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Discover it Cash Back Credit Card

The Discover it Cash Back Credit Card has no annual fee and earns 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories once activated, up to a quarterly maximum, and 1% on all other purchases ⁠2. New cardmembers get a Cashback Match of all cash back earned in the first 365 days, and the issuer lists $0 fraud liability and free FICO Score 8 access through CreditWise ⁠2⁠1.

Compiled from official sources Checked against Discover’s terms Last reviewed How we research
Contents9 sections

At a glance

Annual fee$0⁠2
Foreign transaction feeNone Issuer-wide statements, not a card-specific Schumer box line: Capital One’s help center says it charges no foreign transaction fees, and the Discover by Capital One card agreement says no currency conversion fees are charged. The card’s application terms list no foreign transaction fee.⁠5⁠3
RewardsEarns 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories up to the quarterly maximum when activated, 5% on Capital One Travel hotels/vacation rentals/rental cars and Capital One Entertainment tickets, and 1% on everything else.
Rewards programCashback Bonus
NetworkDiscover
IssuerDiscover · Official card page

What to know about the Discover it Cash Back

The 5% rate only starts after you activate for the quarter, and it applies only to purchases from U.S. merchants whose merchant category code matches that quarter's category ⁠2. From October 1 to December 31, 2026, the categories are restaurants, entertainment and utilities ⁠4. The application terms do not put a dollar amount on the quarterly maximum. Discover's 5% calendar and home page give it as $1,500 in purchases per quarter, but the calendar also warns that its content may not apply to some cards managed through Capital One ⁠4⁠6. Category spending above the maximum earns 1% ⁠2.

A separate 5% rate covers hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked on Capital One Travel, plus tickets bought on the Capital One Entertainment platform. Incidentals or upgrades paid outside Capital One Travel earn the standard rate ⁠2. Cash back does not expire while the account stays open. You can take it as a statement credit or check, set up automatic redemption, or use it for gift cards and Capital One Travel bookings ⁠2.

Cashback Match is added to the rewards account within two billing periods. It does not cover statement credits or rewards on closed accounts, and the terms say the offer may not be available in the future ⁠2. Your first late payment has no fee; after that the fee is up to $41 ⁠2. Capital One says it charges no foreign transaction fees ⁠5. No Guide to Benefits for this card was found on Discover or Capital One sites, so no travel or purchase insurance is listed here. That does not mean the card has none.

Earning rewards

How the Discover it Cash Back earns cash back
RateOn
5% cash back Rotating quarterly categories ("everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter"); Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2026: Restaurants, Entertainment and UtilitiesLimit: Quarterly maximum: up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter per Discover’s 5% calendar page and home page (the application terms give no dollar figure); purchases above the maximum earn 1%Activation required each quarter; purchases must be made with U.S. merchants; category is determined by merchant category code; calendar quarters begin Jan 1, Apr 1, Jul 1 and Oct 1. The application terms say only "up to the quarterly maximum" and point to the 5% calendar page for current program details; that page carries a notice that its content may not apply to some Discover cards managed through Capital One.⁠4⁠6⁠2
1% cash back All other purchases (and 5% category purchases above the quarterly maximum)⁠2
5% cash back Hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One TravelNet purchases only; incidentals, upgrades or other expenses outside Capital One Travel earn the standard rate⁠2
5% cash back Tickets purchased on the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platformExcludes cardholder exclusive pre-sales, Capital One Hall / Capital One Arena ticketing, and Capital One Dining⁠2

Cashback Match: new cardmembers get all cash back earned from account approval through the first 365 days matched, added within two billing periods; no limit and no purchase minimums. Statement credits, rewards transfers from checking/deposit accounts and rewards for closed accounts are not matched. Cash back can be redeemed on request as a statement credit or check, on an automatic schedule, or for credits for previous purchases, gift cards and Capital One Travel bookings.⁠2⁠1

Account features

Zero fraud liability$0 fraud liability for unauthorized purchases; claims are subject to investigation and verification.⁠1
Free credit scoreFree FICO Score 8 (TransUnion data) and TransUnion credit report through Capital One’s CreditWise, which requires enrollment.⁠2

Other perks

Rewards do not expireRewards do not expire for the life of the account; unredeemed rewards may be lost if the account is closed.⁠2
First late payment fee waivedNo late fee the first time you pay late; after that, up to $41.⁠2
Dark web Social Security number alerts (CreditWise)Alerts if your SSN is found on the dark web, after signing up for CreditWise (free, provided by Capital One).⁠1
Card lock in the mobile appLock your card in the mobile app if it is misplaced, lost or stolen; some activity may continue while locked.⁠1
Instant virtual card (if eligible)Eligible approved applicants can use a virtual card before the physical card arrives; identity verification required and some customers are not eligible.⁠1
Cashback Match (new cardmembers)All cash back earned from account approval through the first 365 days is matched and added within two billing periods; no limit, no purchase minimums. Not matched: rewards processed after the match period, statement credits, rewards transfers from Discover or Capital One checking/deposit accounts, rewards for closed accounts. May not be available in the future.⁠2

Other versions of this card

Discover also offers the Discover it Secured Cash Back Credit Card and the Discover it Student Cash Back Credit Card. They earn rewards on the same terms as the card above; these are the differences Discover lists.

Discover it Secured Cash Back Credit Card

Annual fee$0⁠8
Foreign transaction feeNone⁠5⁠3
What differsA secured version of Discover it Cash Back with the same rewards. It requires a refundable deposit of $49, $99 or $200, depending on creditworthiness, for a credit line of at least $200, and no credit score is needed to apply ⁠8⁠7. With a positive track record the deposit comes back as a statement credit and the account becomes unsecured; the issuer gives no fixed review date ⁠7.
Credit line reviewsWith a positive track record, the deposit is returned as a statement credit and the account is unsecured (the product page calls this an upgrade to Discover it Cash Back; its footnote says all other card terms and features stay the same); credit line increases may also be earned with no additional deposit.⁠7
Refundable security depositMinimum security deposit of $49, $99 or $200 based on creditworthiness, for an initial credit line of at least $200; depositing more than the minimum before the account opens gives a higher initial line; maximum credit limit $1,000 to $3,000 based on creditworthiness. Deposit must be made within 35 days of approval and earns no interest; it is refunded if the account is closed and paid in full.⁠8⁠7
Credit line increases without extra depositCredit line increases may be earned based on payment history and creditworthiness.⁠7
No credit score required to applyDiscover may use credit scores if available.⁠7
Reports to the three major credit bureausCard status is regularly reported to the three major credit bureaus.⁠7

Discover it Student Cash Back Credit Card

Annual fee$0⁠10
Foreign transaction feeNone⁠5⁠3
What differsThe student version of Discover it Cash Back. It has the same rotating 5% categories, 1% base rate, Cashback Match and no annual fee ⁠10. The product page says no credit score is required to apply ⁠9.
Dark web alerts (CreditWise)With CreditWise enrollment, alerts when personal information is found on unsafe sites on the dark web.⁠10
No credit score required to applyStated on the product page.⁠9

Not listed for this card

The Discover pages and benefit terms we checked for the Discover it Cash Back do not list these benefits:

Some benefits come from the card network rather than the bank and are not always advertised. Your own Guide to Benefits, or the number on the back of the card, is the final word on what your account covers.

Sources

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