Discover it® Cash Back Card
vs. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Both the Discover it® Cash Back Card and the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card offer compelling cash back rewards and introductory APR periods. While the U.S. Bank Cash+ leads slightly with its cash back score, the Discover it Cash Back is the better choice for balance transfers.

Neither card is co-branded, ensuring their rewards programs are versatile. However, if the welcome bonus is a significant factor for you, consider the U.S. Bank Cash+, which offers a substantial bonus for new cardholders.

You might prefer the Discover it Cash Back if you frequently travel abroad and want to avoid foreign transaction fees. Its unique first-year cash back match can also be lucrative if you maximize the rotating categories. This card is a strong contender for those who value simplicity and an introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers.

You might prefer the U.S. Bank Cash+ if you spend consistently in specific categories and want to tailor your rewards to your spending habits. With its higher cash back rating and a welcome bonus after meeting the initial spending requirement, it's a solid choice for maximizing cash back earnings, especially if you can navigate its rewards structure effectively.

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and additional features will help determine which card aligns with your financial landscape. For example, U.S. Bank Cash+ may offer more tailored rewards if you spend frequently in specific categories, whereas Discover it Cash Back provides a first-year cash back match.

The U.S. Bank Cash+ card edges out with a higher expected reward value and the flexibility to choose your bonus categories. This personalization can be particularly beneficial for those with specific spending habits, allowing them to tailor the rewards to their lifestyle. Consumers can select bonus categories, which could yield more rewards for savvy users, especially in the 2% everyday category options. The U.S. Bank Cash+ card's 5% cash back categories include home utilities and ground transportation, while the 2% category offers everyday essentials like gas and groceries.

The Discover it Cash Back card offers a competitive 5% cash back in rotating categories that change quarterly. These categories have included popular options such as PayPal and Walmart.

The Discover it Cash Back card's most compelling bonus category is its 5% cash back on rotating categories. It can be advantageous if your spending aligns with the announced categories each quarter. However, the U.S. Bank Cash+ card may offer better rewards in the grocery category, with a higher average rewards rate. Both cards require activation for these bonus categories.

The table below details each card's bonus categories to help you compare at a glance.

The Discover it Cash Back offers a flexible redemption process, allowing cardholders to redeem their cash back for gift cards, statement credits or direct deposits at any time and in any amount. Rewards do not expire as long as your account is active.

The U.S. Bank Cash+ requires at least $25 in cash back to redeem, and it limits redemptions to statement credits or deposits into U.S. Bank accounts. Additionally, cardholders must be mindful of the 36-month expiration policy on earned cash back.

MoneyGeek's ranking process evaluates each card across various use cases, such as balance transfers and cash back rewards. The Discover it Cash Back and U.S. Bank Cash+ cards are scored based on the scenarios where they perform best, which are balance transfers and cash back, respectively.

For balance transfer cards, the largest factors influencing these scores include the introductory purchase APR and regular APR; for cash back cards, the significant aspects are the effective reward rate and introductory purchase APR. For a deeper understanding of our scoring system, you can review our ranking methodology.