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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Advertising Disclosure
LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).

Advertising Disclosure

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express Disclosure

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Discover Cash Back Categories for Q3 2024

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
shortened_cc_editorial_note

Citi is an advertising partner.

Discover has announced its bonus categories for the third quarter of 2024: Walmart and grocery stores.

Some of the best Discover credit cards are known for their quarterly rotating bonus categories, which allow you to earn 5% (on up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%) on everyday purchases throughout the year. However, you’ll need to manually activate the bonus categories each quarter to take advantage of this elevated rate — otherwise, you’ll just earn the standard 1% cash back.

For example, if you have the Discover it® Cash Back or Discover it® Student Cash Back, you can earn the elevated rate at Walmart and grocery stores from July 1 through September 30 upon activation. If you max out the $1,500 spend cap, you’ll earn $75 back for the quarter.

QuarterDiscover bonus categories
Q1: January through MarchRestaurants and drugstores
Q2: April through JuneGas stations and EV charging stations, home improvement stores and public transit
Q3: July through SeptemberWalmart and grocery stores
Q4: October through DecemberAnnouncing on September 1

What’s included in the Walmart category? Eligible Walmart purchases include those made both in store and online at Walmart.com, as well as those made at Walmart fuel stations. Purchases made at Sam’s Club or through affiliates of Walmart.com are not included.

What’s included in the grocery stores category? Eligible grocery store purchases include those made at supermarkets, meat lockers, bakeries, smaller grocery stores and grocery delivery services. Purchases made at Target, convenience stores, wholesale clubs and discount stores are not included.

Compared to our picks for the best grocery credit cards, this is an extremely competitive earning rate.

Past Discover cash back calendars

Discover announces its new bonus categories on a quarter-to-quarter basis, so it’s impossible to know which other categories will offer bonus cash back for the remainder of 2024. However, looking back at the calendars from the past few years may offer some insight. For example, Discover’s bonus categories included grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and Amazon.com in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Quarter2021 categories2022 categories2023 categories
Q1: January through MarchGrocery stores
Walgreens
CVS
Grocery stores
Fitness clubs and gym memberships
Grocery stores
Drugstores
Select streaming services
Q2: April through JuneGas stations
Wholesale clubs
Select streaming services
Gas stations
Target
Restaurants
Wholesale clubs
Q3: July through SeptemberRestaurants
PayPal
Restaurants
PayPal
Gas stations
Digital wallets
Q4: October through DecemberAmazon.com
Target.com
Walmart.com
Amazon.com
Digital wallets
Amazon.com
Target

Both the Discover it® Cash Back and the Discover it® Student Cash Back offer rotating bonus categories. They also come with Discover’s Unlimited Cashback Match sign-up bonus for new cardholders, which matches all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

| Disclosures
Discover it® Cash Back*
Discover it<sup>®</sup> Cash Back
Learn More
0% Intro APR for 15 months
18.74% - 27.74% Variable APR
$0
5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly
  • 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.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
  • Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
  • 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 18.74% to 27.74% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent
*The information related to the Discover it® Cash Back has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.


| Disclosures
Discover it® Student Cash Back*
Discover it<sup>®</sup> Student Cash Back
Learn More
0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases
17.74% - 26.74% Variable APR
$0
Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the
  • 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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • 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.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • 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.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.74% - 26.74% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
600 660
Limited / Fair
*The information related to the Discover it® Student Cash Back has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The only catch with Discover’s 5% Cashback Bonus® program is that you’ll need to activate the bonus categories each quarter. However, activation is simple and can be completed via any of the following methods:

  • Online through your Account Center homepage
  • Through quarterly reminder emails from Discover
  • Through the Discover mobile app
  • By calling 800-DISCOVER

Note, you won’t start earning the 5% cash back rate on eligible spending until you activate the bonus categories each quarter.

Here are some tips that will help you maximize your rewards and make the most of Discover’s Cashback Bonus program:

Activate the bonus categories ASAP
Remember, you won’t start earning 5% cash back until you activate the quarterly bonus categories. The best way to keep track of Discover’s activation dates is by setting up reminders on your calendar. You can do this manually or by clicking “Remind me to activate” under each quarter on this page (once logged in to your account). You can also set up email reminders in your Discover account settings.

