Head-to-head · 🇺🇸 United States
Discover it Cash Back vs Discover It Miles
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
US
Discover
Discover it Cash Back
Discover
Wins 2 of 10
US
Discover
Discover It Miles
Discover
Wins 2 of 10
Verdict
It's a true tie — neither dominates. Pick the one whose boost categories match where you actually spend.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Discover it Cash Back | Discover It Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · 1.5% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 1.5% |
| Forex markup | · 1% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback Match — Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically | = Discover doubles all miles earned in your first year (Mile Match) |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| 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
Discover It Miles
- 1.5x miles on every purchase
- Discover Mile Match: doubles all miles earned in year 1
- Redeem against any travel purchase
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees
- Free FICO score
FAQ
›Discover it Cash Back vs Discover It Miles: which is better?
It's a true tie — pick the one whose boost categories match your spend. Discover it Cash Back wins on 2 criteria, Discover It Miles on 2.
›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, Discover It Miles 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. Discover It Miles: Discover doubles all miles earned in your first year (Mile Match).