Discover it Cash Back vs. U.S. Bank Cash+ Credit Card Comparison

Name: Discover it® Cash Back Card vs. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Item: Discover it® Cash Back Card vs. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Author: Doug Milnes, CFA

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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.

Discover it® Cash Back Card

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

MoneyGeek Rating

3.8/ of 5

Rates & Fees

MoneyGeek Rating

3.9/ of 5

Rates & Fees

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

Regular APR
18.24%–28.24% variable
18.74% - 28.99% variable APR
0% APR Offer
0% for 15 months on purchases
0% for the first 15 billing cycles
Intro Offer
Matches cash back at the end of your first year
Earn a $200 rewards bonus
Rewards Summary
Earn 1%–5% cash back
Earn 1%–5% cash back
Balance Transfer Offer
0% for 15 months on balance transfers
0% for the first 15 billing cycles
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)
3% of the amount of each transfer (minimum $5)
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Recommended Credit
670–850 (good to excellent)
670–850 (good to excellent)
Penalty APR
None
N/A
Not sure?
The Discover it Cash Back and the U.S. Bank Cash+ both offer appealing rewards and introductory APRs, but they cater to different spending styles. The Discover it Cash Back is better for those who can track and activate rotating categories to earn 5% cash back. In contrast, the U.S. Bank Cash+ provides more flexibility with the ability to choose cash back categories.
While both cards have no annual fee, the Discover it Cash Back edges out with its cash back match in the first year, potentially doubling the rewards for new cardholders. The U.S. Bank Cash+ may be more rewarding for those who spend heavily in its 5% categories and can benefit from its welcome bonus. Ultimately, the best card for you depends on your spending habits and whether you prefer set categories or rotating ones.

Which Card Is Better for You?

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.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

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.

Regular APR: Discover it Cash Back

The Discover it Cash Back card offers a more favorable regular APR range of 17.24% to 28.24% variable than the U.S. Bank Cash+ card's 19.74% to 29.74% variable.

Annual Fee: Tie

Both the Discover it Cash Back and the U.S. Bank Cash+ have no annual fee, making them equally attractive for users looking to avoid extra costs.

Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

Both the Discover it Cash Back and U.S. Bank Cash+ offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, with a 3% balance transfer fee. Given the identical terms, this feature results in a tie.

Rewards: U.S. Bank Cash+

The U.S. Bank Cash+ offers better rewards flexibility and potential earning. It allows for 5% cash back on two categories of the cardholder's choice with a higher quarterly purchase limit of $2,000. Additionally, U.S. Bank Cash+ provides 2% cash back on one everyday category, enhancing its rewards versatility. Discover it Cash Back offers 5% on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases in preset categories.

Welcome Offers: U.S. Bank Cash+

The U.S. Bank Cash+ is better for welcome offers, offering a $200 rewards bonus with a higher return on investment of 20%, compared to the Discover it Cash Back's match of the first year's cash back.

Recommended Credit Score: Tie

Both the Discover it Cash Back and the U.S. Bank Cash+ require a credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they are accessible to individuals with good to excellent credit. There's no clear winner in this category, as both cards have the same credit score requirements.

Penalties and Fees: Discover it Cash Back

Discover it Cash Back is better for penalties and fees, offering no foreign transaction fees, no penalty APR and no fee for the first late payment. U.S. Bank Cash+ charges a 3% foreign transaction fee and up to $41 for late payments.

Issuer Satisfaction: Discover it Cash Back Card

The Discover it Cash Back outperforms the U.S. Bank Cash+ in issuer satisfaction, with a rating of 4.5 for Discover Bank compared to 3.5 for U.S. Bank.

Other Features & Perks: Tie

Both cards offer unique perks. Discover it Cash Back provides online data protection services. U.S. Bank Cash+ offers exclusive cash back on travel bookings. Choosing depends on personal preference for cash bonuses or security features.

Rewards Comparison

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.

Category	Discover it Cash Back	U.S. Bank Cash+
Quarterly Rotating Categories	5% on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases, then 1%	5% on up to $2,000 in combined quarterly purchases
Gas Stations	1%	2% or 5% on up to $2,000 in combined quarterly purchases
Grocery Stores	5% on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases, then 1%	2% or 5% on up to $2,000 in combined quarterly purchases
Restaurants	1%	1%
All Other Purchases	1%	1%

Redeeming Rewards

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.

Methodology

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.

FAQ: Discover it Cash Back vs. U.S. Bank Cash+

What are the cash back rewards for each card?

Discover it Cash Back offers 5% on rotating categories, while U.S. Bank Cash+ allows you to select your 5% categories for cash back rewards.

Do either of the cards have an annual fee?

Both cards have no annual fee.

What are the introductory offers for these cards?

Discover it Cash Back matches cash back in the first year, and U.S. Bank Cash+ offers a $200 bonus.

How do the APRs compare between the two cards?

Both cards offer a 0% introductory APR period, but the regular APR varies. Discover it Cash Back's regular APR range is 17.24% to 28.24% variable, and the U.S. Bank Cash+ card's range is 19.74% to 29.74% variable.

Can I choose my own cash back categories with either card?

U.S. Bank Cash+ allows you to choose cash back categories, while Discover it Cash Back has preset rotating categories. You can maximize cash back rewards by knowing your chosen card's bonus categories.

About Doug Milnes, CFA

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Discover it® Cash Back Card
vs. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card