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Discover offers a wide range of credit cards for different types of consumers, and its cards have a lot going for them. Discover credit cards never come with an annual fee, and offer online privacy protection, identity protection perks like Social Security Number monitoring, and free overnight card replacement in the event your card is lost or stolen.
Discover cards don’t offer a traditional sign-up bonus — instead, Discover will match all the rewards you’ve earned at the end of your first cardmember year through its Cash Back Match program. There’s no limit to the rewards you earn or the amount Discover will match after the first year.
Here are the best Discover cards for 2022.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Best for bonus cash back: Discover it Cash Back
Best for travel: Discover it Miles
Best for gas and dining: Discover it Chrome Card
Best for students: Discover it Student Cash Back
Best for lower credit scores: Discover it Secured Card
Best for balance transfers: Discover it Balance Transfer
Compare the best Discover cards
Discover it® Cash Back (jump to Discover it Cash Back details »)
The Discover it® Cash Back is similar to the Chase Freedom Flex℠ in that it lets you earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in bonus categories once activated (then 1%) Discover It Cashback rotation.
Discover has already shared all of its bonus categories for 2022, which include grocery stores and fitness club/gym memberships (January to March), gas stations and Target (April to June), restaurants and Paypal (July to September), and Amazon.com and digital wallets (October to December).
Trying to choose between the Discover it® Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex℠? Lots of people have both cards — but if you’re picking just one, read our Discover it versus Chase Freedom Flex comparison to help decide.
New cardholders also get a Discover it® Cash Back (then a Discover it® Cash Back APR), which can save some cash if you want to spread out payments for large purchases. Read our Discover it Cash Back credit card review to learn more.
Discover it® Miles (jump to Discover it Miles details »)
The Discover it® Miles keeps things simple by earning 1.5 miles for each dollar you spend, and remember that all your miles will be matched after the first year. From there, you can redeem them for travel purchases charged to your card at a rate of 1 cent per mile.
You can also redeem miles for cash back or statement credits to cover other charges made to your card, so you aren’t tied down to just travel redemptions. There is no annual fee to keep this card, and you can get access to your FICO score for free on your monthly statements.
Read Insider’s guide to points and miles valuations to find out what your credit card rewards are worth.
The Discover it® Miles also comes with a Discover it® Miles, followed by a Discover it® Miles APR. Read our Discover it Miles credit card review to learn more.
Discover it® chrome (jump to Discover it Chrome details »)
If you’re looking for a Discover card and spend a lot at gas stations and restaurants, the Discover it® chrome is worth considering. Cardholders earn 2% cash back on their first $1,000 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter (then 1%), and all other purchases earn 1% back, with no limits or bonus categories to keep track of.
Keep in mind there are cards from other issuers, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, that earn 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Discover also issues the Discover it® Student chrome, which has similar benefits to the Discover it® chrome. However, because it’s designed for college students, it can be easier to get approved for with fair credit or a limited credit history. Here’s our Discover it Student Chrome card review with more information.
Like other Discover cards, the Discover it® chrome offers a Cashback Match after the first 12 months of opening the account. New cardholders can take advantage of a Discover it® chrome (then a Discover it® chrome APR). You can find out all the details in our Discover it Chrome card review.
Discover it® Student Cash Back (jump to Discover it Student Cash Back details »)
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is basically a student version of the Discover it® Cash Back. You’ll earn the same 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in rotating quarterly bonus categories after activation, then 1%. You’ll also earn 1% cash back on everything else you buy Discover It Cashback rotation.
If you’re a student with little or no credit history, check out our guides to the best credit cards for students and best starter credit cards. You can also read about why some parents add their children as authorized users to give their credit scores a boost.
There aren’t many student credit cards that come with an introductory APR, but the Discover it® Student Cash Back offers a Discover it® Student Cash Back, followed by a Discover it® Student Cash Back APR. You might want to take advantage of this if you have big expenses, like textbooks or dorm decor, that you can’t pay off all at once.
