Discover it^® Cash Back vs. Discover it^® Student Cash Back [2024]: Which Should You Choose?

Discover is one of the most popular credit card issuers, especially when it comes to cash back cards. Two of its top offerings include the Discover it Cash Back card and the Discover it Student Cash Back card. These two cards have nearly identical benefits in all but a couple of ways, including introductory APR and credit requirements.

If you qualify for it, we think the Discover it Cash Back is the best option. However, thanks to the Discover it Student Cash Back’s lack of credit requirement, it’s a great card for students building their credit.

Let’s explore Discover it Cash Back and the Discover it Student Cash Back card a little more closely to see which one makes the most sense for you.

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	Discover it® Cash Back 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Discover it® Student Cash Back 4.75 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
FinanceBuzz value calculation1 <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p>	Year 1: $1,070 Year 2: $535	Year 1: $479 Year 2: $239
Annual fee	$0	$0
Welcome offer	Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.	Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Earning rate	Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.	Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Introductory APR	0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 18.49% - 27.49% Variable *Rates as of December 12, 2024) 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 18.49% - 27.49% Variable *Rates as of December 12, 2024)	0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases (then 17.49% - 26.49% Variable *Rates as of December 12, 2024) 10.99% intro APR for 6 months on balance transfers (then 17.49% - 26.49% Variable *Rates as of December 12, 2024)
Foreign transaction fee	0%	0%
Credit needed	Excellent, Good	Fair
	Learn more in our full review	Learn more in our full review

When to go with the Discover it Cash Back

The Discover it Cash Back is Discover’s basic cash back card. Cardholders can can earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. While the Discover it Cash Back and Discover it Student Cash Back are quite similar, here are a few situations the Discover it Cash Back is a clear winner:

• You have good credit
• You’re planning a large purchase
• You want to do a balance transfer

Requires good credit

If you have good credit, the Discover it Cash Back is the better option for you. This card requires a good to excellent credit score — likely a score of 670 or higher. Keep in mind that a good score is no guarantee you’ll qualify, but your chances are much better.

Long 0% intro APR on purchases

If you're making a large purchase and you want to spread out the cost a bit, the Discover it Cash Back can help. It offers 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 15 months (then 18.49% - 27.49% Variable *Rates as of December 12, 2024). So, you could make a large purchase right when you open the card and have more than a year to pay it back without paying any interest. 

Ideal for balance transfers

The Discover it Cash Back also has a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months (then 18.49% - 27.49% Variable *Rates as of December 12, 2024), making it a great option for anyone working to pay down credit card debt. I personally used this card’s balance transfer offer when I was on my debt payoff journey, and I credit it with helping me tackle my debt faster.

Learn more in our Discover it Cash Back review.

When to go with the Discover it Student Cash Back

The Discover it Student Cash Back is the college student version of its popular cash back card. This card has many of the same benefits. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Despite the similarities between the two cards, there are situations where the Discover it Student Cash Back is the better option:

• You have fair or no credit
• You’re a college student

Lower credit requirements

If you don’t have good enough credit to qualify for the Discover it Cash Back, you may still qualify for the Student Cash Back. This card is available to borrowers with fair credit, and Discover says you could possibly qualify with no credit at all.

For college students only

To qualify for the Discover it Student Cash Back, you’ll have to be a college student, including a student at either a two-year or four-year college or university. Unfortunately, the Student Cash Back isn’t an option for you if you have fair credit or no credit but aren’t a student.

Learn more in our Discover it Student Cash Back review.

What both cards excel at

As we’ve mentioned, the Discover it Cash Back and Student Cash Back are very similar. Let’s talk about a few things both cards do really well.

• High rewards rate: Both Discover cards offer great cash back earnings potential on useful quarterly rotating bonus categories. You do need to enroll in the rotating categories.
• Cashback Match™: Both of these cards offer Discover’s popular Cashback Match. After your first year with the card, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. So, if you’ve earned $100, Discover will add another $100, for a total earnings of $200.
• Redemption options: You can choose from a variety of redemption options, including statement credits, bank deposits, payment rewards, gift cards, and charitable donations.
• Annual fees: Both the Discover it Cash Back and Discover it Student Cash Back are $0-annual-fee cards, so you can add either one to your wallet at no additional cost.
• No foreign transaction fees: You don’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees on the Discover it Cash Back or Discover it Student Cash Back. These may be good cards to have in your wallet if you’re planning an international trip.

FAQs

Bottom line

For most people, it’s a pretty clear choice between these two cards. While they share many of the same benefits, the Discover it Cash Back has a far better introductory APR offer for purchases and balance transfers.

If you have less than ideal credit, the Discover it Student Cash Back could be a better option for you. However, this card is only available to current college students, so eligibility is quite limited. If your credit isn’t good enough to qualify for the Discover it Cash Back but you also aren’t a college student, you may also consider a Discover it^® Secured Credit Card. There’s a lower credit requirement, and you can eventually work your way up to the Discover it Cash Back.

Keep in mind that Discover provides a wide range of products, including additional credit cards, online banking, and loans. Learn more in our Discover review.

Finally, if neither of these cards quite fits what you’re looking for — or you’re looking to pair it with another rewards card — there are plenty of other options. Compare credit cards to see more of our recommended credit card offers. You’ll find plenty of options, including other rewards cards to compete with Discover’s cash back offer and plenty of cards to use instead of the Student Cash Back if your credit isn’t quite where you want it to be.

Cash Back for Those New to Credit

Discover it^® Student Cash Back

4.75

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Discover it^® Student Cash Back

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Intro APR on purchases
• Excellent welcome offer
• Can help you remove personal info from people-search websites
• Useful redemption options, including on Amazon and PayPal
• $0 annual fee

Drawbacks

• You must be a student at a 2- or 4-year college or university
• Discover isn’t accepted quite as widely as Visa or Mastercard abroad
• You have to activate the highest earning categories each quarter

Card Details

• INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
• No credit score required to apply.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Up To 5% Cash Back

Discover it^® Cash Back

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Discover it^® Cash Back

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• $0 annual fee
• Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
• Dark web monitoring and other privacy protection services

Drawbacks

• Requires you to activate the highest-earning category each quarter
• Not accepted as widely overseas as Visa or Mastercard

Card Details

• INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
• Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
• Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Author Details

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®, is credit cards specialist. For over a decade, he's leveraged credit card points and miles to travel the world. His expertise extends to other areas of personal finance — including loans, insurance, investing, and real estate — and you can find his insights on The Washington Post, Debt.com, Yahoo! Finance, and Fox Business.

Author Details

Erin Gobler

Erin Gobler is a personal finance expert and journalist based in Madison, Wisconsin. She holds a certificate in financial planning and has a decade of experience writing online. Erin has covered topics such as credit cards, mortgages, investing, personal loans, and insurance, with work published in major publications like Newsweek, CNN, Forbes, and more.