Head to head 
Discover it Cash Back vs. PayPal Cashback Mastercard
On the criteria below, Discover it Cash Back wins 2 of 4. The verdict depends on which criteria matter to you.
Discover it Cash Back
Discover
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Synchrony
At a glance
Discover it Cash Back wins 2 of 4 criteria here, making it the stronger all-rounder.
Discover it Cash Back leads on earning ceiling and foreign transactions, while PayPal Cashback Mastercard only ties the rest.
Who wins what
2 vs 0 (2 tie)- First-year math Tie
Both cards land within $25 of each other after the annual fee.
- Annual fee Tie
Same annual fee.
- Earning ceiling Discover it Cash Back
Discover it Cash Back earns more on its best category (5× vs 3×).
- Foreign transactions Discover it Cash Back
Discover it Cash Back has a lower (or zero) foreign transaction fee.
By the numbers
- Annual fee
- Free
- Free
- Welcome offer (typical value)
- —
- —
- First-year net
- +$0
- +$0
- Peak earning rate
- 5×
- 3×
- Top categories
- Rotating Quarterly
- PayPal Purchases
- Lounge access
- No
- No
- Travel insurance
- No
- No
- Elite status
- No
- No
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- 3.00%
- Reward currency
- Discover Cashback
- PayPal Cash Rewards
Welcome-offer dollar values use each program's typical-tier valuation from our signup bonus calculator. See the methodology page for sourcing details.