Best Discover Credit Cards 2023

Discover, like American Express, serves as both a payment network and a card issuer. Even though it’s the youngest payment network, its support is well-respected.

As a matter of fact, Discover has once again topped J.D. Power’s annual credit card customer satisfaction study this year.

In this blog post, we will go over the best Discover Credit Cards in-depth and summarize our picks for the best Discover cards on the market.

1. Discover it® Cash Back: Best for Earning Bonus Cash Back
2. Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best Secured Discover Credit Cards
3. Discover it® Cash Back: Best Discover Cash Back Card
4. Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best Discover Student Card
5. Discover it® Miles: Best Discover Credit Cards for Travel
6. Discover it® chrome: Best Discover Credit Cards for Road Trips

Let’s dive in.

Best Discover Credit Cards 2023

Here are our choices for the best Discover credit cards available.

Discover it® Cash Back: Best for Earning Bonus Cash Back.

For moderate spenders who are willing to activate the 5% rotating categories and track the quarterly spending cap, this no-annual-fee card can deliver tidy rewards outside of its ongoing 1% earning rate.

Pros

• 5% cash back on quarterly rotating spending categories throughout the year (activation required)
• Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
• No minimum cashback redemption

Cons

• 5% bonus cashback rate is limited to $1,500 per quarter in spending
• Bonus categories must be activated quarterly
• Low 1% base reward rate on everything else

RELATED: Discover card login guide | Discover Credit Card Login

Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best Secured Discover Credit Cards

In the secured credit world, the Discover it® Secured Credit Cards stand above the competition.

With an unlimited 1% cash back rate on all purchases, plus 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, no penalty APR and no annual fee, we love this card for those who need to rebuild their credit.

The matching cash back reward at the end of your first year is a sweet bonus.

Pros

• No annual fee
• Cash back rewards earning is uncommon for a secured card
• Free FICO score access each month
• Cashback Match doubles cash back rewards earning at the end of the first year

Cons

• Rewards are capped
• Secured cards don’t provide many of the perks unsecured cards do
• Secured cards require refundable deposits

Discover it® Cash Back: Best Discover Cash Back Card

For moderate spenders who are willing to activate the 5% rotating categories and track the quarterly spending cap, this no-annual-fee card can deliver tidy rewards outside of its ongoing 1% earning rate.

Pros

• 5% cash back on quarterly rotating spending categories throughout the year (activation required)
• Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
• No minimum cashback redemption

Cons

• 5% bonus cashback rate is limited to $1,500 per quarter in spending
• Bonus categories must be activated quarterly
• Low 1% base reward rate on everything else

Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best Discover Student Card

Here’s an excellent way for students with average or limited credit scores to gain experience managing credit. No annual fee, no penalty APR, plus up to 5% cashback rewards in rotating categories (up to a quarterly cap with enrollment, 1% back on other purchases) earn this card an “A” in our book.

Pros

• 5% cashback on rotating bonus categories after enrollment
• First-year cash-back match

Cons

• 5% bonus cashback rate is limited to $1,500 per quarter in spending
• Bonus categories must be activated quarterly
• Low 1% base reward rate

Discover it® Miles: Best Discover Card for Travel

For a card with no annual fee, the Discover it® Miles Card serves up considerable value in the first year. You’ll pay 0% introductory interest on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months while automatically earning 1.5x miles on every dollar spent.

At the end of the first year as a cardholder, Discover will match the miles you have earned during your first year.

Pros

• Miles earned during the first year are matched at the end of the year in place of a traditional welcome bonus
• Miles can be redeemed for travel or cash back at the same rate
• No foreign transaction fee
• No annual fee

Cons

• Discover is not accepted widely abroad
• No luxury travel perks

Discover it® chrome: Best Discover Card for Road Trips

The Discover it® chrome is a mediocre card with one redeeming feature: the 1-for-1 cash back match, which doubles your rewards at the end of the first year.

The high balance transfer fees make the intro APR offer on balance transfers less appealing, and the 2% bonus cash back category is limited to the first $1,000 in quarterly spending in limited categories.

All other purchases earn 1%.

Pros

• Cash-back match means double the rewards at the end of your first year
• Flexible cash-back redemption options
• No foreign transaction fee

Cons

• High balance transfer fee
• High cash advance fee
• 2% cash back category limited to $1,000 in quarterly spending
• 1% base rate on other purchases

Here’s a Summary of the Best Discover Credit Cards

CREDIT CARD	BEST FOR	CREDIT SCORE	ANNUAL FEE
Discover it® Secured Credit Card	Best Secured Discover Card	New/Rebuilding Credit	$0
Discover it® Cash Back	Best Discover Cash Back Card	Excellent/Good	$0
Discover it® Student Cash Back	Best Discover Student Card	Fair/New to Credit	$0
Discover it® chrome	Best Discover Card for Travel	Excellent/Good	$0
Discover it® chrome	Best Discover Card for Road Trips	Excellent/Good	$0

How to Pick a Discover Credit Card

Finding the best credit card for your needs can feel overwhelming. First, don’t assume each credit card’s basic features or fee structures are the same.

For example, some cards charge foreign transaction fees and some don’t. Not all cards offer the same types of rewards or any rewards at all.

Potential cardholders should examine spending before settling on a card that earns rewards to see which card is likely going to return the most when it comes to rewards.

Those considering applying for a Discover card should also first compare additional benefits with cards outside of the Discover network—cards from one issuer often offer variations on a theme with extra benefits and another issuer’s lineup may be more appealing to you.

With Discover specifically, for example, acceptance outside of the U.S. is not as strong as other card networks—so a Discover card is not likely to be the best choice for frequent international travelers.

How Can I Apply for a Discover Credit Card?

Applying for a Discover credit card is much like applying for any other credit card. Perhaps the simplest way to apply for a Discover card is to visit the company’s website, but prospective cardholders can also call Discover and apply over the phone.

Discover also offers a pre-qualification tool on its website where potential cardholders can provide personal information and see if they’re likely to receive approval. Prequalification will not hurt your credit score, but prequalification does not guarantee approval for a card.

How Can I Receive Approval for a Discover Credit Card?

No guarantee ever exists that you’ll receive approval for a credit card, but you can take several steps to increase your likelihood of a successful application. These might include paying off delinquent accounts or reducing your credit utilization in order to improve your creditworthiness.

Also, find a card most aligned with realistic expectations for your credit score. If your credit score remains subprime, the greatest rewards cards on the market are likely out of reach, so finding a secured card to help build better credit would likely see more success.

How Do I Close a Discover Credit Card Account?

Closing a Discover card is as simple as paying off the balance completely and calling the number on the back of the card to cancel the account. You may want to use any remaining rewards and notify authorized users you’re closing the account, as well. After you’ve called and canceled the account, Discover recommends destroying the card.

Before you cancel a credit card account, ensure you’re doing so thoughtfully; closing a credit account often impacts your credit in a number of ways. Especially if your Discover card is the oldest active account you have or its credit limit makes up a significant portion of your overall available credit, you may want to reevaluate.

Conclusion.

There are numerous advantages and drawbacks to carrying a Discover card compared to cards from other major issuers.

While Discover cards in general offer solid rewards, you can often find better rewards with other issuers.

If low fees and excellent customer service are important to you, however, a Discover card may prove to be the best option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Other Credit Cards To Be Considered

• The Best Chase Credit Cards of 2023