Discover it® Cash Back review
If you are a new card member, Discover matches all the cash back you earn, dollar for dollar, at the end of your first year. With no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and rewards earned on everyday purchases, this card could prove a lucrative addition to your wallet.
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Key Features
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- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Enjoy a long intro offer of 15 months 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers, then RegAPR.
- There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, and your first late-payment fee is waived.
- If you know you spend a lot in a particular category, you might be better off with a card that features a constant higher cash-back percentage in that category.
card_name bonus
When CardName says it will match all the cash back accrued during your first year, it means it. Thanks to Discover’s cash back offer, new cardmembers could earn a staggering amount of cash back on purchases made within the rotating 5% cash-back categories in their first year (up to the quarterly maximum of $1,500 each time you activate). Think about it: $150 in cash back will automatically become $300.
The CardName match in bonus categories is in addition to the match Discover is offering for all the purchases you make in the first year in regular, non-bonus categories. With a bit of strategy and some regular credit card usage, you could reap some serious cash back, particularly during your first year.
In addition to the intro offer and with a fresh look and a focus on customer service, CardName has redefined itself as a serious contender in the crowded cash-back credit card field (which the original Discover card invented in the 1980s). With no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and rewards earned in everyday categories, CardName has the potential to set a new standard for American rewards credit cards.
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It’s always nice to know that using your credit card is earning you rewards, and the CardName earns you rewards every time you swipe – at least 1% on all your purchases.
When you sign up and spend in one of the rotating categories each quarter, however, you boost your earning to 5% back on those purchases up to $1,500 spent.
When the time comes, CardName then offers easy redemption of your cash-back rewards. You can use your points as credit toward purchases or to request immediate credit card statement credit through Discover’s website, among several other options.
Additionally, if you’re the type who wants maximum rewards and is willing to think through the strategy a bit, CardName pairs well in your wallet with another no annual fee credit card like CardNamediscontinued. How does it pair well? Here’s the deal:
- Use your CardName card to earn 5% cash back on all your purchases in the bonus categories each quarter (up to the quarterly maximum of $1,500 each time you active).
- Use your CardName card to earn bonus rewards in the categories that the CardName doesn’t earn bonus rewards in. Then you can use your CardName to earn an extra 3% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, then 1.5%) outside of bonus categories.
- Remember that CardName matches all cash back for all new cardmembers in the first year; that means you’ll want to employ a strategy like this AFTER your first year of card membership. That’s because the match effectively means you can earn at least 2% back on your purchases (and up to 10% back when you’re talking about the bonus categories) with your Discover card for that first year.
card_name cash back calendar
To maximize your CardName rewards you need to opt in to quarterly bonus categories. Once you’ve opted in, you’ll receive an automatic 5% cashback bonus on up to $1,500 in purchases made for that category.
To opt into the bonus categories, you simply need to log into your Discover account, visit the cashback calendar page and click "activate" each quarter.
CardRatings Tip
What are Discover’s cash-back categories? See the details of the Discover 5% cash back calendar, which is updated quarterly as Discover announces each quarter’s new categories.
Potential downsides of the card_name
As is the case with any rotating categories cash-back card, you have to be willing to use a bit of strategy if you want to realize the full potential rewards of this card. If you’re not someone who wants to keep up with using your card in the quarterly bonus categories, you’d likely earn more rewards with a flat-rate credit card like the CardNamediscontinued that offers a flat 1.5% back on all your purchases. Or, if you’re wanting a little strategy, but not one that changes quarterly, you might consider a tiered cash-back rewards card like the CardName which offers 6% back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit; and 1% on other purchases. (American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.)
How do cardholders rate the card_name?
CardRatings conducts a survey annually to learn what actual cardholders think of their cards. Here are the results for the CardName:
| Current Scores | Past Scores | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 80.3 | 84.9 |
| Features Satisfaction | 8 | 8.5 |
| Customer Service | 7.8 | 8.5 |
| Website/App Usability | 7.7 | 8.7 |
| Likelihood of Continuing to Use | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| Recommend to a Friend/Colleague | 8.1 | 8.2 |
How the card_name compares to other cards
CardName vs. card_name
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The card_name is similar to the CardName in that it earns rewards in tiered categories, but the card operates a little different. With the card_name cardholders earn 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service; and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase Travel; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service; and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
The main difference with the card_name is that the bonus categories don’t rotate. That said, it actually makes a great companion card to use in addition to the CardName, as described above.
CardName vs. CardName
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The CardName card is offering an introductory bonus where all cash back earned during the first year will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by Discover. Combined with the quarterly bonus categories of 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. It effectively amounts to up to 10% cash back in bonus categories for your first year. Compared to the Citi card that earns 1% cash back when you make purchases and 1% when you pay at least the minimum balance due on time, the CardName has a substantial edge in cash back earning potential, especially during your first year as a cardholder. Citi is a CardRatings advertiser.
If you are interested in a card that has a stellar intro balance transfer offer, both the CardName and CardName deserve your consideration. The CardName gets the edge in this category in terms of an introductory 0% balance transfer APR for the first 18 months (then, RegAPR), but CardName offers an intro 0% APR on balance transfers AND purchases for 15 months (then, RegAPR).
When it comes to these cards you must ask yourself: Are you willing to be strategic with your cards, or do you prefer one card that you can earn steady rewards with across the board? Do you need intro 0% APR on both balance transfers and new purchases? And is the length of the offer important? Answering these questions can help you best determine which of these two cards are the right fit for you.
Is card_name a good credit card?
CardName is a solid choice for anyone who is willing to take a few minutes each quarter to sign up for the bonus categories and then spend strategically within those categories to maximize their rewards. With no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee and that awesome first-year cash back match offer, it’s a fantastic card for even the occasional credit card user.
Lastly, to add some fun to the decision-making surrounding a new credit card, CardName gives cardholders the option to select their favorite card design from an array of eye-catching colors. Royal purple? Chocolate brown? Striking silver? In other words, this card can fit both your financial and personal style.
Frequently asked questions
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Our Methodology
Survey methodology: CardRatings commissioned Op4G in September 2023 to conduct surveys among 1,869 cardholders nationwide. CardRatings website analytics from Jan. 1, 2023-Aug. 31, 2023 were used to determine a selection of the most popular cards and additional cards were included to add survey breadth. Responses to each of nine questions were given on a scale of 1-10 and respondents’ scores were then averaged under broad topics. To determine the overall score, responses from questions 1-8 were summed and the answer to "How likely are you to recommend this card to a friend, coworker or family member?" was double weighted. "Current Scores" reflect scores from the most recent survey (2023); "Past Scores" reflect scores from the 2022 survey.
Disclaimer:The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.
This content is not provided by any company mentioned in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any such company. CardRatings.com does not review every company or every offer available on the market.
To see the rates and fees for the CardName, please visit the following link: See Rates and Fees
