4. Discover it® Cash Back — Best for rotating categories and first-year match

Why it’s great: Discover’s signature feature is 5% back in rotating quarterly categories (on up to the quarterly cap) after activation, plus unlimited 1% on everything else. New cardmembers get a dollar-for-dollar Cashback Match at the end of the first year—potentially doubling your first-year earnings. No annual fee.

Who should get it: Strategists who will activate the quarters and calendar their big purchases to lined-up categories.

Tip: Check Discover’s quarterly calendar (Amazon, gas, restaurants, etc.) and stack big purchases into quarters where you’ll hit the cap for maximum ROI.