Best Discover Credit Cards of January 2025
Updated: Dec 23, 2024
+ 2 more+ 2 more
Discover's credit cards don't charge annual fees and offer new cardholders a unique bonus in which the issuer matches all rewards earned in the first year. Whether any of that will change if Discover is bought by Capital One is unclear. But regardless, you'll still be able to use your Discover card in nearly as many places in the U.S. as Visa and Mastercard, although acceptance internationally is quite limited.
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NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Discover's credit cards don't charge annual fees and offer new cardholders a unique bonus in which the issuer matches all rewards earned in the first year. Whether any of that will change if Discover is bought by Capital One is unclear. But regardless, you'll still be able to use your Discover card in nearly as many places in the U.S. as Visa and Mastercard, although acceptance internationally is quite limited.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Show More
Discover's credit cards don't charge annual fees and offer new cardholders a unique bonus in which the issuer matches all rewards earned in the first year. Whether any of that will change if Discover is bought by Capital One is unclear. But regardless, you'll still be able to use your Discover card in nearly as many places in the U.S. as Visa and Mastercard, although acceptance internationally is quite limited.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Discover's credit cards don't charge annual fees and offer new cardholders a unique bonus in which the issuer matches all rewards earned in the first year. Whether any of that will change if Discover is bought by Capital One is unclear. But regardless, you'll still be able to use your Discover card in nearly as many places in the U.S. as Visa and Mastercard, although acceptance internationally is quite limited.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best Discover Credit Cards of January 2025
Discover it® Cash Back: Best for Cash back
Discover it® Chrome: Best for Balance transfers
Discover it® Miles: Best for Travel
Discover it® Student Chrome: Best for College students + simplicity
Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for College students + bonus rewards
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for Building or rebuilding credit
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Best Discover Credit Cards From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Discover it® Cash BackApply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | Best for Cash back | $0 | 1%-5% | Cashback Match™ | Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 |
 Discover it® ChromeApply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | Best for Balance transfers | $0 | 1%-2% | Cashback Match™ | Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 |
 Discover it® Student Cash BackApply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | Best for College students + bonus rewards | $0 | 1%-5% | Cashback Match™ | Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 |
 Discover it® Student ChromeApply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | Best for College students + simplicity | $0 | 1%-2% | Cashback Match™ | Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 |
 Discover it® MilesApply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | Best for Travel | $0 | 1.5x | Discover Match® | Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 |
 Discover it® Secured Credit CardApply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | Best for Building or rebuilding credit | $0 | 1%-2% | Cashback Match™ | Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 |
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Our pick for: Cash back
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–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.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
- Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
- 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 18.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
With 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in quartery categories and 1% cash back for all other purchases, the Discover it® Cash Back offers excellent value as a go-to-card for all expenses or when combined with other cards. Activation is required.
You earn 5% cash back in rotating categories that you activate, on up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Activation each quarter is required. The annual fee is $0. The lengthy introductory 0% APR period gives you plenty of breathing room for a major purchase. And the unique bonus for new cardholders — Discover's signature "cash-back match" — gets more valuable the more you use the card.
Keeping track of the changing bonus categories — and remembering to activate them — can be a hassle. The categories themselves usually include common expenses, but they can still be hit-or-miss. If they don’t align with your spending, you'll get only limited value from the card.
Our pick for: Balance transfers
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–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.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Then 18.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
- 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.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The rewards on the Discover it® Chrome aren't as robust as on some of Discover's other cards, but you get a strong balance transfer offer and the issuer's usual rewards-matching bonus.
You get a 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-27.49% Variable APR. *Rates as of December 12, 2024. With a rewards structure completely different from the 5% opt-in categories on other Discover cards, this card appeals to simplicity. You get 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The annual fee is $0.
The top rewards rate is weak for a card with bonus categories, and the amount of spending eligible for that rate is capped at $1,000 per quarter. Other cards on the market give you unlimited 1.5% or 2% cash back on everything, which could result in higher rewards overall.
Our pick for: College students + bonus rewards
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – 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 cash back 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.
- 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 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers rich rewards in quarterly bonus categories, although it requires more work than your typical student card. Its other benefits mostly match those on the Discover it® Student Chrome.
This card offers 5% cash back in rotating categories that you activate, on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter; all other spending earns 1% cash back. There's no annual fee and no late fee on your first late payment. With this card, too, Discover says there is no FICO history requirement.
Having to activate bonus categories every three months can be a hassle, especially when you're just getting started with credit, and some of the categories might be a poor fit for a student's spending. There's no foreign transaction fee, but Discover isn’t as widely accepted overseas — something to keep in mind if you're studying abroad.
Our pick for: College students + simplicity
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – 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 cash back 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 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
Discover offers two fine cards for college students. The Discover it® Student Chrome shines with its no-maintenance rewards structure and student-friendly bonus categories. You also get a free FICO score, low fees, and forgiveness for your first late payment. Plus, Discover says there's no FICO history requirement for this card.
You earn 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, on up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. (Unlike with Discover's other student card, you don't have to "activate" your bonus rewards.) The annual fee is $0. There's also Discover's signature bonus for new cardholders.
