Discover it Cash Back vs US Bank Cash+
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Discover it Cash Back wins 2-0. Rotating-category optimizers; first card for thin-credit-file applicants US Bank Cash+ is still the right call if 5% on 2 chosen categories + 2% on 1 chosen, fully customizable..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Discover it Cash Back | US Bank Cash+ |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | = 5% (shopping) | = 5% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | 1% | · 3% |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback Match, Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically | = $200 statement credit after $1,000 spend in 120 days |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = None stated | = None stated |
| Min credit score | = 670 | = 670 |
| Editorial rating | 4.5/5 | · 4.4/5 |
Benefits compared
Discover it Cash Back
- 5% cashback on rotating quarterly categories (Amazon, gas, restaurants, grocery)
- 1% cashback on everything else
- Cashback Match: Discover matches all cash back earned in your first year
- No annual fee
- Free FICO score on every statement
- No foreign transaction fees
US Bank Cash+
- 5% on 2 categories you choose ($2,000 quarterly cap)
- 2% on 1 chosen everyday category (gas, grocery, restaurants)
- 1% on everything else
- No annual fee
- Quarterly category swap
FAQ
›Discover it Cash Back vs US Bank Cash+: which is better?
Discover it Cash Back wins on more dimensions (2 vs 0). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern. Run your own monthly spend through the maximizer to see which one pays you more.
›Can I get both?
Yes, if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Discover it Cash Back for its best categories, US Bank Cash+ for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Discover it Cash Back: Cashback Match, Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically. US Bank Cash+: $200 statement credit after $1,000 spend in 120 days.