4.2 / 5 \u00b7 Bonus Eagle score
Discover
it Cash Back
Welcome bonus
MatchCashback Match (1st year)
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
18.24% – 27.24%
Credit needed
Fair (580+)
on Discover's secure site
The bottom line
The Discover it Cash Back is the best first credit card on the market — and one of the few that's competitive even for seasoned users in the first year. The Cashback Match means a card earning $400 in bonus rewards becomes $800.
At a glance
Pros and cons.
Pros
- Effective 10% back first year on bonus categories
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Easier approval than premium cards
Cons
- Discover acceptance abroad is limited
- Quarterly category activation required
- 5% capped at $1,500/quarter
The editorial review
Our take on this card.
The Discover it Cash Back is the best first credit card on the market — and one of the few that's competitive even for seasoned users in the first year. The Cashback Match means a card earning $400 in bonus rewards becomes $800. After year one, it's middling. But that first year? Hard to beat.
How you earn
Rewards by category.
Rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500)
5x
All other purchases
1x
Rates and fees
The full disclosure.
All rates and fees current as of publication. Verify against the issuer's official Terms and Conditions before applying.
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
18.24% – 27.24%
Foreign transaction fee
None
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask.
At the end of your first year as a Discover cardholder, Discover automatically matches all the cash back you earned during the year. If you earned $250 in cash back, you'll get an extra $250. There's no minimum, no maximum, no enrollment - it just happens. For first-time cardholders, this effectively doubles the welcome bonus.
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