Although there's no foreign transaction fee, Discover isn’t as widely accepted abroad as other cards. If you plan to travel internationally, make sure you have a backup plan.
Our pick for: Travel
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 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. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.49% - 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
- 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.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The simple rewards structure, decent rewards rate and $0 annual fee on the Discover it® Miles provide solid value for less-than-hardcore travelers who do most of their traveling in the U.S.
If you value simplicity, you’ll appreciate this card's easy-to-understand terms. You earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for statement credit against travel purchases. That means you can book however you want, then use miles to pay for it. You can also redeem miles for cash back at the same rate. And don't forget the new cardholder bonus: UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Like all of Discover's offerings, this card charges no foreign transaction fees — but Discover cards have limited international acceptance. You’ll want to pack a backup payment option if you'e heading abroad.
Our pick for: Building or rebuilding credit
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- No credit score required to apply. No Annual Fee.
- 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.
- Raise your credit score by 30+ points.
- 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.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a rarity: a card for building or rebuilding credit that pays you rewards. It also has a clear process for upgrading to a better card when your credit improves.
Cardholders earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 in spending per quarter on gas and restaurant purchases, and an unlimited 1% back on all other purchases. Plus, 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. Your payment activity is reported to all three credit bureaus — essential for building credit. After seven months, the issuer begins reviewing your account for possible upgrade to an unsecured card that doesn’t require a security deposit.
Since this is a secured card, you have to put down a security deposit equal to your credit line. You can get this money back when you close or upgrade your account, but pulling together the $200 minimum deposit and keeping the money tied up can be a challenge for some.
In February 2024, Capital One announced that it had reached a deal to acquire Discover. Capital One has not offered details about what that might mean for Discover's lineup of credit cards, but its has said that the Discover brand will continue. The deal must be approved by banking regulators and shareholders before it can go through.
ALSO SEE: Best credit cards of 2025 || Visa || Mastercard || American Express || Discover || Bank of America® || Capital One || Chase || Citi || US Bank || Wells Fargo
BEST DISCOVER CREDIT CARDS
Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Discover it® Cash Back
Our pick for: Cash back
The Discover it® Cash Back earns bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate. In past years, those categories have included common spending areas like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and specific major retailers. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending aligns with those categories (and for most households, it probably will), you can rake in serious rewards. You also get the issuer's signature "cash-back match" bonus in your first year. Read our review.
Discover it® Chrome
Our pick for: Balance transfers
The Discover it® Chrome doesn't have rotating categories like some of Discover's better-known cards. Instead, it gives you extra rewards at gas stations and restaurants, with no activation required, plus an outstanding balance transfer offer. You get the "cash-back match" bonus in your first year, too. Read our review.
Discover it® Miles
Our pick for: Travel
The Discover it® Miles is the rare travel credit card that lets you redeem your rewards for travel or for cash back at the same rate. (Also rare among travel cards is its intro APR period for balance transfers.) You earn unlimited 1.5 miles per dollar spent on purchases, and the miles are generally worth 1 cent apiece — that's a solid rate for a card with no annual fee. As with other Discover cards, this one matches the rewards you earn in your first year. Read our review.
Discover it® Student Chrome
Our pick for: College students + simplicity
Simplicity makes the Discover it® Student Chrome a standout for students searching for their first credit card. You'll earn bonus cash back at restaurants and gas stations with no activation required and no rotating categories to keep track of. Read our review.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Our pick for: College students + bonus rewards
The Discover it® Student Cash Back gives students the same excellent rewards as the regular Discover it® Cash Back — notably, bonus cash back in rotating categories that you must activate. Activating and tracking categories might be too much of a hassle for some students brand new to credit cards, but if you're up for a little work, the rewards can be handsome. Read our review.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Our pick for: Building or rebuilding credit
Like other secured credit cards for people building or rebuilding credit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card requires a cash security deposit. Unlike most others, it offers rewards. But what really makes it stand out from the competition is its upgrade possibilities. The issuer has a process in place for automatically reviewing accounts for possible transition to an unsecured card. Read our review.
Other cards issued by Discover
NHL® Discover it® — the official credit card of the National Hockey League, this card operates just like the Discover it® Cash Back but also offers special discounts for hockey fans.
• • •
OTHER RESOURCES
What credit score do you need to get a Discover card?Â
Discover's standard rewards credit cards require good credit to qualify, which is generally defined as having a credit score of 690 or better. But your credit score is just one factor that card issuers typically consider in evaluating applications; others include your income, credit utilization, the number of credit cards you already have, and major recurring expenses like your rent or mortgage.
Discover also offers cards designed for people who are building or rebuilding credit:
Students new to credit may qualify for the Discover it® Student Cash Back or the Discover it® Student Chrome. Neither of these cards requires a FICO score history.
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is also an option. Like other secured cards, it requires a cash security deposit. But Discover also offers a clear upgrade process and automatic account reviews. After at least seven months of on-time payments, Discover may return your deposit and move you to a regular card.
