Discover it Secured Credit Card vs Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Compare Discover it Secured and Capital One Platinum Secured: rewards, deposit requirements, graduation paths, and which secured card is best for building or rebuilding credit.
Quick Answer
The Discover it Secured is the better card overall. It earns 2% cashback at gas stations and restaurants, has a first-year cashback match, and starts graduating accounts at 7 months. The Capital One Platinum Secured has a lower minimum deposit ($49 vs $200) and automatic credit line reviews at 6 months, but earns no rewards. Choose Discover if you want rewards; choose Capital One if you need the lowest possible deposit.
Discover it Secured Credit Card
The best secured credit card for building credit — earns 2% cashback at gas stations and restaurants, reports to all 3 bureaus, and your deposit starts at $200.
Key Features
Regions
US
Pros
- +Only secured card that earns real rewards — 2% at gas stations and restaurants, 1% everywhere
- +Discover matches all your cashback at the end of Year 1 (effectively doubling it)
- +Automatic account reviews for graduation to unsecured card starting at 7 months
- +No annual fee and free FICO Score on monthly statements
Cons
- −Requires a refundable security deposit starting at $200
- −2% bonus categories capped at $1,000 in combined spending per quarter
- −Discover is not as widely accepted internationally as Visa or Mastercard
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
A simple secured card with no annual fee, a refundable deposit as low as $49, and automatic credit line reviews starting at 6 months.
Key Features
Regions
US
Pros
- +Minimum security deposit as low as $49 — most accessible secured card on the market
- +No annual fee and automatic credit line reviews at 6 months with no extra deposit
- +Reports to all three major credit bureaus for building credit history
- +CreditWise free credit monitoring and alerts included
Cons
- −No rewards or cashback — you earn nothing on your spending
- −29.99% APR is very high if you carry a balance
- −No sign-up bonus or intro APR offer
Real-World Scenarios
You want to earn rewards while building credit
You're building credit but don't want to miss out on earning cashback on your everyday spending.
You want the lowest possible security deposit
You have limited funds for a security deposit and need the lowest barrier to entry.
You want the fastest path to an unsecured card
You want to get your deposit back as quickly as possible by graduating to an unsecured card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card has a lower minimum deposit?
Capital One Platinum Secured starts at $49 (varies by credit profile), while Discover it Secured requires a $200 minimum deposit. Capital One has the lowest entry barrier.
Which card offers rewards?
Only Discover it Secured offers rewards — 2% cashback at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000/quarter) and 1% on everything else. Capital One Platinum Secured has no rewards program.