5 Best Discover cards of September 2026
The best Discover credit cards offer easy rewards and great benefits. Known for carrying no annual fees across its entire product line, Discover remains one of our top choices for those just getting started with travel rewards. However, the lucrative cash-back rates, flexible redemption options and diverse offerings can be a good fit for just about any traveler.
We have selected the best Discover credit cards to empower consumers to earn on their everyday purchases without the hassle of annual fees.
- Discover it® Cash Back: Best for maximizing rotating categories
- Discover it® Miles: Best for simple travel rewards
- Discover it® Chrome: Best for simple gas and restaurants rewards
- Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for rotating categories for students
- Discover it® Student Chrome: Best for gas and restaurant rewards for students
Comparing the best Discover credit cards
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5% | 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. |
| 1% | Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
The Discover it Cash Back is a solid no-annual-fee option for earning elevated cash back on rotating spending categories. Cardmembers can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories (activation required), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Discover's first-year Cashback Match adds even more value by automatically matching all the cash back earned during the first cardmember year, with no limit on the match.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in rotating categories after activation
- Cashback Match automatically matches all cash back earned during the first cardmember year
Cons
- Requires activation to earn 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories
- Quarterly spending cap on 5% categories
- Low base rate outside of bonus categories
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; balance transfer fee applies. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300
- 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
- Redeem cash back for any amount. No annual fee
- Terms and conditions apply
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1.5X | Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x miles on every dollar of every purchase. |
The Discover it Miles is a straightforward card for beginners who want to earn rewards. Every purchase earns unlimited 1.5 miles per dollar spent, with no bonus categories to track, no rotating quarters to remember, and no annual fee. New cardmembers can also take advantage of Discover Match, which automatically matches all the miles earned during the first year, with no limit. Miles never expire and are redeemable for cash or as a statement credit toward eligible travel purchases.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Earns an unlimited flat-rate miles on every purchase
- Discover Match automatically matches all miles earned during the first cardmember year
- Miles can be redeemed for cash or as a statement credit toward eligible travel purchases
Cons
- No bonus earning categories
- No airline or hotel transfer partners
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; balance transfer fee applies. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited mile-for-mile match for all new cardmembers. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a mile-for-mile match. You could turn 35,000 miles into 70,000 miles
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x miles on every dollar of every purchase
- No annual fee
- Turn miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants, and more. Redemption rates for these options may vary and are subject to change
- Terms and conditions apply
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 2% | Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. |
| 1% | Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
The Discover it Chrome is a no-annual-fee cash-back card with a simple rewards structure that rewards spending at gas stations and restaurants. Cardmembers earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Once the quarterly cap is reached, gas station and restaurant purchases also earn 1%. Discover's first-year Cashback Match adds value for new cardmembers, but the card's quarterly spending cap limits its long-term appeal.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Elevated cash-back earnings on restaurant and gas station purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- First-year Cashback Match
Cons
- Quarterly caps on bonus earnings
- Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers and 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months; balance transfer fee applies. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No annual fee
- Terms and conditions apply
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5% | 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. |
| 1% | Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. |
The Discover it Student Cash Back is a solid first credit card for students who want to earn cash back without paying an annual fee. Cardmembers can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories (activation required), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. At the end of the first cardmember year, Discover automatically matches all of the cash back earned, with no limit on the match.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in rotating categories after activation
- Cashback Match automatically matches all cash back earned during the first cardmember year
Cons
- Requires activation to earn 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories
- Quarterly spending cap on 5% categories
- 1% cash back outside bonus categories
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 16.49% - 25.49% applies
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200
- 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
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No annual fee
- Terms and conditions apply
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 2% | Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. |
| 1% | Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
The Discover it Student Chrome is a no-annual-fee option for students who want straightforward cash back without having to track rotating bonus categories. Cardmembers automatically earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurant purchases on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. At the end of the first cardmember year, Discover automatically matches all the cash back earned, with no limit on the match.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Elevated cash-back earnings on restaurant and gas station purchases
- First-year Cashback Match
- No quarterly activation required
Cons
- Quarterly caps on bonus earnings
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 16.49% - 25.49% applies
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No annual fee
- Terms and conditions apply
Comparing the best Discover credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
at Capital One's secure site | maximizing rotating categories | Unlimited Cashback Match™ Open Intro bonus INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. | 1 - 5% cash-back Open Rewards rates
| $0 | ||||
at Capital One's secure site | simple travel rewards | Discover Match® Open Intro bonus UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited mile-for-mile match for all new cardmembers. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a mile-for-mile match. You could turn 35,000 miles into 70,000 miles. | 1.5 $ Open Rewards rates
| $0 | ||||
at Capital One's secure site | simple gas and restaurants rewards | Unlimited Cashback Match™ Open Intro bonus INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. | 1 - 2 $ Open Rewards rates
| $0 | ||||
at Capital One's secure site | rotating categories for students | Unlimited Cashback Match™ Open Intro bonus INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. | 1 - 5% cash-back Open Rewards rates
| $0 | ||||
at Capital One's secure site | gas and restaurant rewards for students | Unlimited Cashback Match™ Open Intro bonus INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. | 1 - 2 $ Open Rewards rates
| $0 |
More details on the best Discover credit cards
Discover’s rotating 5% categories and first-year Cashback Match give this no-annual-fee card meaningful earning potential. If your spending aligns with the quarterly categories, you can earn significantly more than the card’s standard 1% cash-back rate.
