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Discover offers a wide range of credit cards for different types of consumers, and its cards have a lot going for them. Discover credit cards never come with an annual fee, and offer online privacy protection, identity protection perks like Social Security Number monitoring, and free overnight card replacement in the event your card is lost or stolen.
Discover cards don’t offer a traditional welcome bonus — instead, Discover will match all the rewards you’ve earned at the end of your first cardmember year through its Cash Back Match program. There’s no limit to the rewards you earn or the amount Discover will match after the first year.
Here are the best Discover cards for 2023.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
The Best Discover Credit Cards
Intro offer
Unlimited Cashback Match – Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Intro offer
Unlimited Cashback Match – Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Discover it® Cash Back
Details
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Intro offer
Unlimited Cashback Match – Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
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Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
16.74% – 27.74% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
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Intro offer
Unlimited Bonus: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on all purchase
Intro offer
Unlimited Bonus: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on all purchase
Discover it® Miles
Details
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on all purchase
Intro offer
Unlimited Bonus: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Show more
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
16.74% – 27.74% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
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
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
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
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
Discover it® chrome
Details
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
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
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Show more
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
16.74% – 27.74% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Discover it® Student Cash Back
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
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
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
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Details
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
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
Recommended Credit
Fair/New to Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Show more
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
17.74% – 26.74% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR for six months on purchases
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
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
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
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
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Details
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
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
Recommended Credit
New/Rebuilding
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Show more
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
27.74% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Discover it® Balance Transfer
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
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back after activation on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%), 1% for all other purchases
Discover it® Balance Transfer
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
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back after activation on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%), 1% for all other purchases
Discover it® Balance Transfer
Details
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back after activation on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%), 1% for all other purchases
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
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
16.74% – 27.74% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months and on purchases for six months
Best Discover Credit Cards of April 2023
- Discover it® Cash Back: Best for bonus cash back
- Discover it® Miles: Best for travel
- Discover it® chrome: Best for gas and dining
- Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for students
- Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for lower credit scores
- Discover it® Balance Transfer: Best for balance transfers
Methodology: How We Chose the Best Discover Credit Cards
We evaluated Discover’s credit card lineup and looked at several factors:
- Earning potential — Does the card earn cash back or other rewards, and does it offer appealing bonus categories and a competitive rewards rate?
- Ease of use — Are there restrictions to be aware of, and is the rewards program easy to understand?
- Options for various types of consumers — We selected a variety of cards geared to different types of spenders, including students, credit card beginners, and those looking for an introductory 0% APR.
Here’s a closer look at how we rate credit cards at Insider.
If you’re thinking of applying for a Discover credit card and wondering which one suits your needs best, you’ll need to consider what you hope to gain and the type of customer you are.
Discover credit cards also make things easy by letting you redeem your rewards at any time you want, and in $1 increments. Depending on the card, redemption options can include applying your rewards to your Discover statement or depositing them into your bank account, as well as cashing in rewards for gift cards, charity donations, and at checkout with Amazon and PayPal.
And as a Discover cardholder, you get free access to your FICO score.
Find the right Discover credit card for you
Unlimited Cashback Match – Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Unlimited Bonus: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on all purchase
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Best for lower credit scores
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
Best for balance transfers
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Earn 5% cash back after activation on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%), 1% for all other purchases
Discover Credit Cards Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Discover cards are a great choice for folks who prefer straightforward rewards earning and uncomplicated redemptions. If you like earning cash back without having to navigate lots of categories and don’t need a lot of extra frills, a Discover card might fit the bill.
However, if you’re looking for premium benefits or travel transfer partners, you’ll probably do better with a card from an issuer like Chase or American Express.
Discover credit cards never have annual or foreign transaction fees, so they’re a good choice if you’re trying to minimize out-of-pocket costs. Like most other credit cards, there are fees for balance transfers, cash advances, late payments, and returned payments.
Discover says its cards are accepted nationwide at 99% of the places that accept credit cards. That said, you might encounter a few merchants — like Costco — that don’t accept Discover cards.
You can also use Discover cards overseas in 200 countries, and you’ll still earn rewards for your purchases wherever you are. To find out where Discover is accepted internationally, enter the country’s name at this link. For example, in Japan, Discover cards are accepted wherever you see the “JCB” logo, and in many countries when you see the “Diners Club International” logo.
New eligible Discover credit card holders qualify for Discover Cashback Match (called Unlimited Bonus with the Discover it® Miles card). After 12 months, Discover will match all the rewards you earned in the first 12 months with no limits — even on bonus categories.
