The Discover it Cash Back card typically earns 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter when you activate, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases. Discover also says there’s no overall limit to how much Cashback Bonus you can earn, but the 5% bonus categories have a quarterly cap.

How it works

  • 5% cash back: Rotating categories each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when activated.
  • 1% cash back: Unlimited on all other eligible purchases.
  • Quarterly cap: The 5% rate applies only up to the stated quarterly spending limit.

Simple example

If you spend $1,500 in a 5% category in a quarter, that would earn $75 in cash back. Spending beyond that quarter’s cap would usually earn the card’s standard 1% rate instead.

What to check

Discover’s 5% categories change every quarter, so the exact places that qualify can vary over time.