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 Mastercard Gold Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Discover it Cash Back comes from Discover at $0/yr; the Mastercard Gold Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $1199/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | Discover it Cash Back | Mastercard Gold Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $1199 |
| Sign-up bonus | Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) | No public welcome offer |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $0 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 12 mo | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | Discover | Barclays (Luxury Card) |
| Card category | cashback | travel |
| 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
Mastercard Gold Card
$1199/yr · No public welcome offer
Editorial take: Mastercard Gold Card
The top tier of Barclays' Luxury Card lineup at $1,199. The $300 airline + $200 dining + $120 Global Entry credits chip away at the AF (about $620 of stated value before lounge access), and the 2cpp redemption on cash back is unusual. Still a status play more than a smart-points play; Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve win on credits-to-fee math for most travelers. Authorized-user fee is steep at $349 each.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Discover it Cash Back or Mastercard Gold Card?
- The Discover it Cash Back has the bigger bonus, Cashback Match (first year, unlimited), worth roughly $200, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Gold Card.
- Is the Discover it Cash Back's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Gold Card?
- The Discover it Cash Back has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Mastercard Gold Card's $1199 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Mastercard Gold Card's benefits to clear $1199 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 Mastercard Gold Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Discover and Barclays (Luxury Card)) 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 Mastercard Gold Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Discover it Cash Back: $0 spend in 12 months. Mastercard Gold Card: $0 in 0 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.