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 U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Discover it Cash Back comes from Discover at $0/yr; the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card from U.S. Bank at $0/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 | U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) | 20,000 bonus points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $200 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 12 mo | $1,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Discover | U.S. Bank |
| 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
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
$0/yr · 20,000 bonus points
Editorial take: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
A no-annual-fee travel earner: 4X on travel and at gas and EV stations (on the first $1,000 per quarter) with a 20K welcome offer worth $200. Points are capped at 1 cent each, so treat this as cash-value travel earnings rather than transferable points.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Discover it Cash Back or U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- The two cards offer comparable sign-up bonuses around $200. Pick based on which earning categories you actually use.
- Is the Discover it Cash Back's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- The Discover it Cash Back has no annual fee, so the question is whether the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card's benefits to clear $0 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 U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Discover and U.S. Bank) 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 U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Discover it Cash Back: $0 spend in 12 months. U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card: $1,000 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.