Best Discover Credit Cards in 2025
Our winner
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Our winner
Discover it® Cash Back
The Discover it® Cash Back card is our pick for best Discover credit card. It’s a solid card for everyday purchases due to its $0 annual fee and high rewards earnings on popular rotating categories that can net you a generous stack of cash back in the first year.
Key takeaways
- Discover offers a range of rewards cards, from the Discover it® Cash Back card with rotating categories to the Discover it® Miles travel card with flat-rate earnings on every purchase.
- Discover also offers the Discover it® Student Cash Back card, which is great for beginners, and a secured card for building or rebuilding credit.
- Discover cards have low fees overall, with $0 annual fees, no foreign transaction fees and a waived late payment fee the first time.
- One popular feature Discover offers across its card lineup is an unlimited cash back match at the end of the first year for new cardholders.
- (Winner) Best Discover credit card: Discover it® Cash Back
- Best Discover student credit card: Discover it® Student Cash Back
- Best Discover card to build credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- Best Discover travel card: Discover it® Miles
- Best Discover credit card for gas and dining: Discover it® Chrome
- Best Discover student credit card for gas and dining: Discover it® Student Chrome
6 best Discover cards
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Discover it® Cash Back
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Winner
|
Unlimited Cashback Match
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.
| 1% - 5% cash back
| Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Best Discover student credit card
|
Unlimited Cashback Match
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. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
| 1% - 5% cash back
| Limited / Fair |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Discover card to build credit
|
Match all cash back
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
| 1% - 2% cash back
| Limited / Poor |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Discover it® Miles
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Discover travel card
|
Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match
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. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. You could turn 35,000 Miles into 70,000 Miles.
| 1.5X Miles
1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases.
| Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Discover it® Chrome
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Discover credit card for gas and dining
|
Unlimited Cashback Match
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.
| 1% - 2% cash back
| Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Discover it® Student Chrome
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Gas and dining rewards for students
|
Unlimited Cashback Match
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. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
| 1% - 2% cash back
| Limited / Fair |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Methodology: How we chose the best Discover credit cards
To select the best Discover credit cards, we use an objective rating and ranking system that compares features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
We calculate the rewards earned for the average cardholder using Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes welcome offer and annual bonuses (including annual free night certificates). For travel cards, this value includes travel perks like lounge access and travel credits. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
We calculate how much the average cardholder can save with the card on a yearly basis. If it’s a rewards card, we use U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and $300 in monthly spend (the typical starting credit limit for an introductory card) to calculate how much the average cardholder can earn in rewards. We then subtract fees — including annual fees and maintenance fees — from this amount.
Depending on the category, we also look at the flexibility of rewards, features for building credit and how the card’s overall list of benefits compares to other cards.
Note that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best credit card. However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder’s. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s rewards categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you.
Best Discover credit card
Discover it® Cash Back
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: Unlimited Cashback Match
- High cash back rate in popular categories
- $0 annual fee
- Matches cash back earned in the first year
- Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Quarterly cap on rotating categories
- Must activate bonus categories each quarter
- Low rate of cash back on most purchases
With the Discover it® Cash Back card, you’ll earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
If you don’t mind dealing with rotating bonus categories, the Discover it® Cash Back offers the opportunity to earn a generous amount of cash back. If you max out the $1,500 spending cap each quarter, you’ll earn $300 back in a year. Once you factor in the Cashback Match welcome offer, that amount jumps to $600 after the first year of card membership.
This card also offers intro APRs on purchases and balance transfers for more than a year, which is good if you need time to pay off a big purchase or do a balance transfer from another card.
- 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 cash back for any amount
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 90 seconds. No annual fee.
- Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with your virtual card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Why it’s in my wallet
“The Discover it® Cash Back is one of the credit cards I use to strategically maximize the cash back I get on my spending, since it offers a high rate of cash back in quarterly rotating categories. I use this card for specific purchases that match the current bonus categories — like groceries and gas — and then a 2% flat-rate cash back card for everything else. I usually redeem the cash back as statement credits, which allows a little more money to stay in my bank account.”
