The 5% rotating category is the draw, and this quarter it is unusually broad: gas, EV charging, transit, airlines, and drugstores all qualify in Q3 2026, on up to $1,500 in spend per quarter after you activate. Pair that with 15 months of 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee, and it works as a payoff card and an earner at the same time. The limits are the familiar ones: you have to remember to activate each quarter, the cap works out to $75 in bonus cash back per quarter, and everything outside the rotating category earns a flat 1%. The regular APR of 17.49% to 26.49% is reasonable, but the card is built to be paid in full once the intro window closes. It is our #3 cash back pick, best used alongside a flat-rate card that handles the spending Discover only pays 1% on.
Earn rates & credits
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
Rotating categories Activation required each quarter on first $1,500/qtr, then 1% Q3 2026: Gas, EV Charging, Transit, Airlines, Drugstores | 5% |
Everything Else | 1% |
Card details
Regular APR | 17.49%–26.49% variable |
Intro APR on purchases | 0% for 15 months |
Intro APR on balance transfers | 0% for 15 months |
Foreign transaction fee | None |