Discover it® Cash Back vs U.S. Bank Cash+®
Side-by-side comparison
| Discover it® Cash Back | U.S. Bank Cash+® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | Cashback Match, all cash back earned in year 1 doubled | $250 rewards bonus |
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 5x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 5x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $292 | $492 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Cash back only |
| Network | Discover | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Discover it® Cash Back | U.S. Bank Cash+® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Cashback Match, all cash back earned in year 1 doubled | $250 rewards bonus |
| To earn it | No minimum | $1,000 in 90 days |
| Est. first-year value* | $292 | $742 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $292 | $492 |
The U.S. Bank Cash+® wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Discover it® Cash Back | U.S. Bank Cash+® |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| Points & redemptions | Cash back only | Cash back only |
The two are closely matched on perks and redemptions, so the welcome offer and everyday earning above are what should decide it.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Discover it® Cash Back earns about $292 a year in rewards and the U.S. Bank Cash+® about $492, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Discover it® Cash Back has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The U.S. Bank Cash+® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the U.S. Bank Cash+® delivers more total value, about $200 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on gas and groceries. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the U.S. Bank Cash+® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the U.S. Bank Cash+® if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.