Citi Double Cash vs Discover it Cashback
Two $0-annual-fee cashback cards with opposite philosophies. Citi Double Cash pays a flat 2% on everything (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay). Discover it Cashback pays 5% on rotating quarterly categories and doubles all of your first-year cashback at year-end. One rewards simplicity; the other rewards effort.
Last updated:Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Double Cash | Discover it Cashback | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Citi | Discover |
| Welcome bonus | $200 | $400 |
| Minimum spend | $1,500 / 6 mo | $0 / 12 mo |
| Annual fee (Yr 1) | $0 | $0 |
| Annual fee (Yr 2+) | $0 | $0 |
| Effective return | 13.3% | — |
| Application restriction | Citi 8/65 (informal): applications throttled at 8 cards per 24 months or 1 per 8 days. | Less restrictive — Discover often approves people with limited credit history |
| Last verified | 2026-06-29 | 2026-06-29 |
Who wins for...
Winner: Citi Double Cash
Double Cash earns 2% on every purchase with zero category tracking, no quarterly activation, and no caps. Discover it requires opting in each quarter and remembering the rotating 5% categories, or you earn just 1%. For pure simplicity, Double Cash wins easily.
Winner: Discover it Cashback (if you spend enough)
Discover's Cashback Match doubles everything you earn in year one. A user who earns $300 of cashback in their first year walks away with $600. Double Cash's flat 2% has no first-year multiplier — $300 stays $300. For the first year specifically, a high spender who maxes the rotating 5% categories comes out ahead with Discover.
Winner: Citi Double Cash
After the first-year match ends, Discover pays 5% only on rotating categories (capped $1,500/quarter) and 1% on everything else. Double Cash's flat 2% beats Discover's 1% base on all non-category spend, so from year two onward Double Cash is the steadier everyday earner.
Winner: Double Cash for predictability, Discover for upside
Double Cash has a defined $200 welcome bonus for $1,500 spend in 6 months. Discover has no flat welcome bonus — its "bonus" is the first-year Cashback Match, whose value depends entirely on how much you spend. Predictable cash: Double Cash. Spend-dependent upside: Discover.
The bottom line
Citi Double Cash full details → Discover it Cashback full details →
Frequently asked
Should I get Citi Double Cash or Discover it Cashback?
Pick Citi Double Cash if you want a no-fuss flat 2% card with a guaranteed $200 welcome bonus and the best ongoing rate on non-category spend. Pick Discover it Cashback if you'll track rotating 5% categories and spend enough in year one to make the Cashback Match (which doubles all first-year rewards) worth the effort. A common play: get Discover for year one's match, then lean on Double Cash for everyday 2% afterward.
Can I get both Citi Double Cash and Discover it Cashback?
Generally yes — there's no rule against holding multiple credit cards from different issuers, and even multiple cards from the same issuer is usually allowed. The constraint is application velocity (Chase 5/24, Amex velocity rules) and the time spent meeting each card's minimum spend without manufactured spending. Plan to space applications at least 90 days apart.
Which has the better welcome bonus?
Depends on redemption strategy. Conservative cash-equivalent values are similar across mid-tier travel cards. The difference shows up in transfer-partner redemption — see the comparison table above for the conservative numbers and the "who wins" sections above for situational analysis.