Tracy Stewart is a personal finance writer specializing in credit card loyalty programs, travel benefits, and consumer protections. He previously covered travel rewards credit cards, budget travel, and aviation news at SmarterTravel Media. His money-saving tips have appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, MarketWatch, Vice, People, the Zoe Report and elsewhere.
Jeanine Skowronski is a credit card expert, analyst, and multimedia journalist with over 10 years of experience covering business and personal finance. She has previously served as the Head of Content at Policygenius, Executive Editor of Credit.com, Deputy Editor at American Banker, Staff Reporter at TheStreet and a columnist for Inc. Magazine.
As a senior credit card analyst for Bankrate, Skowronski authored several studies on the payments industry, which were covered by major news outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post and Vox.com. She has also appeared as a pundit on Good Morning America, The Willis Report, Yahoo Finance, ABC World News with David Muir, NPR’s Marketplace and numerous local television and radio stations. She has served as a speaker and panelist at several American Banker conferences.
Learn more at her website.
Highlights:
Veteran personal finance and business journalist
Credit card analyst, speaker and panelist
Author of numerous studies, including a highly covered 2014 Bankrate survey on millennials and credit cards
International travel, Luxury hotels, Credit card rewards
Highlights
Travel experience across 130+ countries, 50 states, 7 continents
Speaker, author, lover of points and miles
Founder of wanderingforgood.com
Experience
Stephanie Zito is a professional traveler, self-employed humanitarian consultant and collector of credit card points. She shares savvy travel tips that she’s learned firsthand circling the globe for more than 25 years. She’s a backpacker, expect and premium traveler who’s visited more than 130 countries and all seven continents. Her life motto is “See the world, change the world, have fun doing it!”, and her mission is to inspire others along the journey.
Zito loves teaching aspirational travelers how to access the world. And she shares her tips in her two books: “Upgrade Unlocked: The Unconventional Guide to Luxury Travel on a Budget” and “The Honeymoon Hack.” She’s also presented at many events, including Women’s Travel Fest, The World Domination Summit, Frequent Traveler University, Econome and Creative Live.
Zito’s favorite travel hack is a hotel upgrade that lands her in a soaking tub with a view of the ocean. When she isn’t working from an airport lounge or an over-the-water bungalow somewhere exotic, she can be found hiking and camping in Portland, Oregon. You can learn more about Zito on her website wanderingforgood.com. Zito studied journalism at Samford University where she also discovered her love for international travel while completing studying abroad programs in London and China.
With Discover credit cards, you’ll find a variety of benefits for cardholders across a wide range of credit scores. There’s strong options here for high-earning cash back, travel rewards, credit building and more – plus you’ll get some top-tier perks and one-of-a-kind opportunities courtesy of our partner, Discover.
With Discover credit cards, you’ll find a variety of benefits for cardholders across a wide range of credit scores. There’s strong options here for high-earning cash back, travel rewards, credit building and more – plus you’ll get some top-tier perks and one-of-a-kind opportunities courtesy of our partner, Discover.
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics
Our editorial team and expert review board provide an unbiased analysis of the products we feature. Our comparison service is compensated by our credit card company partners, and may influence where or how products are featured on the site. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please note: The star-rating system on this page is based on our independent card scoring methodology and is not influenced by advertisers or card issuers. Learn more about our partners and how we make money.
Our rating:4.6
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
1%
Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Discover Match®
Unlimited Bonus: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. You could turn 35,000 Miles into 70,000 Miles.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:5.0
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
(No Credit History)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.24% - 26.24% variable
Recommended credit
(No Credit History)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.6
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.24% - 26.24% variable
Recommended credit
(No Credit History)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
27.24% variable
Recommended credit
(No Credit History)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.6
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
1%
Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.6
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:5.0
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.24% - 26.24% variable
Recommended credit
(No Credit History)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.24% - 26.24% variable
Recommended credit
(No Credit History)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
27.24% variable
Recommended credit
(No Credit History)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Discover Match®
Unlimited Bonus: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. You could turn 35,000 Miles into 70,000 Miles.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% variable
Recommended credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:5.0
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.24% - 26.24% variable
Recommended credit
(No Credit History)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Our rating:4.1
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
At A Glance
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.24% - 26.24% variable
Recommended credit
(No Credit History)
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
This page includes information about the Discover it® Business Cardwhich are no longer available. The information for Discover it® Business Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for cash back on rotating categories: Discover it® Cash Back
Best features: Discover’s first-year Cashback Match™ matches all of the cash back you accumulate at the end of year one. This could easily beat the welcome bonuses offered by many other rewards cards. Plus, the card’s lengthy introductory purchase APR offer allows you to earn cash back on larger purchases and pay them off over time.
