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 | = — | = — |
| 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 — 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 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.