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Known for its excellent customer service, Discover offers a variety of cards, including student cards for those still in school, secured cards for building credit and balance transfer cards for paying down high-interest debts.
And all Discover cards offer rewards with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
CNBC Select compared all of Discover's cards and picked the best for a variety of needs. Check out our methodology for more on how we made this list.
Best for everyday spending
Information about Discover cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Who's this for? The Discover it® Cash Back is arguably the centerpiece of the issuer's card lineup. This cash-back card can offer tremendous value to the average consumer focused on maximizing their cash-back rewards.
Standout benefits: The card earns 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories after activation, on up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases (then 1%) and 1% back on all other purchases. The categories typically include everyday essentials, such as grocery store purchases, gas stations, restaurants and others.
Best for balance transfers
Information about Discover cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Who's this for? The Discover it® Balance Transfer is an excellent choice if you're looking to consolidate credit card debt. Not only does it offer a lengthy promotional introductory APR period for balance transfers, but it also offers the same rewards program as the Discover it Cash Back. This helps ensure that even after you've paid off the transferred balance, the card can provide ongoing value through cash back.
Standout benefits: With this card, you can get introductory 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers (17.24% to 28.24% variable APR thereafter). There's a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms). Additionally, the Discover it Balance Transfer earns 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories, on up to $1,500 in eligible purchases per quarter (then 1%) and 1% back on all other purchases. Activation required.
Best for travel
Information about Discover cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Who's this for? The Discover it® Miles is worth considering if you love to travel but the complex rewards systems and annual fees on many popular travel credit cards don't appeal to you.
Standout benefits: The card offers a simple rewards-earning structure and straightforward redemptions. Plus, like all other Discover cards, the Discover it Miles does not charge foreign transaction fees so you can spend freely when traveling internationally.
Best for building credit
Information about Discover cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Who's this for? The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is one of the easiest credit cards to get. It requires no credit score to apply, making it a good choice for applicants with bad or no credit history. It also ranked as a top pick on CNBC Select's lists of the best overall secured credit cards and best cards for building credit.
Standout benefits: Unlike many other secured cards, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card earns rewards, as well as cashback match at the end of your first year for new card members. It also offers a few other useful perks like the ability to transition to an unsecured card starting seven months from account opening.
Best for students
Information about Discover cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Who's this for? As its name suggests, the Discover it® Student Cash Back is geared toward students who might not have the credit history to be approved for a general rewards credit card yet. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a two- or four-year college, be over 18 and a U.S. citizen.
Standout benefits: The Discover it Student Cash Back offers 5% back for up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating quarterly bonus categories upon activation (then 1%) and 1% back on all other purchases. There are also no foreign transaction fees with this card, making it a good option for students studying abroad.
More on our top Discover credit cards
Discover it® Cash Back
The Discover it Cash Back is a popular rewards card that offers a few benefits on top of the excellent cash-back program. Cardholders enjoy valuable rotating bonus categories and a straightforward welcome bonus.
Rewards
- 5% back for up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating quarterly bonus categories you activate (then 1%)
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
For new cardmembers, Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Discover it Cash Back has no foreign transaction fees, which is helpful for anyone who frequently travels internationally. Plus, cardholders receive an introductory 0% APR on new purchases for the first 15 months (after, 18.24% to 27.24% variable APR).
Cardholders can redeem cash back in any amount and at any time, including for gift cards, charity donations, statement credits or at checkout with PayPal. Additionally, Discover offers access to the FICO Credit Scorecard where users can check their FICO score with TransUnion. Cardholders can also take advantage of safety features, including online privacy protection, Dark Web alerts and fraud protection.
Discover it® Balance Transfer
One of CNBC Select's top picks for the best balance transfer credit cards, the Discover it Balance Transfer is both a debt consolidation tool and a rewards card.
Rewards
- 5% back for up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating quarterly bonus categories you activate (then 1%)
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Discover it Balance Transfer stands out for offering one of the longest interest-free intro periods: 0% introductory APR for 18 months on balance transfers (after, 17.24% - 28.24% variable APR). There is a 3% intro balance transfer fee on balances transferred by January 10, 2024, then up to 5% on future balance transfers (see terms). The card also comes with a 0% introductory APR on new purchases for six months from account opening (after, 17.24% to 28.24% variable APR).
Outside of these features, the card is very similar to the standard Discover it Cash Back. It offers Social Security number monitoring and free access to your FICO score.
Discover it® Miles
While the Discover it Miles doesn't offer premium perks like airport lounge access or TSA PreCheck statement credits, it can be a solid choice for travelers who prefer their rewards as simple as possible.
Rewards
- 1.5X miles on every dollar of every purchase.
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all of the miles you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
You can use miles to "erase" eligible travel transactions, including restaurant and gas station purchases, from the last 180 days, redeem them for cash back or redeem them when checking out on PayPal. The miles never expire and there are no complicated transfer partners.
The card also has an introductory 0% APR offer for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a 18.24% - 27.24% variable APR (3% intro balance transfer fee, 5% balance transfer fee on future transfers, see terms). Plus, cardholders have free access to their FICO credit score, as well as online privacy protection.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The Discover it Secured Credit Card is a great choice for those building or rebuilding their credit and offers a clear path to eventually upgrade to an unsecured card. Plus, like all Discover cards, it comes with an attractive welcome offer.
Rewards
- 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
As with its unsecured cards, Discover gives you a dollar-to-dollar match of all the cash back you earn with the Discover it Secured at the end of your first year.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Discover it Secured Credit Card requires a $200 minimum security deposit upon account opening, but after seven months, there's an automatic review to see if you can be moved to an unsecured card, at which point your deposit will be returned.
Cardholders can monitor the result of their credit-building efforts through Discover's Credit Scorecard. This feature provides access to the user's FICO Score with TransUnion. On top of that, there's an option to activate free alerts to track hard inquiries and new accounts that appear on your Experian credit report.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Discover it Student Cash Back is a starter credit card for college students. If you use it responsibly, it can help you establish healthy credit habits, improve your scores and earn cash-back rewards while you're at it.
Rewards
- 5% back for up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating quarterly bonus categories you activate (then 1%)
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Discover it Student Cash Back doesn't require a credit score to apply. It also offers an introductory 0% APR on new purchases for the first six months, which can be useful for financing textbooks or dorm room essentials. After the introductory period, a 16.49% - 25.49% standard variable APR applies.
Cardholders also get access to other Discover card benefits, such as online privacy protection, Social Security number alerts and credit score updates.
FAQs
Which Discover card is easier to get?
The Discover it Secured Credit Card might be easier to qualify for since it's designed for cardholders building or rebuilding their credit.
Is a Discover card worth having?
A Discover credit card can be worth it for people who want to earn rewards without annual fees or complicated rewards systems.
How many Discover cards can you have?
Discover allows cardholders to have a maximum of two different Discover credit cards at a time.
Is a Discover card a Visa?
Discover credit cards are not Visa cards. Visa is a payment network, while Discover is both a card issuer and a payment network processing cardholders' transactions.
Bottom line
Discover offers a suite of credit cards with easy-to-earn rewards and no annual fees. No matter your credit profile or the kind of card you're looking for, you're likely to find a Discover card worth considering. That said, it's always wise to compare multiple cards to determine the best match, so look into cards from other issuers as well before applying.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.
Our methodology
To determine which Discover credit cards offer the best value for various categories, CNBC Select analyzed Discover credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.
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Read more
For rates and fees of the Discover it® Cash Back, click here.
For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Discover it® Balance Transfer, click here.
For rates and fees of the Discover it® Miles, click here.
For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here.
