Is the Discover it Miles Worth It?

• Written by Harlan Vaughn
  

  Harlan Vaughn

  Credit cards, travel rewards, investing, loans, personal finance, deposits

  Harlan Vaughn has over a decade of experience covering credit cards and travel rewards content. His work has been featured in Bankrate, Business Insider, BuzzFeed, Forbes Advisor, NerdWallet and more. With millions of points and miles redeemed for travel, Harlan has used credit card rewards to visit incredible destinations including Iceland, Japan, Hawaii, New Zealand and Chile. His mission is to help others maximize their credit card rewards and benefits. Harlan is a dad of three and lives in Memphis, Tennessee. He’s also interested in personal finance, investing and financial independence. When he’s not digging into those topics or earning rewards with a portfolio of nearly 40 active credit cards, you can find him hiking, enjoying live music and traveling with his family.

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• Edited by Emily Gadd
  

  Emily Gadd

  Credit Cards, Personal Finance, Health and Wellness

  Emily Gadd is an editor, responsible for writing about personal finance and credit cards. She got her start writing and editing at Healthline. She is passionate about creating educational content that makes complex topics accessible. Emily lives in Seattle with her husband and two cats.

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• Reviewed by Jasmin Baron
  

  Jasmin Baron

  Credit Cards, Travel Rewards, Loyalty Programs, Family Travel, Credit Building, Credit Scores

  Jasmin Baron is CardCritics’ senior editor, responsible for editing and writing credit cards, travel rewards, loyalty program, and other credit-related content. She is passionate about personal finance education and enjoys sharing tips and tricks for making the most credit card points and miles with her readers. Her expertise in maximizing credit card travel rewards originated from over two decades of aviation industry experience, including 18 years working as a pilot and college professor/flight instructor in her native Canada. Her work has appeared on sites such as CNN Underscored Money, Business Insider, The Points Guy, and point.me. When she’s not planning her next trip with credit card rewards, you’ll probably find her tinkering around in the kitchen, hanging out with her three kids, or playing with her dog, Benji.

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• Last Updated Oct 24, 2025

Discover it® Miles is a misunderstood card that could benefit from some clarification. It’s marketed confusingly, isn’t nearly as limited as portrayed and has one of the best welcome offers around once you realize what you’re getting. The card also has a strong introductory APR offer that can help you save on interest. 

It’s also a card that starts as incredible and transforms into lackluster right around the one-year mark. If you’re looking for commitment, the Discover it Miles Card can be a long-term keeper if you like the simplicity. But, compared to many cash-back credit cards and travel credit cards, most people can earn more rewards and get most of the same benefits elsewhere. However, if you know you have a year of big expenses coming up, it’s worth serious consideration.

Quick Verdict

The Discover it Miles Card has no annual fee and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. While it’s marketed as a travel card, there’s really nothing travel-related about the rewards, which function more like cash back. You earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent on purchases in any category, and you can redeem them for 1 cent each for cash or statement credits. Essentially, it’s a cash-back card with a 1.5% reward rate. 

However, the welcome offer might entice you anyway. With Discover Miles Match™, you’ll receive a match of all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first cardmember year. That means you’ll earn 1.5x miles and get another 1.5x miles at the end of the first year. It’s a slow burn, but it’s also unlimited — and that could mean a big reward waiting for you if you’re patient. 

The other part of the welcome offer is a 0% Intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers for 15 months, then 17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR. The matched rewards and intro APR rates are generous, which puts the Discover it Miles among cards with the best welcome offers. 

Discover it Miles: At a Glance

• Annual fee: $0
• Welcome offer: Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
• Introductory APR: 0% Intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers for 15 months, then 17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR
• Rewards structure: Earn Unlimited 1.5x Miles Per Dollar On All Purchases
• Statement credits and perks: No foreign transaction fees and no minimum amount to redeem rewards
• Estimated value: The more you spend, the more you’ll earn with the unlimited match the first year

Who Should Consider the Discover it Miles Card?

There are a few things going on with this card. Here’s who could take advantage of Discover it Miles benefits: 

You Want a Strong Intro APR Offer

I’ve used intro APRs in the past to save hundreds on interest and get my finances in order. The Discover it Miles offers the same opportunity with a 0% Intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers for 15 months, then 17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR. That’s over a year to pay off a big purchase or to consolidate lingering debt from other credit cards with a balance transfer. 