– Charlotte Zhang, credit cards writer at LendingTree
Best Discover student credit card
Discover it® Student Cash Back
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: Unlimited Cashback Match
- $0 annual fee
- No credit score needed to apply
- High cash back on rotating categories
- Matches cash back earned in the first year
- Cap on quarterly bonus earnings
- Must activate bonus categories each quarter
- Low cash back rate on most purchases
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is our top student credit card pick, thanks to its high rewards earning rate in popular categories, low fees and the fact that no credit score is required to apply. As such, this is one of the best credit cards for beginners. Students who are starting out on their credit journey can build credit while getting rewarded for their spending and enjoying perks.
Several card features — including the intro APR on purchases and cash back match at the end of the first year — can help offset the cost of buying books or furnishing a dorm room or apartment.
- 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. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
- 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 cash back for any amount
- No credit score required to apply.
- 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 17.24% - 26.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Best Discover card to build credit
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: Match all cash back
- $0 annual fee
- Cash back rewards on every purchase
- Chance to switch to an unsecured card after seven months
- Intro APR on balance transfers
- Requires a security deposit
- No intro APR on purchases
If you’re new to credit or you’ve made some mistakes in the past and need to rebuild your credit profile, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is our pick for the best Discover card to build credit. This secured card can help you build or establish your credit with responsible card usage.
There’s a $0 annual fee, but you will be required to submit a security deposit (ranging from $200 to $2,500) that will serve as your line of credit. After seven months, Discover will begin conducting monthly account reviews to see if you’re eligible to graduate to an unsecured card and get your deposit refunded.
- 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.
- 30 points or more—that’s how much you could increase your FICO® Credit Score on average after just six months of responsible use.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Best Discover travel card
Discover it® Miles
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match
- Earn miles with a mile-for-mile match after the first year
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- No travel benefits
- Low earning rate compared to similar cards
The Discover it® Miles lets you earn a flat cash back rate on every purchase, which can be used to help offset the cost of future travel. You’ll get 1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases. And new cardholders receive an unlimited mile-for-mile match bonus at the end of their first year. While this card doesn’t allow you to transfer miles to travel partners, you can redeem your miles as cash back via an electronic deposit or for travel.
This is a solid starter travel credit card since it comes with a simple rewards structure, a $0 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for more than a year.
- 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. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. You could turn 35,000 Miles into 70,000 Miles.
- 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 18.24% - 27.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Best Discover credit card for gas and dining
Discover it® Chrome
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: Unlimited Cashback Match
- Elevated rewards on dining and gas
- $0 annual fee
- Cash back match after the first year
- Long intro APR on balance transfers
- Low quarterly cap on bonus categories
- Low cash back rate on general purchases
The Discover it® Chrome is our pick for the best Discover card for gas and dining due to its simplicity, low fees and elevated rewards earning rate on both of those popular categories up to a quarterly cap of $1,000, plus the cash back match bonus after the first year for new cardholders.
The downside is that the quarterly cap is pretty low, maxing out your annual category rewards at $160 even with the year-end match. That means you might be able to earn more on other gas and dining credit cards with higher earning rates and less restrictive terms. Or, you could use one card for gas and one for dining to maximize earnings.
- 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.
- 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 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Best Discover student credit card for gas and dining
Discover it® Student Chrome
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: Unlimited Cashback Match
- $0 annual fee
- No credit score required
- Cash back match after the first year
- Intro APR on purchases
- Short intro APR time period
- No 0% interest deal on balance transfers
- Low earning rate on most purchases
If you’re a college student, this card provides a great opportunity to earn elevated rewards on gas and at restaurants, and it’s one of the best Discover credit cards for beginners. The Discover it® Student Chrome lets you earn 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.
This card also offers a 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases (followed by a 17.24% - 26.24% Variable APR. Plus, like other Discover cards, it comes with a generous welcome offer as a match of first-year earnings.
This card is good for financing college necessities such as a new computer or apartment furnishings. However, other cards do offer longer intro periods, so keep that in mind if this feature appeals to you.
- 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. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
- 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 cash back for any amount
- No credit score required to apply.
- 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 17.24% - 26.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Are Discover cards good?
Discover credit cards are good as they have relatively low fees and come with the ability to earn rewards on purchases, plus other perks. Each Discover card has a $0 annual fee and a popular welcome offer that matches all of the rewards you earn in your first year of card membership.