It may be easier to qualify for this card with limited credit history. Read our Discover it Student Cash Back card review for more info.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card (jump to Discover it Secured details »)
Where many secured credit cards charge annual fees, application fees, and other fees, the Discover it® Secured doesn’t charge any fees. You do have to put down a cash deposit to get started, but your deposit is fully refundable provided you close your account in good standing.
You’ll also earn 2% cash back on the first $1,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter (then 1%), as well as 1% back on everything else you buy. Like other rewards from Discover, you can earn unlimited cash back that never expires and redeem it for cash back, statement credits, and gift cards.
You can get free access to your FICO score on your credit card statement each month, which can help you monitor and improve your credit over time. Further, you won’t pay a late fee on your first late payment, and there aren’t any over-the-limit fees with this card, either. Automatic reviews start at seven months to see if Discover can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
If you’re rebuilding your credit or have a limited credit history, have a look at our guide to the best credit cards for bad credit to see all your options.
Read our Discover it Secured credit card review to learn more.
Discover it® Balance Transfer (jump to Discover it Balance Transfer details »)
If you’re carrying high-interest balances on other credit cards, it can make sense to transfer your balance to a card with a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers. The Discover it® Balance Transfer is one of only a handful of cards that offers a long intro 0% APR period and earns substantial rewards.
New cardholders receive a Discover it® Balance Transfer (after that, there’s a Discover it® Balance Transfer APR) — and the card offers a generous cash-back rewards structure. You’ll earn 5% cash back in popular rotating quarterly bonus categories after enrollment, on up to $1,500 in combined spending (then 1%), and 1% back on all other purchases Discover It Cashback rotation.
The card offers the same Cashback Match program as other Discover cards, and there’s also an intro 0% APR on purchases, but for a much shorter time frame (just the first six months, followed by a Discover it® Balance Transfer APR).
Read our Discover it Balance Transfer card review to learn more.
How we chose the best Discover credit cards
We evaluated Discover’s credit card lineup and looked at several factors:
Earning potential — Does the card earn cash back or other rewards, and does it offer appealing bonus categories and a competitive rewards rate?Ease of use — Are there restrictions to be aware of, and is the rewards program easy to understand?Options for various types of consumers — We selected a variety of cards geared to different types of spenders, including students, credit card beginners, and those looking for an introductory 0% APR.
If you’re thinking of applying for a Discover credit card and wondering which one suits your needs best, you’ll need to consider what you hope to gain and the type of customer you are.
Discover credit cards also make things easy by letting you redeem your rewards at any time you want, and in any increments you want. Depending on the card, redemption options can include applying your rewards to your Discover statement or depositing them into your bank account, as well as cashing in rewards for gift cards, charity donations, and at checkout with Amazon and PayPal.
And as a Discover cardholder, you get free access to your FICO score.
Discover credit cards frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Do Discover cards charge fees?
Discover credit cards never have annual fees or foreign transaction fees, so they’re a good choice if you’re trying to minimize your out-of-pocket costs.
Like most other credit cards, there are fees for balance transfers, cash advances, late payments, and returned payments.
Where are Discover credit cards accepted?
Discover says its cards are accepted nationwide at 99% of the places that accept credit cards. That said, you might encounter a few merchants — like Costco — that don’t accept Discover cards.
You can also use Discover cards overseas in 200 countries, and you’ll still earn rewards for your purchases wherever you are. To find out where Discover is accepted internationally, enter the name of the country at this link. For example, in Japan, Discover cards are accepted wherever you see the “JCB” logo, and in many countries when you see the “Diners Club International” logo.
How does Discover Cashback Match work?
New eligible Discover credit card holders qualify for Discover Cashback Match (called Unlimited Bonus with the Discover it® Miles card). After 12 months, Discover will match all the rewards you earned the first 12 months with no limits — even on bonus categories.
For example, if you earned $500 in rewards in the first year of having the Discover it® Cash Back, Discover would match that for a total of $1,000 back in the first 12 months.
How many Discover credit cards can you have?
You can have a maximum of two Discover cards at one time, but you’ll have to wait at least a year after opening your first card before you can get approved for a second.