Discover Bank Credit Cards

Best Discover credit cards

When Discover first entered the market, it disrupted the credit card space with its no-annual-fee cards and higher-than-average credit limits. Today, Discover is still going strong and is the third biggest credit card network in the U.S. (right behind Visa® and MasterCard®) in terms of card volume.

Discover’s credit card portfolio consists of various card types designed for all kinds of customers — from students and credit-builders to shoppers and travelers.

Let’s look at the best Discover credit cards.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Discover Bank Credit Cards

Discover it® Balance Transfer

Carrying a balance on a credit card can be a significant strain on your finances.

The Discover it® Balance Transfer doesn't only offer a break from interest, but will also earn you generous rewards. It comes with a rather long 18-month 0% APR offer on balance transfers (17.24% - 28.24% variable APR thereafter).

If you make the transfer by May 10, 2022, you'll pay a 3% balance transfer fee. After that date, the standard 5% will apply.

The interest-free period for purchases is shorter — 6 months from account opening. Once the intro offers end, a regular APR ranging from 17.24% - 28.24% will apply.

The card also has a rewards program that makes it a keeper even after you take advantage of the intro APR offer. It earns 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories up to the up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter (after activation) and 1% afterward. All other purchases also earn 1% back.

By far, some popular categories have included grocery stores, gas stations, Amazon.com, PayPal, and others. Discover also offers a dollar-for-dollar match on your rewards at the end of the first year.

Those struggling with high-interest credit card debt should consider this card. Its generous rewards program is also a good fit for those who don't like having multiple cards for different purposes.

Discover it® Cash Back

The Discover it® Cash Back credit card offers an outstanding 5% cash back rate in rotating bonus categories for up to $1,500 spent per quarter after activation. After that, the rewards rate is 1%. This year's categories include grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, Target, and others.

If you max out the spending limit each quarter, you could get around $600 cash back at the end of the year with the Discover it Cashback Match.

There’s a 0% APR offer on both balance transfers and purchases for 15 months after account opening. There's also an intro balance transfer fee of 3% (until May 10, 2022). After that, the regular variable APR of 17.24% - 28.24% will apply, and the balance transfer fee will be 5%.

The Discover it® Cash Back can bring you great value if you don't mind following quarterly rotating categories and then spending accordingly. You can make this easier by checking out the year's categories on the card's website. Finally, this card is also for people who carry a balance on another card or anticipate some major expense.

Discover it® chrome

Discover promotes this card as the road trip card, and we couldn't agree more. It comes with a 2% cash back rate in two common categories — restaurants and gas stations — and a 1% cash back rate on all other purchases. The 2% rate is applied on the first $1,000 spent in combined purchases quarterly (the regular 1% rate kicks in after).

Assuming you meet the threshold spending amount each quarter, you'll get $80 in cash back and another $80 from the Cashback Match, totaling $160 in the first year.

Cardholders can also take a break from interest by taking advantage of the 15-month 0% APR period on purchases and balance transfers (17.24% - 28.24% variable APR thereafter). Till May 10, 2022, there's also an intro balance transfer fee of 3%, which later increases to 5%.

This card is an excellent fit for people who spend heavily on gas or often dine at restaurants and want to earn cash back on those purchases without paying an annual fee.

Discover it® Miles

The Discover it® Miles is a laid-back travel card that earns you 1.5x miles on every purchase.

As with every Discover card, there's a cash back match , meaning your miles will be doubled at the end of the first year.

You can redeem miles for cash or a statement credit towards travel purchases. Each mile is worth 1 cent.

Another valuable feature of the card is the intro APR offer. There is a 14-month 0% APR period for purchases (17.24% - 28.24% variable APR thereafter). A 3% balance transfer fee and a reduced 10.99% APR are applied to balance transfers made until May 10, 2022. The reduced APR is valid for 14 months after completing the transfer.

The regular balance transfer fee is 5%, and the regular variable APR for both balance transfers and purchases is 17.24% - 28.24%.

Occasional travelers who don't want to limit themselves to a particular airline or hotel brand might want to consider the Discover it® Miles.

Discover it® Secured

The Discover it® Secured is designed for people with bad credit or no credit history, as no credit score is required to apply.

As with most secured cards, the security deposit is your credit limit. The minimum amount for the deposit on this card is $200. By paying your bills on time and in full every month, you can build your credit and qualify for an unsecured card in as soon as seven months to get your deposit back. Discover reports to all three major credit bureaus.

The great thing about this card is that it also comes with rewards — 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on everything else. With the Discover it Cashback Match on the first year’s rewards, you can get around $160 if you max out the spending limit for the 2% rate.

