Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Discover has some of the best cash back cards we've seen. It's also one of the highest-rated card issuers for customer service, making it a winning pick no matter which way you cut it.
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What is the best Discover credit card?
The best Discover credit card will be different for everyone because it will depend on what you want out of your card. That said, the Discover it? Cash Back is likely the most popular Discover card thanks to its high rewards rate.
It offers up to 5% cash back in bonus category purchases when activated each quarter, up to $1,500. Bonus categories rotate every three months and can include popular categories like groceries and gas. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.
All of Discover's cards come with no annual fees and charge a 0% foreign transaction fee. Additionally, every Discover credit card earns some kind of reward. With that in mind, you really can't go wrong no matter which card you pick.
Best Discover credit cards
- Bonus cash back and no annual fee: Discover it? Cash Back
- Gas & restaurants cash back and no annual fee: Discover it? Chrome
- Travel card with no annual fee: Discover it? Miles
- Secured credit card and bad credit: Discover it? Secured Credit Card
- Bonus cash back for students: Discover it? Student Cash Back
- Balance transfers and cash back: Discover it? Balance Transfer
- Gas & restaurants cash back for students: Discover it? Student Chrome
Great for: Bonus cash back and no annual fee
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Rewards 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. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
1% - 5% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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.
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
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Includes a robust rewards program and rich sign-up bonus offer that has unlimited upside. Somehow this card also packs in a great intro APR offer for no annual fee. Read Full Review
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- Rotating bonus categories
- Sign-up bonus offer
- Great intro APR offer
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- No fixed bonus categories
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- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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.
- 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. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Great for: Gas & restaurants cash back and no annual fee
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Rewards 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
1% - 2% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer N/A
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
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Features the typically impressive slate of Discover card perks, but without the big bonus cash back. Read Full Review
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- Sign-up bonus offer
- Gas and restaurants rewards
- 0% intro APR
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Low cash back rates
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- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Great for: Travel card with no annual fee
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Fair
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= Best
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Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Rewards Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
1.5X miles
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer N/A
Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
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A straightforward, no annual fee travel rewards card built for occasional travelers. The unlimited Miles and welcome offer are standout perks. Read Full Review
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- Earn miles on purchases
- Great sign-up bonus
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Great intro APR
- Limited ways to use miles
- Lacks premium travel perks
- No bonus categories
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- UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
- No annual fee
- Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
- Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Discover it? Secured Credit Card
Great for: Secured credit card and bad credit
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
New/Rebuilding Under(579)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months
Regular APR
28.24% Variable APR
Rewards 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
1% - 2% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer N/A
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
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This card is a great place to start when building your credit history. It offers perks only found in the best secured cards, including cash back, no annual fee, and Discover's innovative sign-up bonus. Read Full Review
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- Cash back rewards
- Great sign-up bonus offer
- No annual fee
- Can graduate to an unsecured card
- Minimum deposit amount
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- No credit score required to apply.
- No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit history.
- Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
- Terms and conditions apply.
2023 Award Winner
Discover it? Student Cash Back
Great for: Bonus cash back for students
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Fair
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= Best
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Fair/New to Credit Under(669)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 6 months
Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Rewards 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
1% - 5% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer N/A
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
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A leading student credit card with a rewards program that goes toe-to-toe with some of the top rewards cards we've come across. Read Full Review
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- Rotating bonus categories
- Valuable sign-up bonus offer
- Good for avoiding fees
- Credit score monitoring
- Highly rated customer service
- No fixed bonus categories
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- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- 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. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Great for: Balance transfers and cash back
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
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Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 6 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months
Regular APR
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Rewards 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. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
1%-5% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer N/A
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
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Get the best of both worlds with a great intro APR on balance transfers and valuable cash back rewards. Read Full Review
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- Great intro APR offer
- Sign-up bonus offer
- Robust cash back program
- No annual fee
- FICO? Score for free
- No fixed bonus categories
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- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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.
- 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. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Great for: Gas & restaurants cash back for students
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Fair/New to Credit Under(669)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 6 months
Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Rewards 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
1% - 2% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer N/A
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
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Has all the important perks for a student credit card. It's light on fees and doesn't charge an annual fee, plus it has a solid cash back program and a potentially big sign-up bonus. Read Full Review
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- Great sign-up bonus offer
- Gas and restaurant rewards
- No annual fee
- Credit score monitoring
- No foreign transaction fee
- Low cash back rate
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- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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Which Discover card is right for you?
