(9bbb3e6c1ebe70c5b38aba7b3de53a57) Discover it® Cash Back | CardSnark
Discover it® Cash Back
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Reviews
4.7/5

Discover it® Cash Back

The CardSnark Verdict

The Discover it Cash Back is Discover's desperate attempt to compete with Visa and Mastercard by throwing money at you. And it works. The Cashback Match promotion—where Discover doubles ALL your cash back for the entire first year—is legitimately the most generous new cardholder offer that isn't an outright scam. If you're a first-time credit card user or someone who wants maximum cash back without annual fees, this card is a no-brainer.

Annual Fee $0
Credit Req Fair/Good (No Credit)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR (15 mos)
Foreign Fee None
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👍 The Good Stuff

  • ✅ Cashback Match: Doubles ALL rewards earned in the first year.
  • ✅ 5% Categories: Rotating categories like Grocery and Gas (effectively 10% year one).
  • ✅ No Annual Fee: Costs $0 to hold forever.
  • ✅ 0% Intro APR: 15 months on purchases and transfers.

👎 The Bad Stuff

  • ❌ Must Activate: You must click to activate 5% categories every quarter.
  • ❌ Spending Cap: 5% earning is capped at $1,500 spend per quarter.
  • ❌ Acceptance: Not accepted at Costco or some international spots.

The Deep Dive

The card that literally doubles your rewards for an entire year. Yes, you have to remember to activate quarterly 5% categories. But if you do, the math is unbeatable for a no-fee card.

Cashback Match: The Free Money Machine

Discover matches ALL the cash back you earn in your first year. Earned $300? Discover gives you another $300 at the end of year one. There is no cap.

Translation: Your 5% categories become 10%, your 1% spending becomes 2%, and you effectively double your rewards for doing absolutely nothing.

How You Earn Cash Back

Every quarter, Discover announces two 5% categories. You must activate them to earn the bonus. Typical categories include:

  • Q1 (Jan-Mar): Grocery stores, drugstores.
  • Q2 (Apr-Jun): Gas stations, wholesale clubs (but not Costco).
  • Q3 (Jul-Sep): Restaurants, PayPal.
  • Q4 (Oct-Dec): Amazon, Target, Walmart.

First Year Math (With Cashback Match)

Let’s say you spend $1,500/quarter in 5% categories ($300 cash back) and $500/month on everything else ($60 cash back). That’s $360 earned. Discover doubles it to $720 total. That’s $720 for free just for using this card.

The Acceptance Problem

Discover is accepted at 99% of major US retailers, but there are gaps. It does not work at Costco. It works at most restaurants, gas stations, and online stores. Keep a Visa or Mastercard as a backup for international travel or Costco runs.

Who Should Get This Card?

  1. First-time credit card users (easy approval + doubled rewards).
  2. Students building credit.
  3. Category optimization nerds who want to pair this with a flat-rate card.

Ready to get this card?

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