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.
All credit cards
Side-by-side
Discover it Cash Back vs Mastercard Titanium Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Discover it Cash Back comes from Discover at $0/yr; the Mastercard Titanium Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $299/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 Titanium Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $299 |
| Sign-up bonus | Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) | No public welcome bonus |
| 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 |
|
|
Read the full review
Discover it Cash Back
$0/yr · Cashback Match (first year, unlimited)
Read the full review
Mastercard Titanium Card
$299/yr · No public welcome bonus
Editorial take: Mastercard Titanium Card
The entry tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $299 AF buys Priority Pass Select and a real metal card, but earning is weak (1x base, 2x on Luxury Card Travel bookings) and the cash-back redemption rate is only 1 cent per point. Better only as a status-and-lounge play for people who do not want to carry a Sapphire Reserve or Venture X.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Discover it Cash Back or Mastercard Titanium Card?
- The Discover it Cash Back has the bigger bonus, Cashback Match (first year, unlimited), worth roughly $200, versus No public welcome bonus (~$0) on the Mastercard Titanium Card.
- Is the Discover it Cash Back's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Titanium Card?
- The Discover it Cash Back has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Mastercard Titanium Card's $299 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Mastercard Titanium Card's benefits to clear $299 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 Titanium 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 Titanium 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 Titanium 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.