Discover it Cash Back vs US Bank Altitude Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins 3-2. Mobile-pay maximizers — 3x on Apple/Google/Samsung Pay transactions. Discover it Cash Back is still the right call if rotating-category optimizers; first card for thin-credit-file applicants.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Discover it Cash Back | US Bank Altitude Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $400 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | = 5% (shopping) | = 5% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 1.5% |
| Forex markup | · 1% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback Match — Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically | = 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel) |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
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 Altitude Reserve
- 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals via US Bank Travel
- 3x on travel + mobile-wallet purchases
- 1.5x redemption rate when used for travel
- $325 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select (4 free visits/year)
- Up to $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
FAQ
›Discover it Cash Back vs US Bank Altitude Reserve: which is better?
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›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 Altitude Reserve 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 Altitude Reserve: 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel).