The best Discover credit cards of 2024

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Discover credit cards may not be as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard, but they offer unique benefits that help them stand out. All Discover cards come with no annual fee, and most offer cash back rewards. 

Many of the best Discover cards feature its notable matching sign-up bonus offer. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 

It’s unclear if this will change if Capital One buys Discover. But until then, here’s a look at the best Discover cards, comparing their features to help you find the perfect fit. 

Best Discover credit cards

• Best for cash back: Discover it® Cash Back
• Best for travel: Discover it® Miles
• Best for students: Discover it® Student Cash Back
• Best for poor credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
• Best for dining and gas: Discover it® Chrome

Best for cash back: Discover it® Cash Back

Rewards:

• 5% back after activation on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%)
• 1% for all other purchases

Discover it® Cash Back earns an incredibly high 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories. These categories often include grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more. If your spending habits vary and you're willing to do a little work, you could capitalize on this no-annual-fee card's high bonus rates. 

Keep in mind the 5% cash back is limited to $1,500 in purchases per quarter, and you must activate the categories each quarter to earn the bonus rate. 

Plus, Discover automatically matches all of the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. The card also offers a solid 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, making it a great option for those looking to finance a large purchase or pay off existing debt.

You can redeem cash back as a statement credit, electronic deposit to a bank account, purchase at a select retailer, gift card, or charity donation. Other card perks include free FICO score access and credit monitoring services.

This card is best for: Savvy consumers who don't mind tracking their spending to earn more cash back rewards. 

Best for travel: Discover it® Miles

Rewards:

• 1.5X miles on all purchases

Discover it® Miles isn't the best travel rewards card, but it packs considerable value for a card with no annual fee, especially in the first year. With unlimited 1.5X miles on all purchases, you don't have to worry about tracking bonus categories or spending caps. 

The Miles Match offer effectively doubles your earnings in the first year, making it a great time to rack up rewards. You can redeem miles as a statement credit to pay for travel purchases or cash back. 

One potential drawback of the Discover it Miles card is that miles are worth roughly 1 cent when redeemed for travel. This means you won't be able to maximize your rewards by transferring to travel partners or booking high-value awards. But the program's simplicity may appeal to those who don't want to deal with complicated redemption schemes.

This card is best for: Occasional travelers who want a travel rewards card without an annual fee. 

Best for students: Discover it® Student Cash Back

Rewards:

• 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter, then 1%)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

The Discover it Student Cash Back card offers the same great rewards as the regular Cash Back card without the credit score requirements. This card is an excellent choice for college students looking to earn rewards while building their credit. 

The 0% intro APR on purchases for six months can also be helpful for students who need to make a large purchase and pay it off over time. But the intro APR period is shorter than some other student cards, so it may not be the best choice for those who need a longer financing period. 

You can redeem cash back as a statement credit, electronic deposit to a bank account, purchase at a select retailer, gift card, or charity donation. Other card perks include no penalty late fees the first time you pay late, online privacy protection, and free FICO credit score access.

This card is best for: College students who want to earn cash back while building their credit.

Best for poor credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Rewards:

• 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

The Discover it Secured card is one of the few secured cards that offer rewards, making it a great option for those looking to build or rebuild credit. The 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants is a nice bonus, and the Cashback Match can boost your earnings in the first year.

You don’t need a credit history to qualify for this card. There's a minimum $200 refundable security deposit, which acts as your credit limit (up to a $2,500 maximum).

One standout feature of this card is the automatic monthly account reviews starting at seven months. If Discover determines that you've been using the card responsibly, you may be able to transition to an unsecured card and get your security deposit back. This can be a great incentive to practice good credit habits and work towards upgrading to a better card.

Other perks include free FICO credit score access and reporting to the three major credit bureaus. 

This card is best for: Those with poor or limited credit who do not qualify for a traditional credit card. 

Best for dining and gas: Discover it® Chrome

Rewards:

• 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1%)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

The Discover it Chrome card is a good choice for those who spend a lot on gas and dining. The 2% cash back rate in these categories can add up quickly, especially when combined with the Cashback Match in the first year. 

However, the 2% cash back is limited to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter, which may not be enough for some high spenders. Additionally, the card doesn't offer bonus categories for other common expenses, such as groceries or travel, so it may not be the best choice for those with more diverse spending habits.

The intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers is also a nice perk, providing some flexibility for paying off existing debt.

You can redeem cash back as a statement credit, electronic deposit to a bank account, purchase at a select retailer, gift card, or charity donation. Other card perks include no penalty late fees and free FICO credit score access.

This card is best for: Drivers and those who frequently dine out or order takeout. 

