USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card
vs. Discover it® Chrome

The USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card and the Discover it® Chrome stand out for their cash back rewards and lack of annual fees. However, the USAA card edges ahead for those who can maximize its 5% cash back on gas and military base purchases.

The Discover it Chrome is the go-to for balance transfers, offering a 0% introductory APR for 18 months. While the Discover it Chrome is accessible to those with good credit, the USAA card requires excellent credit. Despite this, the Discover it Chrome's cash back match in the first year is a compelling reason to consider it, especially for those who may not fully benefit from the USAA card's higher cash back rates.

You might prefer the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus if you're seeking robust rewards at gas stations and military bases or if you are a member of the military community who can benefit from the additional travel protections and services offered. Its higher cash back rates in these categories can be particularly lucrative if they align with your spending habits.

You might prefer the Discover it Chrome if you're looking for a card that offers cash back rewards on gas and dining with the added bonus of matching the cash back you earn at the end of your first year. This card is also advantageous if you plan to make a large purchase or transfer a balance and can benefit from the introductory APR periods.

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features will help you determine which card aligns with your financial needs. For instance, if you frequently dine out, Discover it Chrome's restaurant rewards might appeal to you, whereas USAA Cashback Rewards Plus could be more beneficial for military base spending.

The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card edges out Discover it Chrome with higher reward rates in specific categories. It offers 5% cash back on gas and military base purchases (up to $3,000 annually) and 2% on grocery store purchases (up to $3,000 annually). These rates make the card particularly advantageous for military personnel or those with high gas and grocery expenses.

Discover it Chrome offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter), which can benefit those who dine out frequently or commute regularly.

Both cards offer 1% cash back on other purchases, with no annual fees to worry about. The table below outlines the bonus categories of both cards to help you decide which best aligns with your spending habits.

USAA Cashback Rewards Plus allows redemption in any amount starting at $1. However, no specific redemption methods are detailed.

Discover it Chrome offers a variety of redemption options, including gift cards and direct deposits. Rewards do not have an expiration date.

MoneyGeek's ranking process assigns multiple scores to each credit card, reflecting different use cases such as balance transfers and cash back rewards. For this comparison, the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card scores highest for cash back, while the Discover it Chrome card is top-rated for balance transfers.

The most significant factors influencing these scores include the effective reward rate and the cost of annual fees for cash back and the introductory purchase APR and regular APR for balance transfers. For a deeper understanding of our scoring system, you can read more about our ranking methodology.