Discover offers various credit cards, and they don’t charge you annual or foreign transaction fees if you qualify. The best ones give you cash back on your spending, and after your first year, they match the cash back you’ve earned.
Unlike some other credit card companies, Discover has specific cards for students or people with bad or no credit. If you’re a hockey fan, you can even put your favorite NHL team’s logo on your cash back card.
We’ll take a closer look at all the credit cards Discover has to help you figure out if any of them are right for you. We’ll check out rewards, annual percentage rates (APR), and more.
Best for Earning Cash Back: Discover it® Cash Back
This card doesn’t have an annual fee. It gives you 5% cash back on certain purchases each quarter, up to $1,500 spent each quarter when activated, and 1% cash back on everything else. After your first year, Discover matches your rewards automatically. If you’re into hockey, there’s also the NHL® Discover It® Credit Card that works the same but lets you pick from 32 NHL teams for your card design.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 5% cash back on certain purchases each quarter, up to $1,500 spent each quarter when activated, and 1% cash back on everything else.
Welcome bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first cardmember year.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Other perks and downsides: The Discover it® Cash Back card offers decent rewards on everyday purchases. But to get the most out of it, you need to put in a bit of effort by activating the bonus categories each quarter. Like other Discover credit cards, there are no annual fees or foreign transaction fees to worry about.
Best for Students Earning Cash Back in Changing Categories: Discover it® Student Cash Back
Students, especially those with limited credit histories, might find it hard to get a rewards card. But the Discover it® Student Cash Back card is made for them. You can even get approved without a credit score, and you’ll earn rewards.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 5% cash back at different places each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum once activated, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of the first cardmember year.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Other perks and downsides: The Discover it® Student Cash Back card lets students access credit without needing a credit score. Like the regular Discover it® Cash Back card, it offers 5% cash back at different places each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum once activated, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. However, busy students might not like having to activate bonus categories every quarter.
Best for Students Earning Cash Back at a Steady Rate: Discover it® Student Chrome
If students find it annoying to activate categories every quarter, the Discover it® Student Chrome card simplifies things. It earns a higher cash back rate at gas stations and restaurants, up to $1,000 quarterly, and all other spending gets you 1%.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 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.
Welcome bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of the first cardmember year.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Other perks and downsides: The Discover it® Student Chrome card could be better for students who want to earn rewards without worrying about activating bonus categories every quarter. It automatically gives you 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. Like other Discover cards, you get an unlimited cash-back match at the end of your first year. For example, if you earned $150 in rewards during your first year, Discover doubles it to $300.
Best for Bad Credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card ticks all the boxes for a secured card. It doesn’t have annual or account opening fees, and it offers the chance to move up to an unsecured version if you pay on time. The rewards are a nice bonus.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 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.
Welcome bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of the first cardmember year.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Other perks and downsides: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card reports to all three major credit bureaus, so it can help you rebuild or establish your credit with on-time payments. Like other secured cards, you’ll need to put down a security deposit upfront. After that, you can use this card like a regular credit card, earning rewards along the way, and Discover doubles them at the end of your first year.
Best for Travel Rewards: Discover it® Miles
Discover’s travel card is perfect if you want a travel card without an annual fee and flexible redemption options. You can earn unlimited miles, which you can use for cash back or a statement credit for travel purchases.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 1.5 miles per $1 spent.
Welcome bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of the first cardmember year.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Other perks and downsides: The simplicity of this card is great for occasional travelers who don’t want to keep track of rewards categories and prefer easy-to-earn, easy-to-use rewards for travel. However, there are cash-back cards that offer a flat 2% back on all spending, which can be used for travel or anything else.
Best for Getting Cash Back at Gas Stations and Restaurants: Discover it® Chrome
This card is designed for those who want straightforward rewards on gas and dining without an annual fee. It earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of the first cardmember year.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Other perks and downsides: Unlike other cards that offer cash back on all spending, not just gas and restaurants, this card lets you redeem your rewards in any amount, at any time, without waiting to accumulate a certain amount.
So, should you get a Discover credit card? Discover cards have some appealing features, like no annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or penalty fees for your first late payment. They also offer other benefits, including a $0 fraud liability guarantee, online privacy protection, and a free FICO score. You’ll also have access to their U.S.-based customer service team 24/7, and they consistently rank high in customer service satisfaction surveys.
If you’re a student or have poor or no credit, you might appreciate Discover’s student and secured credit card options. They come with good perks and don’t require a credit score. Using one of these cards wisely can help you build credit as long as you make on-time payments.
But if you have good or excellent credit, it’s worth shopping around with other credit card companies. You might find cards with higher rewards rates or bonus perks. If you’re looking for luxury travel benefits like lounge access or priority boarding, you’d be better off with Chase, American Express, or another credit card company.
