The Discover it Secured is that rare secured card with a real rewards program attached, and with no annual fee it tops our Best Secured Credit Cards list. You earn 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories on up to $1,500 in spending each quarter, and for Q4 2026 those categories are dining, entertainment, and utilities, with 1% on everything else. The catch is the work involved: you have to activate the categories every quarter, and anything past the $1,500 cap drops back to 1%. The 26.49% regular APR is also steep, so carrying a balance would quickly wipe out whatever you earn. No foreign transaction fee is a nice extra for a starter card. Use it to build credit, pay in full each month, and treat the cash back as a bonus rather than the main reason to apply.
Earn rates & credits
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
Rotating categories Activation required each quarter on first $1,500/qtr, then 1% Q4 2026: Dining, Entertainment, Utilities | 5% |
Everything Else | 1% |
Card details
Regular APR | 26.49% variable |
Foreign transaction fee | None |