Discover it Cash Back vs US Bank Altitude Connect
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Discover it Cash Back wins 3-1. Rotating-category optimizers; first card for thin-credit-file applicants US Bank Altitude Connect is still the right call if no-fee 4x travel — rare combination of no fee + premium earn rate..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Discover it Cash Back | US Bank Altitude Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · 4% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | · 1% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback Match — Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically | = 50,000 points after $2,000 spend in 120 days |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 700 |
| 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 Altitude Connect
- 4x on travel + gas + EV charging stations
- 2x at restaurants + grocery + streaming
- 1x on everything else
- $30 annual streaming credit
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees
- Cell phone protection
FAQ
›Discover it Cash Back vs US Bank Altitude Connect: which is better?
Discover it Cash Back wins on more dimensions (3 vs 1). 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 Connect 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 Connect: 50,000 points after $2,000 spend in 120 days.