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Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.
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Discover® credit cards have surged in popularity, partly because of their many benefits. For one thing, Discover credit card rewards are easy to use. Rewards are redeemed as cash back statement credit, with few limits. Plus, Discover cards offer some of the best rewards out there.
But the appeal goes beyond simply offering top-tier rewards credit cards. Discover offers cardholders zero fees, fraud protection, and impressive customer service. Here's a guide to all of the perks you can expect from your Discover credit card.
Here are a few Discover cards we love that could be a great match for your needs.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: New/Rebuilding Under(579)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
New/Rebuilding Under(579)
Welcome Offer:
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Welcome Offer:
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Welcome Offer:
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Rewards Program:
2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
1% - 2% Cashback
Rewards Program:
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.
1% - 5% Cashback
Rewards Program:
2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
1% - 2% Cashback
Intro APR:
Purchases: 0%, 6 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months
Intro APR:
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Intro APR:
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months
Regular APR:
18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
Regular APR:
18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
Regular APR:
27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
Annual Fee:
$0
Annual Fee:
$0
Annual Fee:
$0
Highlights:
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.
Highlights:
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.
Highlights:
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.
There are a number of benefits that come with allDiscover cards, regardless of your selection.
Less fees
Zero fees: All Discover credit cards charge $0 annual fees and $0 foreign transaction fees.
High rewards and easy withdrawals
Cash back: Discover credit cards earn cash back rewards or Miles (that can also be used as cash back), and you can redeem in amounts as low as $0.01, should you so choose.
Discover cashback match: Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. This bonus is available only to new cardholders.
Pay with rewards: Discover partners like Amazon and PayPal let you pay for purchases with Discover rewards. (But while this is convenient, it's typically more financially savvy to redeem rewards as statement credit.)
Cash back at register: At certain shops, you can use your Discover card to get cash back when making a purchase, just like you can with a debit card. There's no special fee for doing so -- it's treated as a regular credit card transaction. Discover limits these transactions to $120 every 24 hours. Shops may limit these further.
Credit monitoring and security
Credit check: Discover cardholders get a free Credit Scorecard with their FICO® Score and other important credit information. Scores are updated monthly.
Card freeze: Discover's Freeze it® feature allows cardholders to turn their account on or off at will to prevent fraudulent or unauthorized purchases.
Security alerts: Discover offers "Social Security number alerts." If you activate this feature, Discover will keep an eye on your SSN and alert you if it finds your data on a risky website, or notices new accounts opened in your name.
Privacy protection: Discover will wipe your personal data from sketchy websites. This feature is only offered to mobile app users.
Fraud insurance: Discover cardholders enjoy a $0 Fraud Liability Gurantee, meaning you aren't financially responsible for unauthorized purchases.
Excellent customer service
Card replacement: If your Discover card is lost or stolen, Discover will ship you another one, overnight, for free. You can expect to receive new cards within four to six days. New cards are immediately usable through digital wallets like Apple Wallet.
No-hassle service: Discover has U.S.-based customer service. What's more, unlike your typical credit card issuer, Discover commits to not upselling you when you call its customer service department.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
Discover offers a lot, but there are some popular credit card benefits you won't get with a Discover card.
Discover's general travel benefits were eliminated in early 2018, including auto rental insurance and flight accident insurance. If you're planning on doing a lot of traveling, you might be better off with one of our other favorite travel credit cards.
In recent years, Discover also eliminated purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty benefits. To be fair, several other card issuers have also cut these benefits, but many issuers do still offer them.
The bottom line on Discover credit card benefits
To be clear, some credit cards offer more benefits than Discover. And if travel- or purchase-related benefits are at the top of your priority list, a Discover card may not be the right credit card product for you.
But, Discover offers some unique features, such as Discover's generous welcome bonus. Plus, Discover offers access to top-tier customer service and zero foreign transaction fees.
Bottom line: Looking for a solid rewards credit card with no annual fee? Care not about travel or purchase insurance? A Discover credit card could be just what you're looking for.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
1% - 5% Cashback
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.
Intro:
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular:18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending
$200 cash rewards
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
2% cash rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Intro:
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases
25,000 points
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
1.5 points per dollar
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
Intro:
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Discover credit cards charge you no foreign transaction fees for making purchases abroad, plus they offer other straightforward benefits. Discover's customer service is top notch, and the Discover app is easy to navigate.
Discover cards are good if you are looking for no annual fee cards with straightforward benefits. They don't offer travel or purchase insurance.
All Discover cards charge zero annual and foreign transaction fees. They're easy to maintain and easy to navigate for first-time credit users. Plus, the customer service team is U.S.-based.
The Discover it® Cash Back and Discover it® Student Cash Back offer a quarterly rotating 5% Cashback Bonus® on different spending categories. The categories change every three months, must be activated quarterly, and cap out at $1,500 in spending per quarter, earning you up to $75 in cash back each quarter. You can find the current category by checking Discover's cash back calendar.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Cole Tretheway has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, PayPal, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short December 2024 $70 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.
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