Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

Base Earn Rate

Top Earn Categories

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +Cashback Match doubles ALL rewards earned in first year - unlimited
• +5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 spend/quarter)
• +No annual fee ever
• +No foreign transaction fees (rare for no-AF cards)
• +0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers

Cons

• −Discover network has lower acceptance than Visa/Mastercard, especially internationally
• −Must activate 5% categories each quarter or earn only 1%
• −$1,500 quarterly cap on 5% categories limits high spenders
• −After year one, effective earn rate drops significantly
• −Base rate of 1% on non-bonus spending is below flat-rate alternatives

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

Base Earn Rate

Top Earn Categories

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +Cashback Match doubles ALL rewards earned in first year - unlimited
• +5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 spend/quarter)
• +No annual fee ever
• +No foreign transaction fees (rare for no-AF cards)
• +0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers

Cons

• −Discover network has lower acceptance than Visa/Mastercard, especially internationally
• −Must activate 5% categories each quarter or earn only 1%
• −$1,500 quarterly cap on 5% categories limits high spenders
• −After year one, effective earn rate drops significantly
• −Base rate of 1% on non-bonus spending is below flat-rate alternatives

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

Base Earn Rate

Top Earn Categories

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +Cashback Match doubles ALL rewards earned in first year - unlimited
• +5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 spend/quarter)
• +No annual fee ever
• +No foreign transaction fees (rare for no-AF cards)
• +0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers

Cons

• −Discover network has lower acceptance than Visa/Mastercard, especially internationally
• −Must activate 5% categories each quarter or earn only 1%
• −$1,500 quarterly cap on 5% categories limits high spenders
• −After year one, effective earn rate drops significantly
• −Base rate of 1% on non-bonus spending is below flat-rate alternatives