Discover's credit cards each fit in their own little niche, making it easy to choose the right Discover card for your needs. Here's a breakdown >>
- Discover it? Cash Back: If you want to maximize your cash rewards with rotating bonus rewards categories.
- Discover it? Chrome: If you want year-round bonus rewards on gas and restaurant purchases.
- Discover it? Miles: If you want to earn rewards you can redeem toward travel expenses.
- Discover it? Balance Transfer: If you want a long intro APR offer for balance transfers so you can pay down credit card debt.
- Discover it? Student Cash Back: If you're a college student and want rotating bonus categories.
- Discover it? Student Chrome: If you're a college student and want cash back on gas and restaurant purchases.
- Discover it? Secured Credit Card: If you need to build credit and want to earn cash back rewards.
Overview of the best Discover credit cards
The best Discover credit cards come in a variety of types, including several cash back options and a few credit-building cards for beginners. You can earn cash back rewards in a range of useful categories, including both rotating and year-round rewards. Plus, every card comes with a unique welcome bonus that matches the rewards you earn in the first year. Is Discover a good credit card? Let's take a closer look at the Discover credit card reviews.
Discover it? Cash Back
Great for: Rewards maximizers
The Discover it? Cash Back is a good pick for anyone who wants to maximize their rewards, as it offers a new 5% cash back bonus category each quarter. Once the bonus category is activated, Discover card rewards include earning 5% back on up to $1,500 in category purchases every quarter and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases.
Read the full Discover it? Cash Back review
Discover it? Chrome
Great for: Gas guzzlers and foodies
The Discover it? Chrome is an easy-to-use card that automatically earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants for the first $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, you'll earn an unlimited 1% cash back on other purchases.
Read the full Discover it? Chrome review
Discover it? Miles
Great for: Casual travelers
The Discover it? Miles is a flexible travel rewards card with no annual fee that automatically earns 1.5 miles per dollar on purchases.
Read the full Discover it? Miles review
Discover it? Secured Credit Card
Great for: Credit builders
The Discover it? Secured Credit Card is a great option for anyone building credit for the first time or for those rebuilding their credit. It charges no annual fee, offers purchase rewards, and has a low security deposit requirement. You can even get an automatic upgrade to an unsecured card (at Discover's discretion).
Read the full Discover it? Secured Credit Card review
Discover it? Student Cash Back
Great for: Budding rewards collectors
The Discover it? Student Cash Back is a rotating category rewards card for college students looking to build credit. You'll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in bonus category purchases each quarter you activate, with a new bonus category every three months. And you'll also earn unlimited 1% cash back on other purchases.
Read the full Discover it? Student Cash Back review
Discover it? Balance Transfer
Great for: Balance carriers
The Discover it? Balance Transfer is designed for users who want to transfer a balance from another card, offering a long 0% intro APR period on transferred balances. It's also handy for new purchases, providing a modest 0% intro APR offer as well as cash back rewards on purchases. The go-to rate of 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR applies after the 0% intro APR expires.
Read the full Discover it? Balance Transfer review
Discover it? Student Chrome
Great for: College commutes
The Discover it? Student Chrome is a flat-rate rewards student credit card ideal for commuting students who want to build credit and earn rewards. It offers 2% cash back on up to $1,000 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter -- no activation necessary -- plus 1% cash back on other purchases.
Read the full Discover it? Student Chrome review
Types of Discover credit cards
Discover has a diverse credit card lineup, all of which offer purchase rewards that can be redeemed for cash or statement credits. Plus, Discover card benefits are available with all cards. However, each card has its own niche, offering specific perks for cardholders.
Cash back rewards cards
Most of Discover's credit cards offer cash back rewards, but how you earn those rewards varies based on the individual card. Discover card cash back rewards can be redeemed in a few different ways:
- As cash in your bank account
- As a statement credit to pay off your card balance
- At checkout with partner retailers
- For a gift card with select retailers
- As a donation to eligible charities
Take a look at our guide on how to redeem rewards on Discover credit cards for more details.
Some Discover card rewards rotate, providing 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases in the current bonus category. Bonus categories change each quarter, and you'll need to activate your bonus category to earn the 5% back. You can see the current bonus categories by checking the Discover cash back calendar.
In addition to rotating rewards cards, Discover also has several cards with static bonus categories. These cards earn flat-rate rewards in fixed categories that cover popular types of everyday purchases.
