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 United Business Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Discover it Cash Back comes from Discover at $0/yr; the United Business Card from Chase at $150/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the United Business Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,300 more in estimated value) than the Discover it Cash Back's. Get the United Business Card first; revisit the Discover it Cash Back after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Discover it Cash Back | United Business Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $150 |
| Sign-up bonus | Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) | 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $1,500 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 12 mo | $5,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Discover | Chase |
| Card category | cashback | business |
| 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
United Business Card
$150/yr · 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP
Editorial take: United Business Card
Strong United business card. The free checked bag for two travelers, two club passes, and the under-the-radar $50/twice-per-year hotel credit help cover the $150 AF for any United-leaning small business. The 100k + 2,000 PQP bonus is the sweetener. Post-2025 refresh swapped the old $100/$10k-spend credit for a $125 travel credit unlocked by 5 United flight purchases of $100+.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Discover it Cash Back or United Business Card?
- The United Business Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP, worth roughly $1,500, 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 United Business Card?
- The Discover it Cash Back has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Business Card's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Business Card's benefits to clear $150 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 United Business Card?
- 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 United Business Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Discover it Cash Back: $0 spend in 12 months. United Business Card: $5,000 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.