For example, if you earned $500 in rewards in the first year of having the Discover it® Cash Back, Discover would match that for a total of $1,000 back in the first 12 months.
You can have a maximum of two Discover cards at one time, but you’ll have to wait at least a year after opening your first card before you can get approved for a second.
Best for Bonus Cash Back
Discover it Cash Back
The Discover it® Cash Back is similar to the Chase Freedom Flex℠
in that it lets you earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in bonus categories once activated (then 1%) (from January 1 to March 31, 2023, you can earn 5% cash back at grocery stores, drug stores and select streaming services on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).
Discover has released its cash back calendar for the first and second quarters of 2023. From April 1 to June 30, 2023, the categories are restaurants and wholesale clubs.
New cardholders also get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then a 16.74% – 27.74% Variable APR), which can save some cash if you want to spread out payments for large purchases. Read our Discover it Cash Back card review to learn more.
Best for Travel
Discover it Miles
The Discover it® Miles keeps things simple by earning 1.5 miles for each dollar you spend, and remember that all your miles will be matched after the first year. From there, you can redeem them for travel purchases charged to your card at a rate of 1 cent per mile.
You can also redeem miles for cash back or statement credits to cover other charges made to your card, so you aren’t tied down to just travel redemptions. There is no annual fee to keep this card, and you can get access to your FICO score for free on your monthly statements.
The Discover it® Miles also comes with a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a 16.74% – 27.74% Variable APR. Read our Discover it Miles review to learn more.
Best for Gas and Dining
Discover it Chrome Card
If you’re looking for a Discover card and spend a lot at gas stations and restaurants, the Discover it® chrome is worth considering. Cardholders earn 2% cash back on their first $1,000 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter (then 1%), and all other purchases earn 1% back, with no limits or bonus categories to keep track of.
Keep in mind there are cards from other issuers, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, that earn 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Like other Discover cards, the Discover it® chrome offers a Cashback Match after the first 12 months of opening the account. New cardholders can take advantage of a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then a 16.74% – 27.74% Variable APR). You can find out all the details in our Discover it® chrome review.
Best for Students
Discover it Student Cash Back
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is basically a student version of the Discover it® Cash Back. You’ll earn the same 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in rotating quarterly bonus categories after activation, then 1%. You’ll also earn 1% cash back on everything else you buy (from January 1 to March 31, 2023, you can earn 5% cash back at grocery stores, drug stores and select streaming services on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).
There aren’t many student credit cards that come with an introductory APR, but the Discover it® Student Cash Back offers a 0% intro APR for six months on purchases, followed by a 17.74% – 26.74% Variable APR. You might want to take advantage of this if you have big expenses, like textbooks or dorm decor, that you can’t pay off all at once.
It may be easier to qualify for this card with limited credit history. Read our Discover it Student Cash Back card review for more info.
Best for Lower Credit Scores
Discover it Secured Card
Where many secured credit cards charge annual fees, application fees, and other fees, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card doesn’t charge any fees. You do have to put down a cash deposit to get started, but your deposit is fully refundable provided you close your account in good standing.
You’ll also earn 2% cash back on the first $1,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter (then 1%), as well as 1% back on everything else you buy. Like other rewards from Discover, you can earn unlimited cash back that never expires and redeem it for cash back, statement credits, and gift cards.
You can get free access to your FICO score on your credit card statement each month, which can help you monitor and improve your credit over time. Further, you won’t pay a late fee on your first late payment, and there aren’t any over-the-limit fees with this card, either. Automatic reviews start at seven months to see if Discover can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
Read our Discover it Secured credit card review to learn more.
Best for Balance Transfers
Discover it Balance Transfer
If you’re carrying high-interest balances on other credit cards, it can make sense to transfer your balance to a card with a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers. The Discover it® Balance Transfer is one of only a handful of cards that offers a long intro 0% APR period and earns substantial rewards.
New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months and on purchases for six months (after that, there’s a 16.74% – 27.74% Variable APR) — and the card offers a generous cash-back rewards structure. You’ll earn 5% cash back in popular rotating quarterly bonus categories after enrollment, on up to $1,500 in combined spending (then 1%), and 1% back on all other purchases (from January 1 to March 31, 2023, you can earn 5% cash back at grocery stores, drug stores and select streaming services on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).
The card offers the same Cashback Match program as other Discover cards.
Read our Discover it Balance Transfer card review to learn more (and check out our picks for the best balance transfer credit cards).