Discover is one of the top U.S. card issuers and offers top-notch customer service. In fact, it was ranked #2 among national credit card issuers in a recent credit card satisfaction survey by J.D. Power. Discover has 24/7 U.S.-based customer service, and if you lose your card, you can get a new card for free within six business days.
Discover credit cards can help you build credit from scratch as the card issuer reports to the three major credit bureaus. Discover also offers a free Credit Scorecard with a free FICO Score for all cardholders to allow you to monitor your credit easily.
Discover card international fees
If you travel frequently, Discover is a mixed bag. While Discover credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, they aren’t accepted in every country. To see if Discover is accepted where you’re traveling, check out the Discover international credit card acceptance page.
Are Discover cards accepted everywhere?
Pros and cons of Discover credit cards
- No annual fees
- Valuable welcome offers
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free FICO Score
- Good customer service rating
- Cap on earning bonus rewards
- Not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard
- Low rewards rates on general purchases
What are the 5% cash back categories for Discover?
Some Discover credit cards — including the Discover it® Cash Back and the Discover it® Student Cash Back — allow you to enroll in quarterly categories to earn bonus cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter. The Discover cash back calendar usually is published before the start of each quarter.
Discover cash back calendar
| January-March | April-June | July-September | October-December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants, home improvement stores and select streaming services | Grocery stores and wholesale clubs | Gas stations and EV charging, public transit and utilities | TBA |
How to choose a Discover credit card
Discover offers a variety of rewards credit cards, so choose the best fit for you based on your ability to qualify, the rewards and perks offered, fees charged and any financial goals you have, such as credit building or rewards earning.
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Which card can I qualify for?
There are many types of credit cards, and your credit score and history will be a big factor in determining which Discover card is right for you. Many Discover rewards cards require good to excellent credit, but those with bad or limited credit may qualify for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. You don’t need a credit score to qualify for a Discover student credit card, but you must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a college student.
Check your credit score with LendingTree Spring. -
How much are the fees?
Discover charges no annual fees or foreign transaction fees, but consider the potential cost of:
- Late fees (none the first time, then up to $41)
- Returned payment fees (up to $30)
- Balance transfer fees (3-5%)
To avoid unnecessary fees, set up automatic bill payments and an alert to make sure you have funds for scheduled payments.
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What rewards are offered?
If you spend a significant amount each month on groceries and gas, you should look at a card that offers an elevated rewards rate on those purchases, such as the Discover it® Chrome. On the other hand, if your spending tends to fluctuate, you might want to consider the Discover it® Cash Back card, which offers elevated rewards in rotating quarterly categories. Keep in mind that you have to activate the quarterly categories for the higher rewards rate.
If you travel frequently or don’t want to keep track of rotating categories or spending caps, the Discover it® Miles travel credit card, which offers flat-rate rewards on every purchase, may be a better choice.
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Is there an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers?
If you need to make a large purchase and pay it off over time, a credit card that offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for at least a year is ideal. Or, if you need to transfer high-interest debt from an existing credit card, you’ll want to consider a card that offers a long interest-free period on balance transfers. The Discover it® Cash Back, Discover it® Chrome and Discover it® Miles all have a promotional APR on purchases and balance transfers, while the Discover it® Student Cash Back offers one on purchases.
Frequently asked questions
No, Discover credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees.
You can close your Discover credit card account by calling the number on the back of your card and informing the customer service department that you want to cancel the account. Note that you’ll still be responsible for paying any outstanding balance, and any unused rewards may be voided when you close the account.
That said, you should avoid closing credit card accounts whenever possible, since the length of your credit history is the third most important factor impacting your credit score.
Discover offers a variety of credit cards for people with all levels of credit — ranging from credit cards for bad credit or no credit history to rewards cards for applicants with excellent credit scores.
You can get a Discover credit card by successfully applying online or calling 800-DISCOVER.
To do a Discover balance transfer, you must contact the card issuer. For new Discover cards, this can be requested during the application process. If you have an existing Discover card, you can request a transfer by logging in to your online account or calling the number on the back of your card.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
