Discover it® Student Cash Back vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful®

Discover it® Student Cash Back
VS
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful®
The short answer: The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

Discover it® Student Cash BackMarriott Bonvoy Bountiful®
Annual feeNo annual fee$250
Welcome offerCashback Match in year 185,000 points
Dining1x4x
Groceries1x4x
Gas1x2x
Travel1x2x
Streaming1x2x
Everything else1x2x
Est. yearly rewards*$292$763
Points typeCash back onlyLocked to Marriott Bonvoy
NetworkDiscoverVisa

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the Discover it® Student Cash Back earns about $292 a year in rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® about $763, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Discover it® Student Cash Back has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® charges $250, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® delivers more total value, about $222 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and everything else. 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 Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Discover it® Student Cash Back or the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® better?
On typical household spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $222 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Discover it® Student Cash Back can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Discover it® Student Cash Back and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Discover it® Student Cash Back or the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful®?
As of June 2026, the Discover it® Student Cash Back offers cashback match in year 1 and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® offers 85,000 points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.