Biggest drawbacks: You must enroll in a rotating bonus category every quarter to maximize your cash back, and quarterly categories may not always line up with your spending habits.
Alternative: The Chase Freedom Flex® also has quarterly rotation categories but also has categories that earn increased rates all year. This includes dining, drugstores, and travel booked through Chase Travel℠.
Bottom line: If you’re on the hunt for a generous cash back bonus at the end of the first year and don’t mind keeping up with rotating categories, this user-friendly card stands out from the pack.
Best features: Thanks to the card’s first-year mile match offer, you’ll effectively earn 3X miles on every purchase for the first 12 months (1.5X miles on purchases, matched at the end of your first year).
Biggest drawbacks: The card lacks a traditional welcome bonus, so you’ll have to spend a decent amount to get much value out of the first-year match. Also, since you can’t transfer your miles to frequent-flier programs, the card isn’t ideal if you’re loyal to specific airlines.
Alternative: The benefits packed into the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card will offset the $95 annual fee for many travelers looking to maximize the amount of rewards they earn.
Bottom line: The Discover it® Miles is a decent choice for people who travel on a budget. But anyone who wants to maximize how much cash back they earn or travelers looking for premium perks will get more value with another card.
Best for students earning cash back: Discover it® Student Cash Back
Best features: You won’t have to sacrifice top-notch cash back rewards just because you’re a student. You’ll earn 5% cash back in rotating categories like gas, groceries and restaurants (with enrollment, up to $1,500 per quarter, then 1% back). Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year.
Biggest drawbacks: You’ll have the added homework of enrolling in a rotating bonus category every quarter to maximize your cash back, and the card’s variable APR, though reasonable, is a bit higher than that of many student cards, so you’ll have to be diligent about paying off your balance in full each month.
Alternative: The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 3% cash back all year round in student-friendly areas, such as grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), dining, entertainment and popular streaming services.
Bottom line: The Discover it® Student Cash Back is ideal for responsible students who won’t carry a balance and feel capable of keeping track of rotating categories.
Best for gas and dining rewards: Discover it® Chrome
Best features: It offers 2% cash back on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%) on spending at gas stations and restaurants. When matched at the end of the first year, this is a remarkable rate for a no-annual-fee card.
Biggest drawbacks: While the card’s low-end APR can be significantly lower than the average cash back card APR, your APR could run quite high if you have some blemishes on your credit history.
Alternative: The Citi Double Cash® Card offers 2% cash back on all of your purchases: 1% when you make purchases and another 1% as you pay the balance for those purchases.
Bottom line: If you like to eat out or do a lot of driving, this well-rounded everyday card can earn big rewards in addition to an already generous welcome offer.
Best features: The card’s consumer-friendly terms are great for someone new to credit: You won’t be charged a late fee the first time you miss a payment and you won’t get hit with a penalty APR if you end up falling behind more frequently. You should note that there is a late payment fee of up to $41 after the first time you pay late.
Biggest drawbacks: The card’s introductory APR is only for new purchases and only lasts for a few months.
Alternative: The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card provides a flat rate of 1.5% on all of your purchases compared to the Student Chrome’s 2% at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined quarterly purchases, then 1% (1% cash back on all other purchases).
Bottom line: Discover’s easy-to-use account management tools are great for first-time student cardholders looking to establish healthy credit habits.
Best for cash back and credit building: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Best features: You can build credit without putting down a lot of money upfront as a deposit. Even better, Discover promises to review your account on a monthly basis starting at seven months to see if you qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
Biggest drawbacks: A low security deposit means a low credit limit, which may have a negative impact on your credit utilization.
Discover is best known for its stellar lineup of cash back cards, but it is more than just a card issuer. Discover is also a network, along with Visa, Mastercard and American Express. This means it partners with merchants nationally and worldwide, making Discover cards viable payment across numerous countries.
Discover offers several more financial services as well, such as online banking, student loans, home loans and personal loans. They also offer their customers useful add-ons, like a free look at your FICO score and identity theft protection. These connections and services have made Discover a top provider of cards for cash back, everyday earnings, small businesses, beginners and more.