Try to meet the $1,500 spending cap
To take full advantage of the 5% bonus rate, you should try to meet the $1,500 spending cap each quarter. If you do, you’ll rake in $300 in bonus cash back for the year. However, make sure you’re still paying off your balance each month and not accumulating credit card debt. Ideally, your credit utilization ratio — which compares your current debt to your credit limits — should be at or below 30%.

Pair your Discover card with another cash back card
If you want to earn more than 1% on regular purchases, consider pairing your eligible Discover card with a 2% cash back card. This’ll double your earnings on non-bonus categories. For example, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card lets you earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Plus, if you take advantage of the card’s welcome offer, you can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

One of the best features of Discover cash back cards is their redemption flexibility. You can redeem your rewards for:

  • Cash deposited into your bank account
  • Statement credits on your Discover account
  • Amazon.com or PayPal purchases
  • Gift cards (starting at $5)
  • Charitable donations

In addition, there’s no minimum redemption amount, so you can redeem any amount at any time.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is another rewards card that allows you to earn bonus cash back on rotating categories. Like Discover, Chase lets you earn 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 in purchases) on activated bonus categories each quarter. Once you hit the spending cap, you’ll earn the standard 1% on additional purchases.

| Disclosures
Chase Freedom Flex℠*
Chase Freedom Flex℠
0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months
19.99% - 28.74% variable
$0
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus
  • Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
  • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent
*The information related to the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The Chase cash back calendar for the second quarter of 2024 includes Amazon.com, hotels and restaurants. But as you can see in the table below, the categories tend to be similar to the Discover categories:

Quarter2023 Discover categories2023 Chase categories
Q1: January through MarchGrocery stores
Drugstores
Select streaming services
Grocery stores (excluding Walmart) Target
Fitness clubs and gym memberships
Q2: April through JuneRestaurants
Wholesale clubs
Lowe’s
Amazon.com
Q3: July through SeptemberGas stations
Digital wallets
Gas stations
EV charging
Select live entertainment
Q4: October through DecemberAmazon.com
Target
PayPal
Wholesale clubs
Select charities

However, there is one big difference between the two programs — unlike Discover, Chase’s activation is retroactive. With Discover, you won’t start earning 5% until after you activate. This means that if you’re late on activating the categories, you’ll only earn the standard 1% rate on previous eligible purchases.

With Chase, though, you can retroactively earn 5% on eligible purchases as long as you activate by that quarter’s deadline. For example, to earn the 5% cash back rate on eligible purchases from Jan. 1 through March 31, you must activate the bonus categories by March 14, 2024. That said — if you activate the first quarter bonus categories after March 14, you’ll only earn 1% cash back on those purchases for the entire quarter.

| Disclosures
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Citi Custom Cash® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site
Rates & Fees
0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases
18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
$0
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
  • No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

Like the idea of earning 5% cash back on everyday purchases but don’t want to keep track of rotating categories and activation dates? The Citi Custom Cash® Card is an excellent alternative to Chase and Discover cards. You’ll earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.

Eligible 5% categories include:

  • Restaurants
  • Gas stations
  • Grocery stores
  • Drugstores
  • Home improvement stores
  • Fitness clubs
  • Live entertainment
  • Select streaming services
  • Select travel and transit purchases

These are similar to the Chase and Discover categories in recent years, with the addition of travel, transit and home improvement stores.

Citi Custom Cash® Card rewards are paid out as flexible Citi ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, Amazon.com purchases or flights through the Citi travel portal. However, you can get even more value if you transfer your points to one of Citi’s 15-plus travel partners.

The information related to the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Citi Custom Cash® Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Yes, Discover offers a solid lineup of cards that are good for many different types of consumers. The best Discover cards come with no annual fees, valuable rewards programs and sign-up bonuses that match all the cash back you’ve earned in your first year. Discover is also known for excellent customer service, ranking third among all issuers in a 2023 credit card satisfaction survey.

No, your Discover cash back rewards will never expire. If you close your account, Discover will mail you a check for your remaining rewards balance.

Choosing the best Discover card depends on where you are in your credit journey, as well as your financial goals and spending habits. Fortunately, Discover’s credit card lineup offers something for everyone.

For example, students looking for their first credit card should check out the Discover it® Student Cash Back. In addition to building your credit, you’ll also earn cash back on every purchase. However, if you already have good / excellent credit and are looking for a solid travel credit card, the Discover it® Miles is ideal. There are no annual or foreign transaction fees, and you’ll earn 1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases.

The information related to the Discover it® Cash Back, Discover it® Student Cash Back, Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Discover it® Miles has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.