MoneyGeek’s Take

Discover it® Miles Review

As a no-annual-fee credit card, the Discover it® Miles card benefits individuals with good to excellent credit that want to earn free travel rewards on all purchases without the hassle. Earning 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, cardholders can sit back and watch their miles grow without having to track any bonus categories.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 1/18/2023
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Discover it® Miles

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

The Discover it® Miles credit card is a simple yet solid option for those who want to start earning travel rewards at no annual cost. Aside from offering 1.5 miles per dollar spent on any purchase, the card’s welcome bonus will match all the miles earned in your first year, allowing you to double your rewards. However, if you’re looking to maximize your travel rewards, you may want to opt for a card with a higher rewards rate, as it may take a while to accrue enough miles for your travel needs.

Card Details to Know Up Front
  • Bonus, Fee or Feature
    Has or Not
  • Has Annual Fee
  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
  • Has APR Offer
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Travel Rewards
Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.
OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Discover it® Miles at a Glance

With the Discover it® Miles card, cardholders can earn miles on all purchases without having to track any bonus categories. This makes it a hassle-free travel card with no annual fee, keeping it simple for those who occasionally travel and want to mind their budget.


  • Discover it® Miles

    A good no-annual-fee travel credit card with an introductory 0% APR offer

    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $0Annual Fee
    • 1.5 MilesRewards Rate
    Discover it® Miles

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other top-rated credit cards.

Pros & Cons Explained

It’s important to understand the pros and cons of a particular credit card to decide if it’s the best card for your needs. MoneyGeek outlined the benefits and drawbacks of the Discover it® Miles below to help you make an informed decision.

Pros

  • Benefits
    Description
  • Bonus miles in your first year
    Discover will automatically match all the miles you earn at the end of your first year with no limits. This means that if you earn 50,000 miles at the end of the year, you’ll end up with 100,000 miles. For individuals who plan to spend a significant amount immediately after opening their card, this is an ideal option.
  • Redeem how you want it
    Aside from travel credit, you can redeem your rewards in cash.
  • No annual fee
    The Discover it® Miles card comes with no annual fees, which make it an affordable travel card for anyone interested in earning travel rewards.
  • No foreign transaction fees
    Aside from spending to earn miles at home, you can spend and earn miles elsewhere. The Discover it® Miles card has no foreign transaction fees, which means you won’t get charged extra if you make a purchase abroad.

Cons

  • Drawbacks
    Description
  • No luxury travel perks
    Frequent travelers may dislike the Discover it® Miles card as there are no perks such as access to an airport lounge.
  • No bonus categories
    The Discover it® Miles card offers a straightforward way to earn miles, which means there are no bonus categories for those who spend more on groceries or gas.
  • It may be difficult to obtain
    For the Discover it® Miles, a high credit score between Good and Excellent is required.
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LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

Although the Discover it® Miles is an excellent travel card for infrequent travelers, it did not make MoneyGeek’s list of the top-rated travel rewards cards. If you’re a frequent traveler or just want a higher-reward card, you can review MoneyGeek’s ranking of the best travel rewards cards to find something that better suits your needs.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

Featuring a simple yet solid rewards program and an enticing welcome bonus, the Discover it® Miles benefits budget travelers and minimalist card holders.

1

Earning Miles

The Discover it® Miles card offers 1.5 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases. This means that if you spend $500, you will earn 750 miles. Even better, there’s no limit on the amount of miles you can earn or minimum spending requirement to accrue miles.

2

Welcome Bonus

In your first year, Discover will match all your earned miles. This means that if you earned 50,000 miles, you’ll receive an additional 50,000 miles. This match is not subject to a cap, which means Discover will match any amount of mileage.

3

Flexible Rewards Redemption

If you no longer want the miles or simply need cash, you can redeem your miles as cash, a statement credit for a travel purchase, purchases through Amazon or purchases made with PayPal.

4

Introductory 0% APR

Aside from offering a great welcome bonus, the Discover it® Miles card also comes with a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months, then a variable APR of 16.24% – 27.24%.

Other Features Explained

Beyond offering travel rewards, the Discover it® Miles card offers users plenty of other features.

