Discover it Cash Back Card: New 5% Categories for 2026 Q4 [October to December]

The Discover it^® Cash Back Card is a $0-annual-fee card that could be an interesting addition to your wallet.

That’s because it earns a whopping 5% cash-back in quarterly rotating categories. This card might not be the best choice for all of your spending, but taking advantage of these 5% cash-back categories is a great way to supercharge your earnings.

The new Discover Cash Back card categories for 2026 Q4 (October to December) have been announced, and this post will show you how to make the most of them.

Discover 5% Cash-Back Categories 2026: Q4 October to December

The new 5% cash-back categories for the Discover Cash Back card in 2026 Q4 (October to December) are entertainment, restaurants, and utilities. From October 1 through December 31, 2026, you can earn 5% cash-back on up to $1,500 in purchases within these categories.

You’ll earn 1% cash-back on any purchases in these categories over the $1,500 cap and on all other purchases.

This is the second time restaurants has been a bonus category this year. This is the first time entertainment has been a 5% category on the card, and eligible purchases include movies, concerts, and live sports. Utilities purchases include recurring household expenses like electricity, water, internet, and phone services.

Activation for these new categories is available as of September 1, 2026. Any additional limitations for the current 5% category are available on this page.

Keep Earning in the Q3 Categories

Through September 30, 2026, cardholders can keep earning 5% cash-back on up to $1,500 of spending in the Q3 categories, available from July to September.

Those categories are:

• Gas stations
• Transportation and flight purchases
• Drugstores

Benefits of the Discover Cash Back Card

If you’re in the market for a cash-back card, the Discover Cash Back card is one to consider.

For starters, this card offers an unheard-of welcome offer:

• Earn an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earned at the end of your first year.

For example, if you earn $300 cash-back during your first year as a cardholder, you get an additional $300 cash-back at the end of the year. This cash-back match offer is unlimited.

Discover it^® Cash Back Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Discover Cash Back card is an excellent first credit card to earn cash-back rewards with no annual fee.

Apply Now(at Discover's secure site)

Discover it^® Cash Back Card

The Discover Cash Back card is an excellent first credit card to earn cash-back rewards with no annual fee.

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from date of account opening, then a variable APR of 17.49% to 26.49%.

Why We Like This Card

The Discover Cash Back card is a great option for those looking for a $0 annual fee credit card to help build their credit history, while earning cash-back rewards on their daily purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 5% back on rotating quarterly bonus categories like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, on up to $1,500 in spend each quarter
• Earn 5% back on rental car, hotel, vacation rental, and activity bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Earn 5% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases

Cons

• Quarterly spending cap on rotating 5% rewards
• Not very rewarding for purchases outside of the rotating 5% category, Capital One Travel, and Capital One Entertainment

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Card Highlights

• Intro Offer: Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
• Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
• Redeem cash back in any amount, any time. Rewards never expire.
• Use your rewards at Amazon.com checkout.
• No annual fee.
• Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from date of account opening, then a variable APR of 17.49% to 26.49%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The Discover Cash Back card earns 1% back on purchases, which isn’t all that exciting, even for a card without an annual fee. However, it also offers rotating 5% cash-back categories each quarter, which is an excellent way to earn substantial cash-back throughout the year.

You can redeem your cash-back in any amount at any time, and your rewards do not expire for the life of the account.

How Your 5% Cash-Back Works

Each quarter, you can earn 5% cash-back in select categories, up to $1,500 in purchases. Any purchases over the $1,500 threshold and any purchases in nonbonus categories earn 1%. You must activate the bonus each quarter.

You won’t earn 5% cash-back retroactively, so be sure to activate your bonus as early as possible each quarter.

This card operates similarly to the Chase Freedom Flex^®, which also has rotating 5% cash-back categories.

2026 Discover Cash Back Card Bonus Categories

Q1: January to March

• Grocery stores
• Warehouse clubs
• Select streaming services

Q2: April to June

• Restaurants
• Home improvement stores

Q3: July to September

• Gas stations and EV charging
• Transportation and flights
• Drugstore purchases

Q4: October to December

• Entertainment
• Restaurants
• Utilities

Final Thoughts

The Discover Cash Back card offers 5% cash-back in rotating categories each quarter. The new categories for Q4 of 2026 are entertainment, restaurants, and utilities. You’ll earn 5% cash-back (up to $1,500 in purchases) from October to December 2026 in these categories.

Plus, you can continue to earn 5% cash-back in the 2026 Q3 categories (gas stations, EV charging, transportation, flights, and drugstores) until September 30, 2026.