Read more: Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Travel rewards cards
There is only one card marketed as the Discover travel card -- the Discover it? Miles -- which earns unlimited miles on purchases. Miles can be redeemed in several ways, including for cash and as statement credit to cover travel-related purchases made with your Discover card. You'll earn $0.01 per mile when you redeem your rewards.
While other Discover cards aren't specifically designed to be travel credit cards, all of Discover's lineup charges a 0% foreign transaction fee. This means you can use the best Discover credit card on your travels without worrying about paying a foreign transaction fee on purchases in a foreign currency.
Secured credit cards
Discover has one of the best secured credit cards you can find, loaded with perks that are rare for secured cards. For one thing, it doesn't have any annual fee, and it also doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Plus, you'll earn rewards on purchases, a rarity in the secured card market.
The security deposit requirement is competitively low and completely refundable, and it sets your credit limit. Discover will start evaluating your progress after eight months, and eligible cardholders could be automatically upgraded to an unsecured card. You can also track your credit score the entire time with a free monthly FICO? Score.
Balance transfer cards
Discover has one credit card specifically marketed for balance transfers: Discover it? Balance Transfer. This card offers a long introductory 0% intro APR on balance transfers. It also comes with an introductory deal for the balance transfer fee. Your interest rate returns to a 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR after the intro period expires.
While not advertised for transfers, several other Discover credit cards also come with some type of 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers. And you can save on interest for new purchases, as most Discover credit cards come with an intro 0% intro APR deal for purchases. The go-to variable rate applies for these, too, after the intro period.
Student cards
Discover offers not one, but two different student credit cards. Discover's student credit cards are designed to help college students start building credit, and they have no credit score or credit history requirements to qualify.
You also won't need to pay any fees to open an account or pay annual fees to keep it open. Additionally, every Discover student credit cardholder will earn cash back rewards on new purchases, with the type of rewards varying depending on which student card you pick.
What credit score do you need for a Discover credit card?
Discover has a credit card for nearly every credit score. Cardholders with good credit scores can choose from one of Discover's many cash back rewards credit cards, all of which offer purchase rewards as well as introductory 0% APR offers (followed by, of course, a go-to variable rate).
If you have no or limited credit, you can opt for one of Discover's secured or student cards. College students with no credit can use a student rewards credit card to build credit, while non-students can put down a small deposit for a secured card. Discover credit card offers include a free monthly FICO? Scores so you can track your progress toward a higher credit score.
Learn more: What Credit Score Do I Need for a Discover Credit Card?
How to compare Discover credit cards
When you compare credit card offers from Discover, it will come down to two main factors:
- Your credit score
- Your rewards needs
If you have good credit, you'll want to focus more on the type of rewards you want to earn. You'll need to decide if you want rotating bonus categories with a higher rewards rate or static bonus categories at a slightly lower rate.
If you need to build credit, you have a few choices. College students who are first-time credit card users should choose one of Discover's two student cards, which vary in the type of rewards you earn (rotating bonus category versus static bonus category). If you're not a college student and need to build credit, then go with Discover's secured card.
As you're thinking about which card to get, you may want to know if you'll be approved when you apply. Check out our guide on how to qualify for Discover pre-approval to find out more about how it works.
| Card | Rating | Great For |
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5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
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Great For: Bonus cash back and no annual fee |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Great For: Gas & restaurants cash back and no annual fee |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Great For: Travel card with no annual fee |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Great For: Secured credit card and bad credit |
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2023 Award Winner
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Great For: Bonus cash back for students |
|
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Great For: Balance transfers and cash back |
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Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Great For: Gas & restaurants cash back for students |
FAQs
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Discover offers a wide range of card types, all of which have purchase rewards and a $0 annual fee. The different types include:
- Cash back rewards cards
- Travel rewards cards
- Credit-building cards
- Balance transfer cards
- Student cards
Apply for a Discover credit card based on the type of rewards you want to earn and your credit history.
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The credit score you need for a Discover credit card will depend on the specific card. If you have a low or no credit score, then choose a secured or student card. If you have a good credit score -- typically defined as a FICO? Score of 670 or higher -- then you can choose any Discover rewards card.
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By nearly any metric, Discover is generally considered to be a good credit card company. Discover is regularly ranked within the top two for customer satisfaction from sources like J.D. Power. The issuer also boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Our Credit Cards Experts
Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, PayPal, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: short December 2023 $67.50 puts on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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