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Discover it® Cash Back Credit Card: Rating Using the Credit Card Ranking Framework

 

Rewards Program (30 points)

• Points, Miles, or Cash Back Rates (15 points)
The Discover it® Cash Back card offers 5% cash back on rotating categories (such as groceries, gas, and online shopping) up to a quarterly maximum, and 1% on all other purchases. These 5% categories are a high-earning rate for specific categories.
Score: 15 points

• Redemption Flexibility (10 points)
Discover offers multiple ways to redeem cash back, including statement credits, direct deposits, gift cards, charitable donations, and Amazon purchases. The flexibility and ease of use are very appealing.
Score: 10 points

• Rewards Expiration and Transfer Options (5 points)
Discover’s cash back rewards never expire as long as your account remains open, and they are automatically applied to your account if not used within 18 months. However, there are no transfer options to other programs like frequent flyer miles.
Score: 3 points

 

Total for Rewards Program: 28 points

 

Welcome Offer (20 Points)

• Welcome Offer Value (15 points)
Discover’s signature Cashback Match® offer is highly unique. At the end of the first year, Discover matches all the cash back you’ve earned, effectively doubling your first-year earnings. This can result in significant rewards, but because it is not a traditional lump-sum welcome offer, we consider it moderate in value.
Score: 10 points

• Ease of Earning (5 points)
The Cashback Match offer is automatic and doesn’t require any specific spending threshold, which makes it incredibly easy to earn for all cardholders, no matter their spending habits.
Score: 5 points

 

Total for Welcome Offer: 15 points

 

Fees (10 points)

• Annual Fee (6 points)
The Discover it® Cash Back card has no annual fee, which is a significant advantage for those seeking value without a recurring cost.
Score: 6 points

• Foreign Transaction Fees (4 points)
Discover charges no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent option for international travel.
Score: 4 points

 

Total for Fees: 10 points

 

APR and Financing Options (15 points)

• Introductory APR (5 points)
The card offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. This is a great financing option for those needing time to pay off large purchases or transfer balances.
Score: 5 points

• Standard APR (5 points)
The standard APR ranges from 17.24% to 28.24%, depending on creditworthiness. This is a moderate APR range for a cash back card, with the possibility of a high rate for those with lower credit scores.
Score: 3 points

• Balance Transfer Options (5 points)
While the card offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers, it does come with a standard balance transfer fee of 3%.
Score: 3 points

 

Total for APR and Financing Options: 11 points

 

Cardholder Benefits (15 points)

• Travel Benefits (5 points)
The Discover it® Cash Back card does not offer extensive travel perks like lounge access or travel credits, but it does come with no foreign transaction fees.
Score: 1 point

• Purchase Protection and Insurance (5 points)
The card includes purchase protection and an extended warranty program, but lacks the more extensive protection found on some premium cards.
Score: 3 points

• Other Perks (5 points)
Discover offers Freeze It® on/off security features, Social Security number alerts, and FICO® Credit Score access. While these features are helpful, there are no unique or exclusive perks such as cell phone protection or concierge services.
Score: 4 points

 

Total for Cardholder Benefits: 8 points

 

Subjective Prestige (10 points)

• Perceived Status and Exclusivity (10 points)
The Discover it® Cash Back card is widely available and lacks the prestige or exclusivity of higher-tier cards like American Express Platinum. However, it does have a solid reputation among cash back credit cards.
Score: 2 points

 

Total for Subjective Prestige: 2 points

 

Final Score and Recommendation

 

Total Score: 74 points

 

Conclusion: Recommended with Reservations

 

The Discover it® Cash Back card offers outstanding value for those who can maximize its 5% rotating categories, enjoy the first-year Cashback Match bonus and prefer no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. Its limited prestige and relatively basic cardholder benefits are drawbacks, but overall, the card is highly suitable for people seeking straightforward, low-cost rewards.

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At Credit Mileage, we believe smart credit management is one of the key cornerstones for sound personal finance. Using credit from an educated point of view so that you don’t accumulate debt while swiping to maximize and best utilize the points and rewards programs that different credit cards offer is at the heart of what Credit Mileage aims to educate consumers about.

That’s why we offer a wide array of educational and editorial content and credit card reviews so that you can choose the best card to achieve your goals, depending on which type of points/rewards programs you like.

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Although we don’t include every credit card on the market, we thoroughly research and evaluate each card we feature. The content we produce is created without any input or oversight from credit card issuers, banks, or partners. For more details, please review our advertising policy and credit card evaluation framework.