Best Discover Credit Cards of September 2025
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Written by
Michelle Lambright Black
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
If you’re shopping for a new rewards credit card, Discover has a strong lineup of cards worth considering. Whether you’re in the market for flexible cash back, flat-rate rewards or perhaps a travel rewards card with no annual fee, Discover has a range of options that could be a good fit for your wallet.
Quick Overview: Discover® Credit Cards
| Our Choice For | Credit Range | Annual Fee | Highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Back |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$0 |
Earn a first year bonus plus 1% – 5% cash back Earn 5% Cash Back At Different Places Each Quarter Up To The Quarterly Maximum When You Activate.
Earn 1% Unlimited Cash Back On All Other Purchases – Automatically
Apply Now
More Details
|
|
| Balance Transfers |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$0 |
Incredibly long intro APR on balance transfers 0% Intro APR on purchases for 6 months and 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
Apply Now
More Details
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| Travel |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$0 |
Earn a first year bonus plus Earn Unlimited 1.5x Miles Per Dollar On All Purchases
Apply Now
More Details
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Detailed Overview: Discover® Credit Cards
Top Feature
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Cash Back
Earn 1% Unlimited Cash Back On All Other Purchases – Automatically
Card Details From Issuer
- 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 now 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.
Top Feature
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on purchases for 6 months and 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Cash Back
Earn 1% Unlimited Cash Back On All Other Purchases – Automatically
Card Details From Issuer
- 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.
Top Feature
Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- 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.
- Terms and conditions apply.
How To Choose the Best Discover Credit Card for You
With several Discover credit card options available, it’s important to do your research. Consider the following details to narrow down your choices and determine which Discover credit card is the best fit for your situation.
What Are Your Spending Habits?
Think about where you spent the most money per month. For example, if you tend to spend large percentages of your budget on groceries, gas and dining, it’s probably a good idea to open a credit card that rewards you more for spending on those types of purchases.
Depending on your spending habits, the Discover it Cash Back could be a good match thanks to its rotating bonus categories, in which you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spending each quarter (then 1%) after activation.
However, the Discover it Chrome might also make sense because it offers a simpler rewards-earning structure with fixed 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%) and 1% back on all other eligible purchases.
What Kind of Rewards Would You Use?
Your reward redemption preferences can also help you narrow down your card choice. Thankfully, Discover keeps the rewards redemption process simple and easy to navigate.
You can use cash back for statement credits, a direct deposit into your bank account, and PayPal purchases or gift cards. If you prefer travel rewards, the Discover it Miles offers 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases. Any rewards you earn on that card are redeemable toward travel or cash back.
Does the Card Come With Fees?
Unlike many credit card issuers, Discover charges no annual fees on its cards. So, you don’t have to weigh whether you’re willing to pay an upfront fee each year before you open a new account.
Discover cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. But if you’re planning international travel, keep in mind that Discover’s network acceptance can be more limited outside of the US.
Do You Qualify For the Welcome Bonus?
Rather than a traditional upfront welcome bonus, Discover offers a unique match of all the cash back or miles you earn at the end of your first year after account opening.
That means if you earn $250 in cash back during your first year as a cardholder, you’ll actually receive $500. If you’re considering a Discover card, you just need to choose whether you prefer this bonus on a card that offers cash back or miles.
Are There Other Perks and Protections?
In general, Discover cards don’t offer premium travel benefits like airport lounge access or car rental insurance. But the card issuer still offers some other valuable benefits — especially for cards with no annual fee.
For example, several Discover cards offer introductory APRs on purchases or balance transfers, access to the Discover Rewards Calendar, and robust security features like free credit monitoring, $0 fraud liability, and card freezing capability from your mobile device.
Pros and Cons of Discover Cards
Before you apply for a Discover card, here are a few highlights and drawbacks you should consider.
Pros
- No annual fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- First-year Cashback Match® or Miles Match™ program
- Simple, straightforward reward redemptions
Cons
- Smaller product lineup than competitors (no premium travel or business cards)
- Limited international merchant acceptance
- No traditional, upfront welcome bonus
- Few extra perks like travel insurance or purchase protection
Discover Credit Card Benefits
No matter which card you pick, Discover offers a few consistent benefits that can help cardholders maximize rewards. Standout perks include:
- No annual fee: There’s a $0 annual fee on all Discover cards.
- First-year match: When you open a new Discover card, you can take advantage of the chance to earn a Cashback Match® or a Miles Match™ at the end of your first year as a new cardholder. That means the card issuer will match all the cash back or miles you earn during that period (without limit).
