Updated
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
Discover® credit cards have surged in popularity, partly because of their many benefits. For one thing, Discover credit card rewards are easy to use. Rewards are redeemed as cash back statement credit, with few limits. Plus, Discover cards offer some of the best rewards out there.
But the appeal goes beyond simply offering top-tier rewards credit cards. Discover offers cardholders zero fees, fraud protection, and impressive customer service. Here's a guide to all of the perks you can expect from your Discover credit card.
Benefits that apply to all Discover credit cards
There are a number of benefits that come with all Discover cards, regardless of your selection.
Less fees
- Zero fees: All Discover credit cards charge $0 annual fees and $0 foreign transaction fees.
High rewards and easy withdrawals
- Cash back: Discover credit cards earn cash back rewards or Miles (that can also be used as cash back), and you can redeem in amounts as low as $0.01, should you so choose.
- Discover cashback match: Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. This bonus is available only to new cardholders.
- Pay with rewards: Discover partners like Amazon and PayPal let you pay for purchases with Discover rewards. (But while this is convenient, it's typically more financially savvy to redeem rewards as statement credit.)
- Cash back at register: At certain shops, you can use your Discover card to get cash back when making a purchase, just like you can with a debit card. There's no special fee for doing so -- it's treated as a regular credit card transaction. Discover limits these transactions to $120 every 24 hours. Shops may limit these further.
Credit monitoring and security
- Credit check: Discover cardholders get a free Credit Scorecard with their FICO® Score and other important credit information. Scores are updated monthly.
- Card freeze: Discover's Freeze it® feature allows cardholders to turn their account on or off at will to prevent fraudulent or unauthorized purchases.
- Security alerts: Discover offers "Social Security number alerts." If you activate this feature, Discover will keep an eye on your SSN and alert you if it finds your data on a risky website, or notices new accounts opened in your name.
- Privacy protection: Discover will wipe your personal data from sketchy websites. This feature is only offered to mobile app users.
- Fraud insurance: Discover cardholders enjoy a $0 Fraud Liability Gurantee, meaning you aren't financially responsible for unauthorized purchases.
Excellent customer service
- Card replacement: If your Discover card is lost or stolen, Discover will ship you another one, overnight, for free. You can expect to receive new cards within four to six days. New cards are immediately usable through digital wallets like Apple Wallet.
- No-hassle service: Discover has U.S.-based customer service. What's more, unlike your typical credit card issuer, Discover commits to not upselling you when you call its customer service department.
Here are a few Discover cards we love that could be a great match for your needs.
As of Apr. 16, 2024
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| Discover it® Cash Back | Discover it® Secured Credit Card | Discover it® Balance Transfer |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: New/Rebuilding Under(579)
New/Rebuilding Under(579) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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Welcome Offer: N/A Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. |
Welcome Offer: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. |
Welcome Offer: N/A Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. |
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Rewards Program: 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—automatically. 1% - 5% Cashback |
Rewards Program: 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically 1% - 2% Cashback |
Rewards Program: 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—automatically. 1%-5% cash back |
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Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: n/a Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 6 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months |
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Regular APR: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
Regular APR: 28.24% Variable APR |
Regular APR: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
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Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
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Benefits Discover cards don't have
Discover offers a lot, but there are some popular credit card benefits you won't get with a Discover card.
Discover's general travel benefits were eliminated in early 2018, including auto rental insurance and flight accident insurance. If you're planning on doing a lot of traveling, you might be better off with one of our other favorite travel credit cards.
In recent years, Discover also eliminated purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty benefits. To be fair, several other card issuers have also cut these benefits, but many issuers do still offer them.
The bottom line on Discover credit card benefits
To be clear, some credit cards offer more benefits than Discover. And if travel- or purchase-related benefits are at the top of your priority list, a Discover card may not be the right credit card product for you.
But, Discover offers some unique features, such as Discover's generous welcome bonus. Plus, Discover offers access to top-tier customer service and zero foreign transaction fees.
Bottom line: Looking for a solid rewards credit card with no annual fee? Care not about travel or purchase insurance? A Discover credit card could be just what you're looking for.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
Still have questions?
Here are some other questions we've answered:
FAQs
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Discover credit cards charge you no foreign transaction fees for making purchases abroad, plus they offer other straightforward benefits. Discover's customer service is top notch, and the Discover app is easy to navigate.
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Discover cards are good if you are looking for no annual fee cards with straightforward benefits. They don't offer travel or purchase insurance.
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All Discover cards charge zero annual and foreign transaction fees. They're easy to maintain and easy to navigate for first-time credit users. Plus, the customer service team is U.S.-based.
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The Discover it® Cash Back, Discover it® Student Cash Back, Discover it® Balance Transfer, and NHL® Discover it® Credit Card offer a quarterly rotating 5% Cashback Bonus® on different spending categories. The categories change every three months, must be activated quarterly, and cap out at $1,500 in spending per quarter, earning you up to $75 in cash back each quarter. You can find the current category by checking Discover's cash back calendar.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.
Cole Tretheway is a full-time personal finance writer whose articles have been featured on The Ascent and The Motley Fool. He has a degree in English with a Certificate in Professional and Technical Communication from California Polytechnic University, SLO.
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Cole Tretheway has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, PayPal, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: short June 2024 $67.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.