Chase Freedom Flex vs. Discover it Cash Back: Earn 5% cash back on rotating categories
Editor's Note
It's easy to focus on premium travel rewards credit cards thanks to their outsized benefits, but don't forget about solid rewards cards with more modest perks and no annual fees like the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it® Cash Back.
Not only are they usually better choices for people just starting to build their credit, but these popular cash-back cards also offer some great earning opportunities, a solid rate of return on everyday spending and 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for folks who need a little flexibility.
These two cards, in particular, are worth comparing thanks to their (very) similar earning structures, "good" recommended credit score and other perks. Here's a snapshot of how the two stack up.
The information for the Discover it Cash Back has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Chase Freedom Flex vs. Discover it Cash Back comparison
| Chase Freedom Flex | Discover it® Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Welcome offer | $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | Double cash back on all purchases during the first year |
| Earning rates | 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases on quarterly bonus categories (activation required, 1% after that)
5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025) 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards 3% cash back on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services 3% cash back on drugstore purchases 1% cash back on all other purchases Terms apply | 5% on up to $1,500 quarterly rotating categories
1% on everything else |
| Additional benefits | Cellphone protection
Purchase protection Zero liability protection Extended warranty protection Trip cancellation/interruption insurance | No foreign transaction fees |
Freedom Flex vs. Discover it welcome offer
Right now, the Freedom Flex is offering $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The Discover it, meanwhile, will match the cash back earned on all purchases during your first year of card ownership, effectively doubling the card's earning rates for the first 12 months.
That means if you earn more than $200 cash back on the Discover it during your first year — not too difficult, given the card's 5% rotating bonus category — its welcome offer will outweigh the Freedom Flex's.
Winner: Discover it
Freedom Flex vs. Discover it benefits
The Freedom Flex card offers a few common benefits for a no-annual-fee card, including cellphone protection, shopping protections, and trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Cardholders will also enjoy three months of complimentary DashPass with DoorDash, which provides free delivery on eligible orders and reduced service fees.
The Discover it is a little shorter on benefits. However, you'll still enjoy things like online privacy protection, a $0 fraud liability guarantee and free Social Security number alerts if Discover finds your number used on a dark website.
Winner: Freedom Flex
Earning cash back on the Freedom Flex vs. Discover it
The Freedom Flex comes with the following earning bonuses:
- 5% on up to the first $1,500 spent on rotating categories each quarter (activation required)
- 5% on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
- 5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards travel
- 3% on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 3% on drugstore purchases
- 1% on all other purchases
Those earning categories would be healthy for any card, let alone a no-annual-fee card. The rotating categories change each quarter and have included Walmart, gas stations and purchases with PayPal in the past.
The Discover it also has a rotating 5% bonus category with a quarterly calendar, although it doesn't come with the other sweet earning rates the Freedom Flex has.
Winner: Freedom Flex
Redeeming cash back on the Freedom Flex vs. Discover it
Here's where the two cards potentially diverge dramatically. The Discover it Cash Back card is a cash-back credit card, plain and simple. Each point you earn is worth 1 cent apiece toward statement credits on purchases, gift cards, charitable donations and deposits into a linked bank account.
Related: Your ultimate guide to Discover cards
Theoretically, the points you earn with the Chase Freedom Flex are also worth 1 cent apiece toward statement credits, travel booked through Chase, gift cards and direct deposits into linked U.S. bank accounts, though slightly less for Amazon.com purchases and Chase Pay redemptions.
However, suppose you have another card that earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points. In that case, you can combine the ones you earn with your Freedom Flex card with your other accounts and make them transferable to the Ultimate Rewards program's airline and hotel transfer partners.
Winner: Freedom Flex
Transferring cash back on the Freedom Flex vs. Discover it
Converting your Freedom Flex rewards also means you are raising the value of your points on direct travel redemptions through the Chase portal. Instead of 1 cent per point, you can unlock 1.25-1.5 cents per point (depending on the other card you carry). That means you are potentially upping your rate of return by 25 to 50%.
Some of the best Chase transfer partners include Hyatt, United, British Airways and Singapore Airlines for fancy hotels or flights.
TPG director of content Summer Hull prefers to transfer her points to World of Hyatt so she can use them to book stays at resorts or city properties that would typically be out of her budget. No matter how you use your rewards, you'll find some great transfer options in Chase's list of partners.
Winner: Freedom Flex
Should I get the Freedom Flex or Discover it?
The Chase Freedom Flex is a better choice for frequent travelers looking to boost their points balance. This is because of the added flexibility of point redemptions if you have another Chase Ultimate Rewards card. However, if you're just getting started with credit and looking for a no-frills, no-fee card with a great rate of return that won't penalize you for a late payment while you're getting started, the Discover it® Cash Back is also an excellent choice.
Bottom line
With the valuable rotating bonus categories on both cards, it's easy to justify actually getting both the Freedom Flex and the Discover it. The two cards are easily some of the best no-annual-fee cash-back offerings on the market. And once you factor in the matched cash back offer on the Discover it and the additional perks on the Freedom Flex, the question of "Are these cards worth it?" becomes a lot easier to answer for the average cash-back enthusiast.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Freedom Flex and Discover it.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex with $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.