Discover it® Student Cash Back
vs. Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Shield Insurance

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Both the Discover it Secured Credit Card and the Discover it Student Cash Back card cater to those starting their credit journey, offering cash back rewards without an annual fee. If you're looking for higher rewards potential, the Discover it Student Cash Back card is the better pick, thanks to its 5% cash back in rotating categories.

However, for those needing to establish credit from scratch, the Discover it Secured Credit Card's acceptance of limited or bad credit and the opportunity for an automatic credit review after seven months make it a strong contender. Both cards serve as a solid foundation for building credit and earning rewards.

Credit Card logo for Discover it® Student Cash Back
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Credit Card logo for Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.6/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
3.4/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Discover it Secured if you're looking to build or rebuild your credit and would benefit from earning cash back on gas and dining purchases. With no annual fee and an automatic review after seven months for a possible transition to an unsecured card, it's a solid choice for establishing creditworthiness.

You might prefer the Discover it Student Cash Back if you're a student new to credit who wants to maximize rewards. Offering 5% cash back in rotating categories and an introductory 0% APR on purchases for six months, this card is great for earning rewards while also getting a head start on building a good credit history.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features side by side clarifies which card aligns with your financial needs. For example, if a security deposit is a concern, the Student Cash Back card requires none, whereas the Secured card does. Assess rewards structures to see if the Student Cash Back's rotating categories or the Secured card's gas and dining cash back better suit your spending.

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    Regular APR: Discover it Student Cash Back

    The Discover it Student Cash Back card offers a lower starting APR range of 18.24%, compared to the Discover it Secured's fixed rate of 28.24% variable.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Discover it Student Cash Back and the Discover it Secured card have no annual fee, making them equally advantageous for users looking to save on costs.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Discover it Student Cash Back

    For those seeking an introductory 0% APR, the Discover it Student Cash Back card outshines the Discover it Secured by offering a 0% APR for six months on purchases, in addition to the 10.99% introductory APR for six months on balance transfers that both cards offer.

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    Rewards: Discover it Student Cash Back

    The Discover it Student Cash Back card is better for rewards, offering 5% cash back on everyday purchases in rotating categories each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when activated, compared to Discover it Secured's 2% at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.

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    Welcome Offers: Tie

    Both the Discover it Secured and Discover it Student Cash Back cards offer a cash back match as their welcome offer, promising to match all cash back earned at the end of the first year with no minimum spending or maximum rewards.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Discover it Student Cash Back and Discover it Secured are designed for individuals with no credit history, making them equally accessible. Each card has a recommended credit score rating of 5, indicating they are both suitable for users starting their credit journey.

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    Penalties and Fees: Tie

    Both cards offer leniency on the first late payment, but Discover it Student Cash Back does not charge a late fee the first time, making it slightly more forgiving. Neither card has a penalty APR or foreign transaction fees.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Tie

    Since both cards come from Discover Bank, they have the same issuer satisfaction scores of 4.5.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique online data protection tools, including the ability to reduce personal information exposure online and dark web surveillance for the Discover it Secured. The Discover it Student Cash Back provides a 0% intro APR on purchases for six months, catering to students' needs.

Rewards Comparison

When it comes to rewards, the Discover it Student Cash Back card stands out with its 5% cash back on everyday purchases in various rotating categories, up to the quarterly maximum upon activation. This can be particularly lucrative for those who align their spending with these categories.

On the other hand, the Discover it Secured card offers a solid 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, and 1% on all other purchases. While it doesn't reach the 5% potential of the Student Cash Back card, it's a reliable option for those with specific spending patterns in these areas.

The Discover it Student Cash Back card requires users to activate the bonus categories each quarter to earn the 5% cash back. These categories can include grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and more. For detailed information on the current and upcoming bonus categories, cardholders should refer to Discover's quarterly calendar.

Following is a table of bonus categories to help you visually compare the rewards programs of both cards.

Category
Discover it Secured
Discover it Student Cash Back

Gas Stations

2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases quarterly/1% thereafter

5% up to the quarterly maximum when activated/1% thereafter

Restaurants

2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases quarterly/1% thereafter

5% up to the quarterly maximum when activated/1% thereafter

Grocery Stores

1%

5% up to the quarterly maximum when activated/1% thereafter

All Other Purchases

1%

1%

Redeeming Rewards

With the Discover it Secured, you can redeem cash back at any time, and your rewards do not expire, ensuring you can use them when it suits you best. Similarly, the Discover it Student Cash Back allows for redemption in various forms, from statement credits to gift cards, with no expiration date and no minimum amount required for redemption.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards using a tailored scoring system for various use cases, such as cash back and balance transfers. For the Discover it Student Cash Back and Discover it Secured, the highest scoring use case is cash back.

The primary factors influencing their cash back scores are the effective reward rate, which accounts for the bulk of the score, and the return on investment for offers. Other considerations include annual fees, introductory purchase rates and issuer satisfaction, among others. For a detailed understanding of our scoring process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Discover it Student Cash Back vs. Discover it Secured Card

What are the APR differences between Discover it Student Cash Back and Discover it Secured?
Do either of the Discover cards have an annual fee?
Is a security deposit required for both Discover it Student Cash Back and Discover it Secured?
How do the rewards on Discover it Student Cash Back compare to Discover it Secured?
Can either the Discover it Student Cash Back or Discover it Secured help me build credit?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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