Editorial take: Discover it Cash Back
The first-year Cashback Match effectively doubles your earnings, someone who earns $300 in cash back gets $600 total. It's the best no-fee first card for building credit with real rewards.
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Side-by-side
Discover it Cash Back vs IHG One Rewards Premier
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Discover it Cash Back comes from Discover at $0/yr; the IHG One Rewards Premier from Chase at $99/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the IHG One Rewards Premier is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($725 more in estimated value) than the Discover it Cash Back's. Get the IHG One Rewards Premier first; revisit the Discover it Cash Back after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Discover it Cash Back | IHG One Rewards Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $99 |
| Sign-up bonus | Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) | 185,000 bonus points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $925 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 12 mo | $3,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Discover | Chase |
| Card category | cashback | hotel |
| Best earning category (Rotating) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Discover it Cash Back
$0/yr · Cashback Match (first year, unlimited)
Read the full review
IHG One Rewards Premier
$99/yr · 185,000 bonus points
Editorial take: IHG One Rewards Premier
A solid hotel card if you stay at IHG properties regularly. The free night award and 4th night free on award stays can easily offset the $99 annual fee.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Discover it Cash Back or IHG One Rewards Premier?
- The IHG One Rewards Premier has the bigger bonus, 185,000 bonus points, worth roughly $925, versus Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) (~$200) on the Discover it Cash Back.
- Is the Discover it Cash Back's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the IHG One Rewards Premier?
- The Discover it Cash Back has no annual fee, so the question is whether the IHG One Rewards Premier's $99 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the IHG One Rewards Premier's benefits to clear $99 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Discover it Cash Back.
- Can I have both the Discover it Cash Back and IHG One Rewards Premier?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Discover and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Discover it Cash Back or the IHG One Rewards Premier first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Discover it Cash Back: $0 spend in 12 months. IHG One Rewards Premier: $3,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.