- Rewards don’t expire: The rewards you earn don’t expire. Even if your account closes, Discover will send you a check (or credit your account) for the balance of any earned rewards.
- Free FICO® Score access: Receive free access to your FICO Score, based on your TransUnion credit report data.
- Security features: Cardholders benefit from several key security features like free Social Security number exposure alerts, credit monitoring and card freezing capability.
Some of the best card-specific Discover benefits include:
- Rotating bonus categories: The Discover it Cash Back comes with 5% rotating bonus categories that follow the Discover Rewards Calendar. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter (then 1%) after activation in rotating spending categories like grocery and wholesale clubs, restaurants, home improvement stores, gas stations and more.
- Simple travel rewards: The Discover it Miles features simple-to-use travel rewards that are easy to redeem as statement credits for travel purchases such as hotels, flights, rideshares, online travel site transactions, restaurants (and delivery), gas stations, car rentals and more. While other cards may offer more generous travel rewards, the simplicity of the rewards structure and no annual fee may be especially appealing to infrequent travelers.
- Credit-building potential: Students or new credit users may want to consider the Discover it® Student Cash Back or the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. These starter credit card options could help you establish credit history with Equifax, TransUnion and Experian (if you manage your account responsibly).
Alternatives To Consider
Discover’s card lineup is attractive for those who value no annual fee and straightforward rewards. That said, Discover cards do have limitations (especially for cardholders who prefer premium travel benefits and those who travel abroad). If your personal financial goals include frequent travel, luxury travel benefits, international trips or even ultra-simple rewards, you may want to compare Discover with a few competitors.
- Citi Double Cash® Card (an advertising partner): The Double Cash Card has no annual fee and a simple rewards structure. Yet you can also earn up to 2% unlimited cash back on every purchase (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay). So, the earning potential could be even higher with this card on certain everyday transactions, depending on how you use the account.
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: This no-annual-fee travel rewards card offers a generous welcome bonus: For a limited time, earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $300 in travel. The card also works better for international travel since it’s more widely accepted outside of the US compared to Discover. Additionally, the VentureOne Card earns 1.25x miles on everyday purchases. Discover does beat this rewards rate with some of its offerings, but you can transfer Capital One miles to airline and hotel partners for added redemption flexibility.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: If you’re willing to pay a $95 annual fee in exchange for more premium travel rewards, this card is worth considering. In contrast to the cash back offered by most Discover cards, the Sapphire Preferred Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points — a highly flexible rewards currency you can redeem for cash back, use toward travel booked through Chase Travel℠ or transfer to airline and hotel partners. That’s something Discover doesn’t offer. The Sapphire Preferred Card also features a welcome bonus of 75,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
How To Apply for a Discover Card
Once you identify the Discover credit card that’s right for you, the application process is typically straightforward.
- Visit Discover’s website. Choose the card that best fits your needs (and matches your credit profile).
- Check to see if you’re pre-approved for a Discover card (optional). This step has no impact on your credit score and can help you determine if you’re likely to qualify for different types of Discover card offers.
- Complete the official Discover card application for your credit card of choice. Fill out your personal and financial details (name, home address, Social Security number, date of birth, annual income, etc.) as required.
- Submit your application. This step will result in a hard credit inquiry on your credit report, which could have a slight negative impact on your credit score.
- Wait for the decision. Many applicants receive an instant credit decision. If Discover declines your application or your application is pending, consider calling the Discover reconsideration line to ask if you can provide additional information that might result in the approval of your application.
Frequently Asked Questions About Discover Credit Cards
What is the best Discover credit card overall?
Determining which Discover card is best is subjective. However, people often consider the Discover it Cash Back to be one of the card issuer’s top options. This card is a solid all-around rewards card thanks to its lack of an annual fee, rotating bonus categories and first-year Cashback Match®.
Do Discover cards charge foreign transaction fees?
Discover does not charge foreign transaction fees on any of its cards. But international card acceptance is somewhat limited.
Does Discover offer travel insurance?
In the past, Discover used to offer travel insurance on certain credit cards in its product lineup. However, since 2018, that is no longer the case.
Which Discover card is best for students?
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a good option to consider for students. The card offers the same rotating categories as the standard Discover it Cash Back, and there’s no credit score required to apply.
How many Discover cards can you have?
You can have up to two Discover credit card accounts at one time.
How Do Our Critics Evaluate the Cards?
All of the credit cards featured on CardCritics™ are assessed using the same criteria. Our critics evaluate fees, interest rates, balance transfer options, introductory bonuses, rewards, additional benefits and the average credit score required for approval.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.