Chase Freedom Flex^® vs. Discover it^® Cash Back [2024]: Flex Is Best For Most

The Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back are two rewards credit cards that can help reward you for your spending based on rotating categories. While either card could be an excellent addition to your wallet, the Chase Freedom Flex offers a higher earning potential.

Let’s explore the differences between the Chase Freedom Flex and the Discover it Cash Back to help you decide which card is best for you.

Chase Freedom Flex vs. Discover it Cash Back

	Chase Freedom Flex®	Discover it® Cash Back
Card type	Cash back	Cash back
FinanceBuzz star ratings	4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
FinanceBuzz value calculation1	Year one earnings: $855 Year two earnings: $655	Year one earnings: $1,070 Year two earnings: $535
Annual fee	$0	$0
Welcome offer	Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.	Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Earning rate	Earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases.	Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
Intro APR	0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 20.49%-29.24% Variable). 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 20.49%-29.24% Variable).	0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable). 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable).
Foreign transaction fee	3%	0%
Recommended credit	Excellent, Good	Excellent, Good
	Read full review	Read full review

When to go with the Chase Freedom Flex

The Chase Freedom Flex combines the benefits of a cash back and travel credit card, offering elevated rewards on rotating bonus categories, as well as a few other regular categories. Though the best card for you will depend on your specific needs, we think the Chase Freedom Flex is the better option for most people. Here are some situations you may opt for the Freedom Flex:

• You want to earn the most cash back
• You have another Chase travel card
• You want a welcome bonus
• You want extra protections

Let’s explore these benefits a bit more in-depth.

You want to earn the most cash back

The Chase Freedom Flex has a far higher earning potential than the Discover it Cash Back. Both cards have the same core benefit of earning bonus cash back on rotating categories each quarter. With Chase Freedom Flex, you could earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Bonus categories may include grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and more.

But on top of the elevated cash back in the current bonus category, the Chase Freedom Flex also offers elevated rewards in a few other categories. You’ll earn:

• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

You have another Chase travel card

The Chase Freedom Flex is the best option if you already have a travel credit card in the Chase ecosystem. When you have multiple Chase cards, you can transfer points between them.

Travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve^® allow you to redeem your points for travel at a greater value. By transferring points from the Chase Freedom Flex to one of those other cards, you get the most bank for your buck. If you already have a Chase travel card, the Freedom Flex is a great choice.

You want the most redemption options

The Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back are considered cash back credit cards because they earn cashback rewards on eligible purchases.

However, the Freedom Flex earns cash back in the form of Ultimate Rewards points that provide a bit more flexibility than your standard cashback rewards.

Here’s a breakdown of the redemption options with each card:

Overall, the Freedom Flex has quite a few more redemption options. That includes being able to redeem points for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal and combining your rewards with other eligible Chase credit cards.

You want extra protections

The Chase Freedom Flex provides useful card protections, including:

• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Cell phone protection
• Auto rental collision damage waiver

If you already have a premium credit card in your wallet, these protections may not be important to you. Your other card(s) likely already offer them. But if the Chase Freedom Flex is your first card or one of your first cards, these protections can provide a lot of value.

The Discover it Cash Back doesn’t provide any of these protections or coverages, though It does provide online privacy protection.

Learn more in our Chase Freedom Flex review.

When to go with the Discover it Cash Back

We wouldn’t recommend the Discover it Cash Back over the Chase Freedom Flex for most people. It simply doesn’t offer the same value. However, there are a few select situations where this one might be your choice:

• You want no foreign transaction fees
• You want Discover’s Cashback Match^TM
• You don’t need Chase’s bonus categories

Let’s dive a bit deeper into these benefits.

You want no foreign transaction fees

The Discover it Cash Back, like all Discover cards, has no foreign transaction fee. If you have some international travel coming up and don’t already have a card in your wallet that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, this could be a good option.

One thing to consider is that while Discover doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, it’s also not as widely accepted around the world as Mastercard, which is the network the Chase Freedom Flex is on.

You want Discover’s Cashback Match

Discover has a unique benefit called its Cashback Match. Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you get to the end of the first year and you’ve earned $150, Discover will give you another $150.

You don’t need Chase’s bonus categories

Let’s say you already have one or more credit cards — ideally outside the Chase ecosystem — in your wallet that earn you elevated rewards in the categories you care about. You’re simply looking to take advantage of the elevated rotating bonus categories from either the Discover it Cash Back or the Chase Freedom Flex.

You should already have the other bonus categories, such as travel and restaurants, covered elsewhere. And since you don’t use other Chase cards, you won’t benefit from the point transfers. In that case, you might decide you prefer the Discover card.

Learn more in our Discover it Cash Back review.

What they have in common

The differences between the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back are the most important factors when you’re trying to choose between them. However, these cards also have a few important things in common:

• Rotating bonus categories: Both the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back allow you to earn elevated cash back on a different rotating bonus category each quarter.
• No annual fees: The Chase Freedom Flex has a $0 annual fee, while the Discover it Cash Back also has a $0 annual fee.
• Introductory APR offers: The Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back provide useful intro APR offers, which apply to both purchases and balance transfers.
• Activation required: Both the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back require you to manually activate the bonus category each quarter. If you think you’re unlikely to remember to do this, it’s possible that neither card is right for you.
• Spending caps: Both the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back have spending caps.

FAQs

Bottom line

The Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back are similar no-annual-fee cards that use rotating categories as part of their rewards programs. But for the most part, the similarities end there.

The Freedom Flex provides more benefits when it comes to bonus rewards categories, redemption options, and additional card protections. And if you already have other Chase cards, the benefits are even greater.

You don’t necessarily have to choose between these two cards. Neither charges an annual fee, so it doesn’t hurt to have them in your wallet, and you could take advantage of even more bonus cash back spending. Just make sure to compare the bonus categories to make sure there’s not too much overlap, which could defeat the purpose of having both.

Up To 5% Cash Back

Discover it^® Cash Back

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FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Discover it^® Cash Back

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• $0 annual fee
• Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
• Dark web monitoring and other privacy protection services

Drawbacks

• Requires you to activate the highest-earning category each quarter
• Not accepted as widely overseas as Visa or Mastercard

Card Details

• INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
• Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
• Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
• No annual fee.
• Terms and conditions apply.