you an email before each quarter, and then you simply activate with one click. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.
Unlimited Cashback Match sign-up bonus -- This is our favorite perk of the card, and one that is unique and highly valuable. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year for new cardholders, which can help lead to a truly incredible amount of cash back in your pocket.
$0 annual fee -- Credit cards packed with valuable features tend to charge a high annual fee, but not this card.
When you apply for Discover it® Cash Back, it is recommended that you have good to excellent credit and a FICO score of at least 670. If you’d like some tips on increasing your credit score above 670, see this page.
Credit cards with rewards and 0% intro APR offers are excellent, but remember, they are a tool to help you get the most out of your spending. The Ascent motto to follow:
Follow this and you'll be making your money work overtime for you. Live richly, not risky.
You'll be hard-pressed to find a no-annual-fee cash-back card that offers as much value as this card. That's because of the combination of the card's lucrative 5% cash rewards program, cash back match in the first year, a long list of secondary perks, and cutting fees. Here's how the value adds up:
These categories alone tally up to $1,306 worth of value. Keep in mind that the value for many cardholders could be far higher, given the card doesn't include an annual fee, doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee, and you can avoid interest charges for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
Simply put, Discover it® Cash Back is among the best cash-back cards we've come across.
Depending on what card is in your wallet today, there’s a high chance the Discover it® Cash Back card is a more lucrative upgrade -- and it could especially be an upgrade over debit cards, which have far worse fraud protections than credit cards and usually no rewards.
This card is a fantastic option for those looking for truly elite cash back potential or for a lengthy intro period of 0% interest (or both!). The fact that you get all of this for no annual fee makes the card a no-brainer for many consumers, in our opinion. These are all reasons why this card earned a spot in our experts' wallets, and why they use it regularly.
Our Credit Cards Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
*Average American budget per https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/research/average-monthly-expenses/. Includes the following categories earning 1% cash back: utilities and household operations, healthcare, apparel and services, education, vices, miscellaneous, personal care, reading, food, transportation, and entertainment.