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Both the Discover it® Cash Back Card and the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® offer enticing cash back rewards without an annual fee to shoppers keen on maximizing their spending power. For those who frequent Walmart, especially online, the Walmart Card's high cash back rates on Walmart purchases make it a compelling choice.
However, the Discover it Cash Back edges ahead with its 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, making it particularly valuable for those looking to manage existing debt or finance new purchases. Its accessibility to those with lower credit scores is also a significant advantage.
While the Walmart Card is a store card that rewards loyal Walmart shoppers, the Discover it Cash Back's flexibility and first-year cash back match offer a broader appeal.
Discover it® Cash Back Card
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
Regular APR
17.24%–28.24% variable
19.48%, 19.48%, or 29.99% variable
0% APR Offer
0% intro APR for 15 months from date of account opening
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Intro Offer
Matches cash back earned at the end of the first 12 months
Earn 5% Cash Back
Rewards Summary
Earn 1%–5% cash back
-
Balance Transfer Offer
0% intro APR for 15 months from date of first transfer, for transfers under this offer that post to your account by May 10, 2024
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Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)
3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Recommended Credit
670–850 (Good to Excellent)
580-740 (Fair to Good)
Penalty APR
None
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Not sure?
Which Card Is Better for You?
You might prefer the Discover it Cash Back if you're looking for a card that offers a lucrative introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn high cash back in different categories throughout the year. The 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers can provide significant savings on interest, and the cash back match in the first year doubles the rewards you earn, making it a strong choice for maximizing cash back in the first year.
You might prefer the Walmart Card if you frequently shop at Walmart, especially online, and want to earn high cash back rates on those purchases. This card maximizes rewards for loyal Walmart customers with 5% cash back on Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery, and 2% back on in-store purchases. It's more accessible for a broader range of shoppers with a lower credit score requirement.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features
Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and other features will clarify which card aligns with your financial habits. For instance, the Discover it Cash Back caters to those who track and capitalize on rotating categories, while the Walmart Card maximizes rewards for frequent Walmart.com shoppers.
Regular APR: Discover it Cash Back
The Discover it Cash Back Card offers a lower starting APR of 17.24%, making it potentially more favorable for those who may carry a balance. The Walmart Card's starting APR is 19.48%.
Annual Fee: Tie
Both the Discover it Cash Back and the Walmart Card have no annual fee, making them equally appealing for those looking to avoid extra costs.
Introductory 0% APRs: Discover it Cash Back
The Discover it Cash Back is better for those seeking introductory 0% APRs, offering 0% intro APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. In contrast, the Walmart Card does not provide any introductory APR offers.
Rewards: Walmart Card
The Walmart Card is better for frequent Walmart shoppers, offering 5% cash back on Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery, and 2% back in Walmart stores, Murphy USA and Walmart fuel stations. The Discover it Cash Back card provides flexibility with 5% back on rotating categories each quarter, such as groceries and gas, up to $1,500 in combined purchases, then 1%. However, the Walmart Card's consistent rewards on Walmart purchases and additional categories like restaurants and travel make it more rewarding for those who shop heavily at Walmart and its affiliates.
Welcome Offers: Discover it Cash Back
The Discover it Cash Back outperforms with its welcome offer, matching all cash back earned at the end of the first year, providing a higher return on investment compared to the Walmart Card's 5% cash back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months.
Recommended Credit Score: Walmart Card
The Walmart Card is more accessible, requiring a lower credit score range of 580 to 740 (fair to good) than the Discover it Cash Back's 670 to 850 (good to excellent).
Penalties and Fees: Walmart Card
In terms of penalties and fees, Walmart Card edges out slightly ahead due to its lower late fee and more favorable cash advance fee structure. Both cards do not charge foreign transaction fees, making them equally suitable for international use. The Discover it Cash Back does waive the late fee for the first incident, which could be beneficial for first-time mistakes.
Issuer Satisfaction: Discover it Cash Back
The Discover it Cash Back outperforms the Walmart Card in issuer satisfaction, with Discover Bank's rating of 4.5 compared to Capital One's 4.2. Issuer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of the cardholder experience, reflecting customer service quality and dispute resolution efficiency.
Other Features & Perks: Tie
The Discover it Cash Back helps protect your personal data on certain sites, a feature you can activate on its mobile app. Customers also have access to 24/7 US-based customer service, $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee and free Social Security number alerts. The Walmart Card offers $0 fraud liability, which means you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges. You also have access to the Capital One mobile app with this card.
Rewards Comparison
The Walmart Card shines for dedicated shoppers, offering a robust 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery. It also provides 2% back on in-store purchases, fuel, dining and travel and 1% on all other purchases.
On the other hand, the Discover it Cash Back offers a flexible 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter, such as gas stations, grocery stores and Amazon.com, up to a quarterly maximum when you activate. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. Cardholders should stay informed about the current and upcoming categories to maximize rewards.
While the Walmart Card is ideal for those who frequently shop at Walmart, especially online, the Discover it Cash Back may appeal more to those who value variety in their bonus categories throughout the year. The table below details the bonus categories for each card to help you compare at a glance.
Category | Discover it Cash Back | Walmart Card |
|---|---|---|
Online Shopping | 5% on rotating categories/1% if not activated | 5% on Walmart.com |
Grocery Stores/Supermarkets | 5% on rotating categories/1% if not activated | 2% at Walmart stores |
Gas Stations | 5% on rotating categories/1% if not activated | 2% at Walmart fuel stations |
Restaurants | 5% on rotating categories/1% if not activated | 2% |
Travel | 5% on rotating categories/1% if not activated | 2% |
All Other Purchases | 1% | 1% |
Redeeming Rewards
The Discover it Cash Back offers flexible redemption options, including statement credit, gift cards, donations or an electronic deposit to an account you choose. You can redeem rewards at any time and in any amount, with the assurance that rewards don't expire for at least 18 months after account closure.
The Walmart Card allows redemption for cash back as statement credits, purchases on Walmart.com, travel and gift cards. Rewards earned with the Walmart Card have no expiration date.
Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluates cards like the Discover it Cash Back and Walmart Card by assigning scores for various use cases, such as balance transfers and cash back. The score displayed for each card represents the use case where it scores highest.
For the Discover it Cash Back, the balance transfer score is most relevant, with introductory purchase APR and regular APR being the largest factors. The Walmart Card is evaluated based on the cash back score, where the effective reward rate and regular APR are key. For a detailed understanding of our scoring system, you can review our ranking methodology.
FAQ: Discover it Cash Back vs. Walmart Card
What are the cash back rewards for each card?
The Discover it Cash Back offers 5% cash back on rotating categories, while the Walmart Card provides 5% on Walmart.com.
Do either of the cards offer a 0% intro APR period?
Yes, the Discover it Cash Back has a 0% introductory APR period for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
Are there any annual fees for these cards?
Both cards have no annual fee.
Can I earn rewards on purchases outside of Walmart with the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard?
Yes, you can earn rewards on dining, travel and other purchases with the Walmart Card.
What is the recommended credit score for each card?
The recommended credit score is 580 to 740 for the Walmart Card and 670 to 850 for the Discover it Cash Back.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
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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