The APR for purchases is 28.24%. However, there’s an intro 3% balance transfer fee and a reduced 6-month 10.99% APR for balance transfers if you make the transfer before May 10, 2022. The regular balance transfer fee after that period is 5%.

We should also mention that you can check whether you're preapproved for the card as it won’t hurt your credit score.

The Discover it® Secured credit card is suitable for those who look to improve their credit and earn rewards while on it.

Discover it® Student Cash Back

The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a great addition to every student’s wallet. With no annual fee, no credit score required, and an outstanding cash back program, students have the opportunity to start building credit scores early on. They can do so while also earning rewards for an additional boost to their finances.

There's a 5% cash back rate on bonus categories that rotate each quarter (usually include groceries, restaurants, Amazon.com, and others). The 5% rate is applied after activation on up to $1,500 spent per quarter in combined purchases. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. You can check out this year's categories on the card's website.

Discover offers a dollar-for-dollar match for your rewards at the end of the first year.

You can make interest-free purchases during the first six months from account opening. There's also an intro offer for balance transfers made until May 10, 2022 — a 3% balance transfer fee and 10.99% intro APR for six months from the date of the first transfer. The regular balance transfer fee is 5%, and the ongoing variable APR ranges from 18.24% - 27.24%.

We believe that every student can benefit from this card as it’s easy to obtain and comes with a great set of features.

Discover it® Student chrome

The Discover it® Student chrome is the student version of the regular Discover it® chrome card. The rewards program is the same: 2% cash back at restaurants (including cafes, takeout, delivery, and fast food) and gas stations (on up to $1,000 spent quarterly) and 1% on everything else, plus cash back match at the end of the first year.

The intro APR periods here are somewhat shorter: six months of 0% APR on purchases and a 10.99% APR for six months on balance transfers made before May 10, 2022. The intro balance transfer fee (until May 10, 2022) is 3% and 5% afterward. The regular, ongoing APR for purchases and balance transfers is 18.24% - 27.24%, variable.

You can apply for this card with no credit score.

Students who frequently eat out or drive to classes should consider applying for the Discover it® Student chrome.

What is Discover?

Discover Financial Services is a credit card brand and an electronic payment network. Their credit cards are accepted nationwide at 99% of the places that accept credit cards. Internationally, the Discover Global Network has acceptance in over 200 countries and territories.

Discover is the only major credit card issuer that offers exclusively no-annual fee cards in every popular category. It also takes pride in its outstanding customer service. According to the J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study, Discover received 842 out of 1000 points.

Other Discover services include online banking, home equity loans, student loans, and personal loans.

What are Discover credit card benefits?

We’ll split the Discover card benefits into three primary categories: affordability, security, and customer experience.

The above-listed Discover card perks are valid for all its credit cards. You can notice an absence of some standard benefits found on other credit cards, like extended warranty protection, retail discounts, travel perks, and others.

Best Discover reward redemption options

The Discover it credit card rewards don’t expire and can be redeemed at any time without a minimum redemption amount. The redemption options include statement credit, an electronic deposit to your bank account, a charity donation, or you can use your rewards to pay at selected merchants (a list can be found at Discover.com/paywithcashbackbonus).

You can also redeem for a gift card or an instant eCertificate from Discover's partners, starting at $5.

How to choose a Discover credit card

Each Discover credit card targets a particular type of consumer. Depending on your financial situation, you should choose the one that best suits your needs. Take a look at the next section where we suggest Discover credit cards for various consumer types.

Who should get a Discover credit card

Let’s not forget the Discover it Business credit card, suitable for business owners whose spending is spread across several categories. Also, the Discover it® Balance Transfer card offers a great, 18-month interest-free period (17.24% - 28.24% variable APR thereafter) for those carrying a high-interest credit card balance.

Who should skip a Discover credit card

Since the Discover credit cards are no-annual-fee cards, they lack some premium benefits that can be found with some other credit cards. For instance, if you're looking for a premium travel card, you might want to pass on the Discover credit cards.

Also, those eager to get their hands on a nice welcome bonus should look elsewhere because Discover makes you wait a year for that bonus. However, it might be well worth the wait as it doubles the rewards you earned in the first year.

Is a Discover credit card worth it?

Discover credit cards can definitely be worth it, which is why they have a large national customer base. As they have no annual fees, you don't have to worry whether the card will earn enough rewards to offset an yearly cost.

Still, whether it will be worth it also depends on how you use the card. The Discover it® Cash Back has an exceptional 5% cash back rate, but you’d have to track categories, plan your spending accordingly, and remember to activate them each quarter.