Discover It Cash Back
Free
The Discover It Cash Back card offers 5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter and 1% on all other purchases, with no annual fee.

Our take
Ideal for those who can maximize rotating categories
Alright, so the Discover It Cash Back card is one of those credit cards that waves the whole "cash back" flag pretty high. The big sell here is those rotating 5% cash back categories. Every quarter, they change up the types of spending that give you that 5% back, like groceries one month and gas the next. It's cool if you're someone who keeps track of that sort of thing, but it can also be a little annoying if you're not into playing the "what's the category this month?" game. What’s genuinely great, though, is the first-year cash back match — they literally double all the cash back you earn in your first year. That's like free money, which is tough to argue with.
The card doesn't have an annual fee, which is a huge bonus right off the bat. No one likes paying just to have a card sitting in their wallet. But here's the catch: because of those rotating categories, you might not always be racking up the cash back on your biggest expenses unless you fit your spending to their schedule. For everyday purchases outside those categories, you're looking at just 1% cash back. Not terrible, but not exactly mind-blowing either. If you don’t mind keeping track of the categories and switching up your spending, it might work out pretty well for you.
Now, let's talk about their customer service, because that's an often overlooked but crucial part of any credit card. Discover has a pretty solid reputation here. Folks often say their customer service is top-notch and easy to deal with. No one likes calling customer service, but if you have to, it's nice to deal with people who seem to know what they’re doing and aren’t just reading off a script. Having a reliable customer service team is a big win, especially when something unexpected pops up.
One of the neat things is their freeze-it feature. You can freeze your account from their app if you lose your card or something funky goes down. It’s like putting a quick pause on things without the hassle of calling in and dealing with a lost card report right away. This kind of control can give you some peace of mind in those "oh crap" moments. That’s a pretty sweet feature that not all cards offer.
In the end, the Discover It Cash Back card is all about how much you want to play the cash back game. If you’re the type to maximize those rotating categories and love the idea of a first-year cash back match, it’s a pretty solid choice with no annual fee. But if you’re not into tracking categories and just want a more straightforward cash back deal, there might be other cards that fit your style better. Like most things, it comes down to how you use it. If you can work the system, it’s a nice little addition to your wallet.