Comparison Citi Simplicity vs Discover it® Cash Back

Compare two no-annual-fee cards focused on balance transfers, low interest, and intro offers.

Card Image

Citi Simplicity® Card

★ 4.5 rating

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on Citibank’s application

Card Image

Discover it® Cash Back

★ 4.9 rating

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on Discover’s website

Compare Features

📊 Recommended Credit Score

Score Range

690-850

Good – Excellent

690-850

Good – Excellent

💚 Great For

Categories
  • 0% APR
  • Balance Transfer
  • Low Interest
  • Travel
  • Airline
  • Gas
  • Cash Back
  • Bonus Offers
  • Rewards
  • 0% APR
  • Balance Transfer
  • Gas
  • Travel

💳 Annual Fee

Amount

$0

$0

🎁 Bonus Offer

Details

No bonus offer available.

Unlimited Cashback Match – Discover matches all your cash back earned in the first year.

Summary & Opinion

If you’re looking for a credit card that helps you manage balances or earn cashback, the Citi Simplicity® Card and Discover it® Cash Back serve very different purposes — but both offer valuable features.

The Citi Simplicity® Card is ideal for those seeking long-term interest relief.
It offers one of the longest intro APR periods available: 21 months on balance transfers and 12 months on purchases.
With no annual fee, no late fees, and no penalty APR, this card is designed to be a financial safety net.
However, it lacks rewards and does not offer any welcome bonus, so it’s best used strictly for debt management and financing large purchases over time.

Meanwhile, the Discover it® Cash Back card stands out for its rewards program.
It provides 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 when activated), plus 1% on all other purchases.
New cardholders benefit from Discover’s Cashback Match, which doubles all earned cash back at the end of the first year.
It also includes a 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months and balance transfers for 18 months. This makes it a well-rounded card for earning rewards and handling short-term financing needs.

If you plan to carry a balance over many months or need a card for debt consolidation, Citi Simplicity is unmatched.
But if you want to earn meaningful rewards, take advantage of a unique first-year cashback bonus, and still enjoy balance transfer savings, Discover it® Cash Back is the smarter choice.

My pick? For flexibility and long-term financial relief: Citi Simplicity. For everyday spending and rewards: Discover it® Cash Back.

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