The Discover it Cash Back Could Help You Save on Your Early Holiday Shopping

Prime Day may be over, but that doesn't mean you have to stop earning rewards. Discover's latest categories for the Discover it® Cash Back* could help you save a bit on your early holiday shopping.

From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024, Discover it Cash Back cardholders will be able to earn 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly purchases, then 1%; activation required) on Amazon.com and Target.

Everything you need to know about the Discover it Cash Back

The Discover it Cash Back features rotating rewards. Check out our review above to learn more.

The Discover it Cash Back is a great card, plain and simple. It's inexpensive and very rewarding, especially during your first year with the card. That's because at the end of your first year, Discover will essentially double the rewards you've earned.

Additionally, its rotating rewards make it continuously useful. Every quarter -- about every three months -- you'll have new reward categories that let you earn 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent quarterly, then 1%). Just be aware you'll need to manually activate the reward categories each time they change, otherwise you'll only earn 1% cash back for purchases.

Is the Discover it Cash Back the best card to use for your Amazon holiday shopping?

The Discover it Cash Back, at least from October through December, will earn just as much in cash-back rewards at Amazon as the Prime Visa. The only difference is, you don't need a Prime membership (which costs $139 annually) to use it. So, if you're fee-averse but still plan to get some early gift shopping done with Amazon, the Discover it Cash Back could help you avoid paying for a Prime Membership while still earning as much cash back.

However, it's important that the Discover it Cash Back is a good fit for you beyond its Amazon and Target rewards. Because it doesn't charge an annual fee, that shouldn't be too hard. You can pay off your balance and put it in a drawer until another useful rewards category comes around.

Here are previous categories that the Discover it Cash Back has featured. Sometimes, they come back around, like those for Amazon and Target. If these purchase types match your typical spending habits, it could be a good card to add to your waller.

*All information about the Discover it Cash Back has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

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