What are the interest rates on Discover credit cards?Â
As is the case with many card issuers, the ongoing interest rates on Discover credit cards can vary widely — in some cases by 10 percentage points or more. In general, the better your creditworthiness, the better the chance you'll qualify for a rate at the lower end of the range for a given card.
That said, several Discover cards offer an introductory 0% APR period. They include:
Discover it® Cash Back: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-27.49% Variable APR. *Rates as of December 12, 2024 .
Discover it® Chrome: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-27.49% Variable APR. *Rates as of December 12, 2024 .
Discover it® Miles: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-27.49% Variable APR. *Rates as of December 12, 2024 .
Discover it® Student Cash Back: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.49%-26.49% Variable APR. *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
Discover it® Student Chrome: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.49%-26.49% Variable APR. *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months, and then the ongoing APR of 27.49% Variable APR. *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
What credit limit can I get with a Discover card?Â
Your credit limit on a Discover card will depend on your individual circumstances; factors that may go into the calculation include your income, your credit score, your total credit utilization, your other available credit and your outstanding debt. Discover won’t set your credit limit until it reviews (and approves) your application.
The exception is the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. As is the case with most secured cards, the security deposit determines your credit limit. So if you put down a deposit of $300, you get a $300 credit limit. The minimum deposit on the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is $200.
What are the benefits of Discover credit cards?
Discover offers a range of benefits. To start with, all Discover cards have no annual fee, and none of them charge foreign transaction fees.
Although the specific earning rates vary by card, all Discover cards earn rewards — cash back, in most cases — with no limit on how much you can earn and no minimum redemption amount. This includes Discover’s secured and student cards.
If Discover has a signature benefit, though, it's the issuer's bonus offer for new cardholders. At the end of your first 12 months after getting a card, Discover will automatically match all the rewards you earned in that first year. So if you earned $350 cash back in that first year, Discover will kick in another $350. If you've earned 41,262 miles with the Discover it® Miles card, Discover will give you 41,262 more miles. Note that the matching bonus comes as a lump sum at the end of the 12 months — Discover doesn't match rewards as you earn them.
Discover also has a fully U.S.-based customer service team, available 24 hours a day. Discover consistently rates in the top tier in customer service surveys for major credit card issuers.
Which Discover card is easiest to get?
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is the easiest Discover card to get. The security deposit serves as insurance for the issuer in case a cardholder doesn't pay their bill. That reduces the risk, so the issuer can make the card available to people with bad credit or no credit at all. Keep in mind, however, that approval is not guaranteed for any credit card, even a secured card. If you don't have income, for example, or if you have a pending bankruptcy, an issuer might still decline your application.
If you’re a student new to building credit, the Discover it® Student Chrome and Discover it® Student Cash Back are great options, both requiring no deposit, no annual fee and no FICO credit score history.
All three of these cards offer a path to upgrade to a "regular" Discover card as your credit improves.
Will a Discover card help me build credit?
When used responsibly, a Discover card can be a great tool to help you build credit for the first time, or to rebuild a less-than-stellar credit history. Discover regularly reports account information to all three major financial bureaus, helping you establish a history of on-time payments.
• • •
NerdWallet's Jaime Hanson contributed to this article.
This page includes information about the NHL® Discover it® that is not currently available on NerdWallet and the offer details may be out of date.
Last updated on December 23, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
Frequently asked questions
Do Discover credit card rewards expire?
Rewards earned with your Discover credit card don't expire as long as your account remains in good standing. If you close your account or it goes inactive for more than 18 months, Discover will apply your rewards as a credit toward any remaining account balance, or send you a check for the remaining rewards value.
Do Discover credit cards charge an annual fee?
Discover doesn’t charge an annual fee on any of its credit cards. One caveat applies to the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. It doesn't have an annual fee, but it does require a refundable security deposit upon opening the account.
Do Discover credit cards charge foreign transaction fees?
Discover credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. This applies not only to the issuer's dedicated travel card, the Discover it® Miles, but also to its cash-back cards. Be aware, though, that Discover's international acceptance is generally lower than that for Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
How do I activate my Discover card?
Once you receive your new Discover card in the mail, you can activate it using the issuer’s online activation page, or by calling Discover customer service at 800-347-2683. Activation information will also be provided in the mailing when your new card arrives.
How do I cancel my Discover card?
To cancel your Discover card, call Discover customer service at 800-347-2683. Keep in mind, though, that closing a credit card can hurt your credit score, especially if it’s an older account. Since Discover cards don't charge an annual fee, you may be better off keeping the card open, even if you're not actively using it.
If you do choose to move forward with canceling your Discover card, there’s no fee for doing so, and you don’t have to pay off your full balance before canceling. However, you will have to continue making payments after closing, and interest will continue to accrue until your balance is paid in full.
Discover recommends redeeming all rewards before you cancel your Discover card. Any unredeemed rewards will be applied to your remaining balance as a statement credit.
How do I check my Discover card application status?
If you’ve applied for a Discover card and are waiting for notice of approval, you can check the status of your application online or by calling 800-347-3085. In both cases, you’ll need to provide your Social Security Number and ZIP code to see the status of your application.
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