  • Card Feature
    Description
  • Fraud Protection
    Discover monitors your cards and accounts 24/7 for possible fraud. You won’t be responsible for any unauthorized purchases made with your card.
  • Freeze It®
    Discover allows you to freeze your account quickly and easily through their online portal, preventing any new purchases, cash advances or balance transfers if your card is stolen.
  • Inquiry and New Account Alerts
    Discover monitors your credit report for you, and will notify you if anyone pulls your report or opens a new account.
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MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP

Take advantage of the welcome bonus in your first year and maximize your spending with the Discover it® Miles card. Even if you have other rewards cards, you can stand to earn more from the Discover it® Miles card due to its uncapped matching policy.

Understanding the Fine Print

The Discover it® Miles can save you money on travel, but it’s important to consider the card’s interest rates and fees before applying.

  • Card Feature
    Amount or Rate
  • APR
    16.24% – 27.24% variable
  • Annual Fee
    $0
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Rewards Rate
    1.5 Miles
  • Airline Benefits
  • noAnnualFee icon

    Introductory and Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

    With the Discover it® Miles, you’ll pay 0% APR for the first 15 months. Afterward, you’ll pay between 16.24% – 27.24%, depending on your credit score and evaluation.

  • airplane icon

    Travel Rewards Rate

    You stand to earn 1.5 miles for every dollar on any purchase. There is no limit to the number of miles you can earn per year and no expiration, which means you do not have to spend your travel rewards within a specified period of time.

  • Penalty Fees (Late and Returned Payment)

    Discover charges no fee for your first missed payment. However, every late payment made afterwards will have a charge of up to $40. All returned payments will be subject to a $40 fee, regardless if it was your first offense.

  • balanceTransfer icon

    Balance Transfer APR

    Discover offers balance transfer APRs at 16.24% – 27.24%.

  • money2 icon

    Cash Advance

    The Discover it® Miles has an APR of 29.24% on cash advances.

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WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION?

If you want to compare the Discover it® Miles to other travel cards in the market, you can review the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s credit card agreement database. For your existing cards, we recommend checking your most recent financial statement for rate information.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Discover it® Miles?

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Other Considerations for Discover it® Miles

Consider how you plan to use the Discover it® Miles before deciding whether or not to apply. Whether it’s your only credit card, or one of many credit cards, improper use or management of credit can have repercussions later on.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

If the Discover it® Miles card is your only card, keep the credit card’s high APR range in mind when making purchases. The 0% introductory APR is only valid for the first 15 months. Letting your balance roll over into the next month means that you’ll likely end up paying at least 16.24% in interest (or more). However, if you plan to take advantage of the welcome bonus and can pay off your balance before the end of each billing cycle, then this card may work well for you.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

Adding the Discover it® Miles to your wallet can be helpful if you’d like to earn more rewards in other categories. For instance, if you have an existing rewards card that benefits your grocery spending, you can prioritize other purchases like gas or entertainment costs to your Discover it® Miles to earn more.

This card would also be best for international purchases, as it comes with no foreign transaction fees.

However, you may want to use a different card if you aren’t sure you’ll be able to make on-time payments, as the card has a relatively high minimum and maximum APR. You may be better off with cards that have a lower APR for high-value spending as to not incur too much interest.

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WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS:

When reviewing credit cards, MoneyGeek follows a structured and streamlined approach. This involves collecting information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's database, standardizing the data points for easy comparison, estimating average spend profiles, determining long-term value and performing regular re-rankings.

How Discover it® Miles Compares to Other Cards

The Discover it® Miles card's versatility makes it stand out as a no-fee travel card. However, whether or not it’s right for you depends on your needs and what you’re looking for.

Quick Comparison of Discover it® Miles
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Discover it® Miles

  • APR: 16.24% – 27.24% variable
  • Reward rate: 1.5 miles per $1
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome bonus: Matched miles for the first year with no limit.
  • Best for: Individuals who want to earn higher bonus points on everyday spending and plan to spend a lot in their first year
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Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

  • APR: 19.99% – 28.99% variable
  • Reward rate: Up to 2 miles per dollar
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome bonus: 10,000 miles if you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first six months
  • Best for: People who fly with Delta Air Lines and wish to earn rewards without paying annual fees

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

If you’re thinking about getting the Discover it® Miles card, review the FAQs below prior to sending in your application.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

With Discover it® Miles, you won't have to pay any additional fees to get travel rewards. With a stellar welcome bonus and an attractive introductory 0% APR, you would be hard-pressed to find a no-annual-fee card with the same rewards. However, if you’re a frequent traveler who needs more value for money, you may be better off with a travel card that rewards spending in certain categories or offers better perks. Review the rest of MoneyGeek’s best rewards credit cards to see how you can maximize your spending.

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
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