Where is Discover accepted?
Despite being the smallest major U.S. network, Discover is still widely accepted by 99% of merchants who accept credit cards. It’s also accepted in 200 countries and territories. With widespread acceptance both in the states and around the globe, Discover’s cards can be great travel companions. If you’re planning a trip, you can check the Discover Card International Acceptance Map to see if your card is good-to-go.
What credit score is needed for a Discover credit card?
Some of Discover’s cards will require a credit score in the good or excellent range, meaning your score will likely need to be at least 670 for their top choices. That being said, Discover has options for everyone no matter the credit score.
Discover’s secured cards and student cards are more than just a backup plan for cardholders with poor credit. They’re some of the most well-rounded and rewarding cards of their kind. After setting a trend of good habits with one of those starter cards, you can grow your credit score and move on to a Discover card that features better benefits.
How to choose a Discover credit card
Discover offers a variety of cards: credit building, student, travel and cash back cards. To find the one right for you, it’s a good idea to take a look at your own spending habits and identify the type of consumer you are. Using our CardMatch tool can help narrow down your options before applying and give you an idea of the right card for you based on your credit profile.
Who should get a Discover credit card
The occasional traveler. If you are an occasional traveler who needs room for flexibility, the Discover it® Miles is one of the best travel credit cards. This card earns 1.5X miles on all types of spending.
The student consumer. Discover has two student cards: the Discover it® Student Cash Back and the Discover it® Student Chrome. These are good cards for students with no credit history who want to experiment with rewards and build credit in the meantime. They also both feature an introductory APR on purchases.
Who should skip a Discover credit card
The luxury traveler. Someone looking for a top-notch travel experience including comped checked bags, access to airport lounges, priority upgrades and anything else exclusive to the high-priced lifestyle will have to look to other travel cards. Cards with high annual fees can often be your ticket into these offers, and can be very much worth the cost for the right spender.
The quick-bonus chaser. If you’re someone trying to capitalize on credit card rewards in the near future, cards with more traditional welcome bonuses might be a better choice. Discover’s rewards cards are typically backed with their Cashback Match offer, which – while valuable – takes a full year to make an impact.
What programs does Discover offer?
As a top provider for customer satisfaction, Discover gives ways for their cardholders to earn great rewards and benefits. Knowing their featured programs can help you take full advantage of their offers and level-up as a cardholder.
You must activate the bonus each quarter to receive 5% back.
Your bonus is active from the first day of the first month of each quarter – or the date on which you activate it, whichever is later – through the last day of the last month of each quarter.
You earn bonus cash back up to the quarterly maximum of $1,500 in purchases.
All spending over the quarterly maximum and all purchases outside a quarter’s bonus category earn 1% cash back.
Discover’s reward redemption options
Since cash back reward values are pretty straightforward, the best cash back redemption options are often the most convenient for you at the moment without sacrificing reward value. For gift card lovers, however, Discover has a great deal: There is an added value on each gift card you redeem for (for example, certain merchants offer a $25 gift card for $20 of cash back rewards).
When you’re ready to collect your hard-earned Discover credit card rewards, here’s a quick rundown of your Discover redemption options.
Cash, either as a direct deposit or a statement credit – 1 cent minimum redemption
Amazon.com purchases, using the “Cashback Bonus® option at checkout ($1 Cashback Bonus = $1) – no minimum redemption value
Gift cards (with an added bonus value) – ranging from $5 – $200 in increments of $5 (minimum redemption)
Charity donations – 1 cent minimum redemption
Discover it Miles can be redeemed as a credit toward eligible travel purchases on your credit card statement or as a bank account direct deposit, both at 1 cent per 1 mile. Plus, Discover’s cash back and miles don’t expire. Rather than erasing your rewards, Discover will credit your account with your cash back or miles balance if your account is closed or it hasn’t been used within 18 months.
Is a Discover credit card worth it?
Being a known leader in the credit cards industry, it should come as no surprise that Discover provides worthwhile card offers with strong rewards. Whether your goal is to accumulate cash back, use your spending to flip into a vacation or get a card to build your credit score and unlock new opportunities, Discover has a no-annual-fee card that can bring you value.
