Discover it Cash Back vs Target™ Mastercard®: Which Card Wins for Your Spending?

Which earns more for you?

Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.

Choosing between the Discover it Cash Back (no annual fee) and the Target™ Mastercard® (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.

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Meet the Contenders

Discover it Cash Back

5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else. Cashback Match doubles all cash back in first year.

Annual fee: None Foreign fees: 0%

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

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Target Mastercard

Strongest in dining at 2%. 5% off every Target purchase instantly at checkout, plus 2% on dining and gas and 1% elsewhere.

Annual fee: None Foreign fees: 3%

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature Discover it Cash Back Target Mastercard
Annual Fee $0 $0
Sign-Up Bonus None None
Foreign Transaction Fee 0% 3%
Base Reward Rate 1.0% 1.0%
Dining Rewards 1% 2%
Gas Rewards 1% 2%
Key Benefits 5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else. Cashback Match doubles all cash back in first year. 5% off every Target purchase instantly at checkout, plus 2% on dining and gas and 1% elsewhere.

The Verdict

Target Mastercard wins on dining, gas.

Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.