What is the accepted credit score range for most cards?

You may qualify for the Discover it Cash Back Card, the Discover it Chrome Card, the Discover it Miles Card or the Discover it NHL Card if you have good or excellent credit. This means your credit score should be over 670. If you’re a student and don’t have a credit history or have an average credit score, you may qualify for the Discover it Student Cash Back Card or the Discover it Student Chrome Card. People with poor or average credit scores might qualify for the Discover it Secured Credit Card.

How many cards can you own?

You may have no more than two Discover credit cards at any given time.

How many times can you apply?

You may apply for a second Discover card only after your first Discover credit card account has been open for 12 months or more.

How many times can you get pre-approved?

Once pre-approved , you get seven days to apply for a new card before the offer expires. You may request a new pre-approval after the previous offer expires.

How many times can you claim the welcome bonus?

Discover credit cards do not have welcome bonuses. Some of its cards come with introductory 0% APR offers that you can take advantage of as long as you’re approved for the card you seek. Bear in mind that balance transfers are also subject to approval.

Discover Credit Card Reviews, Rules & Opinions

Discover gives individuals several credit cards from which to choose. We have reviewed different Discover cards across all important parameters so that you can select one with ease.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 1/26/2023

Reviewed By

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

Discover has seven credit cards on offer, including ones for students. Unfortunately, Discover does not currently have any credit cards for businesses available to new applicants. Other types of Discover cards come in the form of a travel credit card, a secured card and an NHL co-branded card.

Qualifying for Discover’s more rewarding cards typically requires you to have a credit score of over 670. However, this is not the case with its student and secured cards.

ON THIS PAGE:

Different Card Offerings From Discover
Rules for Applying, Acceptance & Welcome Bonuses
Other Considerations for Discover
Overall Opinion of Discover & Card Offerings

Featured Credit Cards Offered by Discover

Of the seven credit cards that Discover has on offer, you may find a cash back card, a student card, a travel card and a secured card. Depending on the card you get, you may benefit through an introductory 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers.

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The Best Discover Credit Cards in 2023

We revisit our list of the three best Discover credit cards each month after accounting for factors such as welcome bonuses, reward categories and other benefits.

Discover it® Cash Back
A good no-annual-fee cash back credit card with revolving bonus categories
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 1%–5% Cash backRewards Rate
- 1xRewards Rate on Groceries
- 1xRewards Rate on Gas
We like the Discover it® Cash Back because it charges no annual fees and offers high cash back on revolving bonus categories. In addition, Discover matches the cash back you earn during the course of the first year, which you receive as a bonus at the end of the year.
You stand to receive 5% cash back on select categories through the course of the year, examples of which include grocery stores, restaurants and digital wallets. However, you need to activate these categories, and the bonus cash back applies on purchases up to a predetermined maximum spending limit.
This card comes with a 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. The offer applies on balance transfers until April 10, 2023. Using your Discover credit card outside of the U.S. is perfect because it comes with no foreign transaction fees.
Pros
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
No limit to the cash back Discover matches in the first year
Earn up to 5% cash back on revolving bonus categories
1% cash back on all other purchases
Choose from 25 card designs while applying

Cons
Need to activate bonus categories
5% cash back on spending of up to a quarterly maximum
0% APR offer on balance transfers for a limited time period
Balance transfer fee
No annual and foreign transaction fees
Balance transfer fee of 3% until March 10, 2023, and 5% thereafter
Up to 5% cash back on revolving bonus categories that you need to activate each quarter
Revolving bonus categories include Amazon.com, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and payments made via PayPal
Redeem cash back as statement credit, a direct deposit or to checkout at Amazon or PayPal
25 card designs from which to choose
No penalty APR
$0 fraud liability
Free access to FICO Score
Social Security Number updates
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated credit cards.

Discover it® Student Cash Back
A good no-annual-fee students credit card with bonus cash back
- Limited–FairRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 1%–5% Cash backRewards Rate
- 5xRewards Rate on Groceries
- 5xRewards Rate on Gas
We recommend the Discover it® Student Cash Back to students who wish to build their credit and get rewarded for their spending along the way. You don’t need a credit score to apply for this card. It comes with a 0% APR offer on purchases for the first six months as well as a low APR offer on balance transfers for equally long. What also helps is you pay no annual fee for as long as your account remains active.
You earn 5% cash back on revolving bonus categories up to a quarterly maximum. The category on offer changes each quarter, and you need to activate it to earn the bonus cash back. All other purchases come with 1% cash back. In addition, Discover will match the total cash back you earn during the first year and transfer it to your account automatically.
You may continue using this card even after you graduate. In this case, updating your income might result in a higher credit limit. Using this card when you travel internationally is perfect because it charges no foreign transaction fees.
Pros
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
Discover matches the cash back you earn in the first year
Up to 5% cash back on revolving bonus categories
All other purchases earn 1% cash back
0% APR on purchases for the first six months, then a variable APR of 17.24% – 26.24% after that
10.99% APR on balance transfers for the first six months, then 17.24% – 26.24% variable APR will apply
Multiple card designs on offer

Cons
Bonus categories require activation
A quarterly maximum limit applies on the bonus 5% cash back you may earn
Balance transfer intro APR offer is valid for a limited time
No annual and foreign transaction fees
Need no credit history to apply
Up to 5% cash back on revolving bonus categories that change each quarter
Need to activate bonus categories
Revolving bonus categories include gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, Amazon.com and payments made via PayPal
Redeem cash back as statement credit, a direct deposit or to checkout at Amazon or PayPal
3% balance transfer fee until April 10, 2023, and 5% thereafter
No penalty APR
Choose from multiple card designs
Free access to FICO Score
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply

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
We recommend the Discover it® Miles Credit Card to people who want the freedom to use any airline or hotel without worrying about blackout dates. You earn 1.5X miles per dollar on all purchases. In addition, Discover automatically matches the miles you earn during the first year.
You may redeem the miles you earn for credit toward travel purchases you make in the last 180 days. These include airline tickets, car rentals, hotel rooms, travel websites, travel agents, commuter transportation, gas stations and restaurants. You may also redeem your miles as a direct deposit into your bank account or use them to checkout at Amazon.com or PayPal.
Using this card outside of the U.S. is ideal, as it charges no foreign transaction fees. It comes with a 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. However, the offer on balance transfers is valid only until April 10, 2023. In addition, you’ll need to pay a balance transfer fee.
Pros
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
1.5X miles per dollar on all purchases
Discover matches the miles you earn in the first year

Cons
0% balance transfer APR offer valid for a limited time
Balance transfer fee
No annual and foreign transaction fees
Regular APR: 16.49% – 27.49% variable
Cash Advance APR: 29.49%
Balance transfer fee of 3% until April 10, 2023, and 5% thereafter
Earn 1.5x miles per dollar on all purchases
Mile-for-mile match by Discover in the first year
Redeem miles to cover previous travel purchases, as a direct deposit or to checkout at Amazon or PayPal
No penalty APR
Free access to FICO Score
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply

Rules for Applying, Acceptance & Welcome Bonuses

Carrying out some research in advance is important if you wish to apply for a Discover credit card. From questions about eligibility criteria to how often you may apply, we have you covered. We also shed light on how Discover’s welcome offers work.

Other Considerations About Discover

There is more to selecting a Discover credit card than looking at fees, rewards and APRs. Knowing just where Discover stands in other regards can be equally important

Feature
Description
Customer Service & Satisfaction
According to the 2021 J.D. Power US. Credit Card Satisfaction Study, Discover stood at the second spot when it came to customer satisfaction among the national credit card issuers. It scored 837 out of 1,000.
You may contact a Discover representative over the phone, via its website’s online chat platform, via regular mail or through its social media accounts.
Mobile Apps & Online Services
In the 2021 J.D. Power Mobile Banking App Satisfaction Study, Discover’s app ranked third in credit card mobile app satisfaction. It scored 875 out of 1,000.
Discover provides apps for devices that run on iOS and Android. The apps let credit card users view account activity, download statements, make payments, redeem rewards and check their FICO score. You can also manage your credit card account by logging in to the Discover website.
Security & Credit Monitoring Services
Discover provides various security and credit monitoring features, although these are not the same across all its cards. Depending on the card you get, you may expect Social Security number alerts, a $0 fraud liability guarantee, the ability to freeze your account, free overnight card replacement and free access to your FICO score.
Loyalty Programs & Other Issuer Perks
Discover credit cards are not linked to any loyalty program. You can redeem the cash back you earn as a deposit into your bank account, as a statement credit or to make purchases through Amazon.com and PayPal. You can redeem miles as cash, as a statement credit for travel purchases or to make purchases at Amazon.com and PayPal. The cash back or miles you earn never expire.
Authorized Users
Discover lets you add up to five authorized users per credit card. Authorized users should be at least 15 years of age
Purchase Protection
Discover stopped offering purchase protection on its credit cards on February 28, 2018.
Co-Branding & Partnerships
The only co-branded credit card that Discover offers is the Discover it NHL Card. Linked to the National Hockey League, it lets you choose the logo of the team you support as the face of your card.
Other Products Offered
Discover’s other financial products come in the form of savings accounts, checking accounts, retirement accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, personal loans, student loans, home equity loans and mortgage refinancing.

Overall Opinion of Discover & Their Credit Card Offerings

While Discover does not have an extensive range of credit cards on offer, it has options to meet the needs of most consumers. For example, while it offers two student cards, it also has a secured card for those with poor credit. Unfortunately, Discover does not have any business credit cards available at the moment. Depending on your individual requirements, you may benefit by getting a Discover credit card under different circumstances.

Building credit as a student
Students who wish to build their credit histories can choose from two Discover student credit cards. Both let you earn higher cash back on bonus categories.
Repairing credit
If you wish to build or repair your credit and don’t qualify for Discover’s student cards, you may want to consider applying for its secured card. Discover starts conducting monthly reviews of your account to refund your deposit and upgrade you to a non-secured card in the seventh month.
Earning rewards without paying annual fees
What sets Discover apart from most credit card providers is that none of its credit cards charge annual fees, its secured card included. This way, you earn cash back or miles without paying any annual fees.

EXPERT OPINION

"While Discover does not provide a welcome bonus for new applicants, it does offer to double all of the rewards earned during the first year your account is open. Depending on how much you spend and the rewards you earn, this offer could be more valuable than many welcome bonus offers from competing credit cards."

- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com

Still Not Sure About This Issuer? Consider These Options.

If you’re unsure whether getting a Discover credit card would work well for you, take a look at what some of the other top issuers have to offer. You may also consider looking for options based on specific categories such as cash back or travel.

Learn More About Credit Cards in General

sources

Discover. "Pre-Approval Form." Accessed February 23, 2022.
J.D Power. "2021 J.D. Power US. Credit Card Satisfaction Study." Accessed February 23, 2022.
J.D Power. "J.D Power 2021 Mobile Banking App Satisfaction Study." Accessed February 23, 2022.
Discover. "Adding an Authorized User." Accessed February 23, 2022.

*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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