I’m a big fan of using APR offers in this way, and the best 0% APR cards are those that also offer long-term benefits like rewards or built-in perks. The Discover it Miles has both, and it’s worth keeping for the rewards. 

You Have a Lot of Spending in the Near Future

I say this for two reasons: the aforementioned APR offer and Discover Miles Match™, which matches your rewards earnings at the end of your first cardmember year. Not only will you have a long path to pay it down, but you’ll also receive extra rewards for your efforts. 

And because the match is unlimited, it’s even better if you know you have a spate of big spending in the next year or so. Think things like a home remodel, car repair, braces for the kids or any other project with a long time frame. Imagine finishing it up and getting an extra batch of miles in the form of matched rewards — that could be pretty sweet. 

You Travel on the Beaten Path

Let’s clear this up: Discover is accepted at a staggering number of locations. Many reviews of this card mention limited acceptance as a negative, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. First, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that accept credit cards within the US, according to the February 2025 issue of the Nilson Report. I often see the Discover logo right alongside Visa and Mastercard. I’ve used it at restaurants, grocery stores, online shopping and every other place people routinely shop with credit cards. 

Now for the international portion, which is where Discover usually takes its dings. Yes, if you’re traveling to a far-off mountain town in Bhutan, the interior of rural China or a place that requires a long donkey ride, you’re probably going to have an issue using any of the best Discover credit cards (or any card, for that matter). 

But if your travel style includes places like Paris, Sydney or any other instantly recognizable city, you’ll likely be fine. I’ve used my Discover card in Budapest, Reykjavik, Tokyo and many other destinations in all types of venues without issues. And while I would always take a backup card, I’d also feel confident about the vast majority of global travel with Discover in tow. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent international travel card. 

Who Should Skip the Discover it Miles Card?

No card is perfect for everyone. Here’s who should skip this one: 

You Want a Card With Travel Benefits

With travel cards, the more of an annual fee you pay, the more travel perks you typically get, including lounge access, travel insurance, elite status upgrades and more. The Discover it Miles Card doesn’t have an annual fee, and that’s reflected in the scant slate of benefits. Things like $0 fraud liability and credit score access are a dime a dozen — and if you travel a fair bit, there’s a whole other world of cards available, including no-annual-fee travel credit cards with better benefits. 

You Want One or Two Cards for All of Your Purchases

Lots of folks want that sweet spot of one or two cards that earn strong rewards for the majority of their purchases. Even compared with the most basic cash back cards, the 1.5x base rate is lacking, as there are a host of 2% cash back credit cards that easily beat that.

And if your spending tends to be in a few concentrated categories (like groceries or dining), you can find a card with bonus rewards for those purchases. Again, you can easily beat the base rate with a different card. 

How To Maximize Discover it Miles’ Value

If I were getting the Discover it Miles as a first-time cardholder, here’s what I’d do. 

Use the Card for Every Purchase

If I got this card now, I’d use it for everything, knowing the Discover Miles Match™ was waiting for me at the end of the first year. I’d also see what purchases I could make right away, given the long intro APR period without interest. I’d especially target purchases that aren’t a bonus category on my other cards. Things like medical bills, car repairs or other specialty items usually aren’t a bonus category, so I’d prioritize those. 

Get a Big Project Going

Sometimes all you need is a nudge to start doing something. With a new credit limit and over a year to pay everything back, I’d see what I could do with my new card to build returns. For example, a kitchen renovation can add extra value to your home or a car repair could be the thing holding you back from finding a new job. These things require money, and that can yield big returns in the form of home equity or a higher salary. I’d think about what I want to do and use a new card to help me get there faster. 

Final Verdict on the Discover it Miles Card

The Discover it Miles isn’t a perfect card, but it’s got enough going for it to warrant some serious thought. The first-year rewards and intro APR offers are unique and generous, respectively, and Discover doesn’t deserve the long-standing “not accepted at all places” line, making it ideal for a variety of purchases. 

But the shine fades in the second year, when the base rewards rate drops to 1.5 miles per dollar. And while it’s confusingly marketed as a “miles” or “travel” card, in reality, it’s closer to a cash back card. When viewed that way, the long-term value weakens, but it’s got enough juice to be enticing for at least a year — or longer if you don’t want a different card.