Comparing the best Discover credit cards 

Discover rewards: How to earn and use them 

Discover credit cards offer two main types of rewards: cash back and miles. Here's a closer look at how each type of reward works:

Cash back

Discover's cash back cards, like the Discover it Cash Back and Discover it Student Cash Back, earn a percentage of cash back on every purchase. The exact earning rate depends on the card and the purchase category.

For example, Discover it Cash Back earns 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories each quarter (up to a quarterly maximum). The bonus categories change each quarter and have included grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and Amazon.com.

Cash back can be redeemed in several ways:

• Statement credits, which reduce your account balance
• Direct deposits into a bank account
• Donations to select charities
• Payments at Amazon.com or via PayPal
• Gift cards from select retailers 

There's no minimum redemption amount, so you can redeem your cash back rewards at any time and for any amount.

Miles

Discover's travel card, the Discover it Miles, earns miles instead of cash back. Cardholders earn an unlimited 1.5X on every purchase.

Miles can be redeemed as a statement credit towards travel purchases at a rate of one cent per mile. For example, if you have 10,000 miles, you can redeem them for a $100 statement credit towards a flight, hotel stay, or any other eligible travel purchase. 

There's no minimum redemption amount and no blackout dates or travel restrictions. As long as you have enough miles to cover your travel purchase, you can redeem them.

One of the unique features of Discover's rewards program is the Discover Match offer. For new cardholders, Discover will match all the cash back or miles earned in the first year, doubling your rewards. This can be a great way to boost your earnings, especially if you plan to make a lot of purchases in the first year.

Comparing Discover to other card issuers 

Here's how Discover stacks up against some of its main competitors:

• Acceptance: Discover is less widely accepted than Visa or Mastercard, especially internationally. Discover is accepted at most major retailers and merchants in the U.S., but there may be some smaller or independent businesses that don't take Discover.
• Rewards: Discover's cash back rates, especially the rotating 5% categories, are among the highest in the industry. Some other issuers, like Chase and American Express, may offer similar rates on select categories, but Discover's program is more straightforward.
• Welcome bonuses: Discover's Cashback and Miles Match bonuses effectively double your first-year earnings.
• Benefits: Discover offers solid benefits like free FICO scores and no foreign transaction fees, but it doesn't have the same premium perks as other issuers. For example, you won't find features like airport lounge access, travel credits, or concierge services with Discover cards.
• Annual fees: None of Discover's cards have annual fees, which is a significant advantage over other issuers who charge annual fees. 

How to choose the best Discover credit card 

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Do you prefer cash back or travel rewards? If you like the flexibility of cash back, consider the Discover it Cash Back or Discover it Chrome. If you're a frequent traveler, the Discover it Miles might be a better fit.
• What are your spending habits? See which cards offer bonus rewards in your top spending categories. For example, if you spend a lot on gas and dining, the Discover it Chrome could be a good choice. If your spending is more varied, the rotating categories on the Discover it Cash Back might help you maximize rewards.
• What’s your credit score? Most Discover cards require at least a good credit score to apply. If you have poor credit or no credit history, the Discover it Secured Credit Card can be a good starting point.

Ultimately, the best Discover credit card is the one that aligns with your spending habits and helps you achieve your financial goals. 

Maximizing your rewards with your Discover card 

Here are some tips for getting the most value out of your Discover card:

1. Activate rotating categories: If you have the Discover it Cash Back or Discover it Student Cash Back, activate the 5% bonus categories each quarter. You can do this online, through the Discover app, or by calling customer service. Set a reminder so you don't miss the higher cash back rate.
2. Track your spending: Monitor your spending in bonus categories, especially if there's a quarterly cap on the bonus rewards you can earn.
3. Use your card for everyday purchases: To rack up rewards, use your Discover card for all purchases, not just those in bonus categories. This is especially important in the first year when Discover will match all the rewards you've earned.
4. Redeem your rewards strategically: Consider your redemption options and choose the one that provides the most value. For example, suppose you have the Discover it Miles. In that case, you can redeem your miles for a statement credit towards any travel purchase, giving you more flexibility.
5. Pay your balance in full: To avoid interest charges and get the most value from your rewards, pay your balance in full each month. 

How we rated the best Discover credit cards 

To find the best Discover cards, we evaluated each card's sign-up bonus, rewards earning rates on purchases, added perks and benefits, annual fees, and overall value. 

Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. The options on this list represent the best value, rewards, and benefits available. Read more about our methodology here. 

Bottom line 

Discover credit cards aren't always as highly touted as other rewards cards, but they offer incredible value in the right hands. Because many of the cards come with similar benefits, determine your goals and analyze your spending habits to find the right Discover credit card for you. 

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.