The top way Discover helps their cardholders is by offering top-notch cash back rates along with a generous welcome offer. You can get 5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter upon enrollment (up to the quarterly max, then 1%) and double it thanks to Discover in the first year. You can also take advantage of that same matching offer with their number of cards that earn 2% back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 combined purchases quarterly, then 1%), giving rewards opportunities to cardholders no matter their score.
Looking at Discover’s number of benefits is an easy way to evaluate whether one of their cards is worth it to you, but matching your spending habits to their rewards offers is the best way to be sure any card is worthwhile. It may take a little extra work to get the most out of a Discover card, as you may have to activate rotating bonus categories and pay close attention to your spending throughout the year, but a savvy shopper will find one of their cards very worthwhile. In any case, squeezing maximum value out of your Discover card will require you to know how to manage your spending and take advantage of the top redemption options.
How we picked the best Discover credit cards
Research Methodology: We analyzed Discover’s selection of credit cards to identify their top offers currently on the market. The major factors we considered were:
Available rewards: Discover has cards offering a variety of cash back and travel rewards rates, so we found the most customer-friendly earning options.
Extra perks: With cards designed with specific consumers in mind, it’s important that any add-ons can help contribute to the cardholder’s goal. We looked for cards from Discover that feature benefits to help the traveler, cash back earner, credit-builder and more.
Rates and fees: We looked at whether cards had an introductory APR offer and how reasonable ongoing APRs were. We also took into account any extraneous fees or anything else that would make a card more expensive.
Our criteria also included rewards redemption, credit needed, security, ease of application, potential rewards, miscellaneous benefits.
More information on Discover credit cards
For more information on all things Discover credit cards, continue reading content from our credit card experts:
A credit history isn’t necessary for every Discover card. A number of Discover credit cards are designed for people who don’t have a credit history or have poor credit. Discover has student credit cards for young adults new to personal finance. It also offers secured credit cards for non-students who need a chance to grow their credit score.
If you’re looking for a card that can help you build credit and show responsible financial behavior, one of the following cards could be the right fit for you:
Discover doesn’t provide information about average credit limits. According to data from Experian, the average credit limit for Americans is $30,365 across all their credit cards. But individual credit limits vary widely.
A number of Discover cardholders revealed their credit limits on a myFICO forum. Some reported limits as low as $300, while others reported limits that soared into the thousands. These variances show that the average credit limit for a Discover card is less important than knowing the factors that go into determining your individual credit limit. These include income, credit score, and the information contained in your credit report.
Your credit score can give you a quick idea of a good credit limit. The American Banking Association notes that an average credit limit for someone with a super-prime credit score (759 or higher) is $9,329, while a prime credit score (between 680 to 759) has an average credit limit of $5,109, and subprime scores (680 and below) have an average limit of $2,541.
The smallest total amount you will owe on a Discover card each month depends on your creditworthiness and the terms of your cardmember agreement.
For Discover cardmembers with excellent credit, the minimum payment due will be any past due balance plus one of the following (whichever is greater):
$35
2% of the new balance shown on your billing statement
$20, plus any interest charges, late fees or fees for any debt protection product as shown on your billing statement.
For people working on their credit or who have the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, your minimum payment will at least be $20, but it could be higher.
According to a sample cardmember agreement for a secured credit card account, if you have a past due balance, you’ll owe that plus the greater of the following: 3% of the new balance (minus interest charges and late fees shown on your billing statement) or $15 plus any interest charges, late fees (not to exceed 4% of the new balance), or fees for any debt protection product.
About the Author
Tracy Stewart
Tracy Stewart is a personal finance writer specializing in credit card loyalty programs, travel benefits, and consumer protections. He previously covered travel rewards credit cards, budget travel, and aviation news at SmarterTravel Media. His money-saving tips have appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, MarketWatch, Vice, People, the Zoe Report and elsewhere.
About the Editor
Jeanine Skowronski
Jeanine Skowronski is a credit card expert, analyst, and multimedia journalist with over 10 years of experience covering business and personal finance. She has previously served as the Head of Content at Policygenius, Executive Editor of Credit.com, Deputy Editor at American Banker, Staff Reporter at TheStreet and a columnist for Inc. Magazine.
About the Reviewer
Stephanie Zito
Stephanie Zito is a professional traveler, humanitarian and credit card points collector sharing savvy travel tips she has learned firsthand from more than 20 years of circling the globe as a backpacker, expat and premium traveler in more than 125 countries and all seven continents.
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