5 Little-Known Perks of the Discover it Cash Back Card

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

KEY POINTS

  • The Discover it® Cash Back (see rates and fees) is best known for its high rewards in rotating categories, but there's a lot more to it. Find out what you need to know.
  • The Discover it® Cash Back is best known for offering high cash back rewards in spending categories that change quarterly.
  • There are several other perks of this no annual fee cash back card that you might find valuable, like no foreign transaction fees.

The Discover it® Cash Back, as the name suggests, is best known for its cash back rewards. In addition to offering 1% cash back on most purchases, and 5% back up to the quarterly spending limit in rotating categories that you activate, there are some other perks of this credit card. Some are introductory offers, while others are permanent benefits. Here's a closer look at some of the lesser-known benefits of the Discover it® Cash Back that could help you decide if it's right for you.

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card.

0% intro APR

Not only can you get strong cash back rewards (especially during the first year -- see the next perk listed), but with the Discover it® Cash Back, you'll get an intro APR of 0%, 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. After the intro period, the go-to 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR will apply. There's a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*. So not only can you earn with the card, but it could also be a great tool to save money on interest.

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card.

Cashback Match

The Discover it® Cash Back has a unique welcome offer that it calls the Cashback Match. In a nutshell, Discover will automatically double all of the cash back you earn in the first year, with no limits. If you tend to use your credit cards to pay for most everyday purchases, this can make Discover's welcome offer an extremely lucrative bonus compared to competitors' cards.

For example, if you earn $500 in cash back during the first year (maxing out the 5% rewards categories will get you $300 for $6,000 in spending), Discover will give you another $500 at the end of your first year of card membership.

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card.

No foreign transaction fees

The Discover it® Cash Back has no foreign transaction fee, which isn't too common among non-travel credit cards. Many comparable cards charge fees (3% is typical) on purchases made outside the United States, so this could make the Discover it® Cash Back an attractive card if you frequently leave the country.

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card.

FICO® Score access

With the Discover it® Cash Back, you can view your actual FICO credit score. To be sure, there are some limitations you should know about, such as that you'll only see your score from one credit bureau, not all three like lenders have access to, but this can help you get an accurate idea of where you stand.

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card.

No penalty APR and great customer service

We get it -- even responsible credit card users can miss payment deadlines from time to time. Discover won't charge you a late fee for your first missed payment. In addition, Discover is one of the few credit card companies to offer 24/7 customer service through representatives based in the United States.

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card.

The bottom line

While the Discover it® Cash Back doesn't have a long list of perks like some higher-end travel credit cards do, it offers quite a bit in addition to its core cash back benefit, and with no annual fee at all. That's why the Discover it® Cash Back has a spot on our list of top credit cards and why it could be worth a closer look if you're in the market for a new cash back credit card.

Our Research Expert