Beginners and cash-back fans who don't mind keeping track of and activating bonus categories each quarter. The card is particularly useful for those whose spending regularly aligns with Discover’s rotating 5% cash-back categories, which can include grocery stores, wholesale clubs, gas stations, restaurants, home improvement stores and more.
With no annual fee, the Discover it Cash Back costs nothing to keep in your wallet long term. Its rotating 5% categories can deliver strong rewards on purchases you’d make anyway, while Cashback Match doubles the cash back you earn during your first cardmember year. However, its 1% base rate means you'll likely want another card for purchases that don't fall into a quarterly bonus category.
If you want a card with rotating bonus categories but prefer to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards, consider the Chase Freedom Flex®. It also earns 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in activated bonus categories, plus 5% on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, 2% on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027) and 1% on all other purchases. If you also hold an eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you may be able to combine your rewards and transfer them to Chase’s hotel and airline partners.
Or, if you prefer a cash-back card with a simpler rewards structure, consider the Citi Double Cash Card. It earns 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay — without requiring you to track rotating bonus categories.
The Discover it Miles keeps travel rewards extremely simple. You don’t have to track bonus categories or decide which airline or hotel programs to use. Instead, every purchase earns a consistent 1.5 miles per dollar.
Beginners and travelers who want a simple rewards card without an annual fee, bonus categories or complicated redemption options.
The Discover it Miles is straightforward to use and costs nothing to keep. The 1.5-mile-per-dollar earning rate isn’t necessarily competitive on its own, but Discover Match makes the card much more compelling during the first year. After that, it can still work as a simple travel rewards card for someone who values ease of use over maximizing every purchase.
If you want a higher flat-rate earning structure, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card. It earns 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay — making it a stronger option for everyday spending if you don’t specifically need travel rewards.
If you’d rather earn transferable points that can potentially be worth more when used for travel, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It carries a $95 annual fee but earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to Chase’s hotel and airline partners, giving you more opportunities to maximize your rewards.
For a no-annual-fee card, the Discover it Chrome offers bonus rewards on two common spending categories (on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter). The card has strong first-year earning potential: Discover automatically matches all the cash back you earn during your first cardmembers year, with no limit on the match. However, the quarterly spending cap limits the card's long-term earning potential.
Beginners who want a simple no-annual-fee cash-back card and regularly spend at gas stations and restaurants, particularly those who can make the most of Discover's first-year Cashback Match.
If you want a simple way to earn bonus cash back at gas stations and restaurants, the Discover it Chrome is a solid fit, and Cashback Match can make the first year especially rewarding. However, there are stronger no-annual-fee cash-back cards for ongoing spending, especially once the first-year match ends.
If you prefer a cash-rewards card with a simpler rewards structure, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on every purchase, with no annual fee.
Or, if you don’t mind activating rotating quarterly bonus categories, consider the Discover it® Cash Back. It has no annual fee and earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories (activation required).
Discover’s rotating 5% categories and first-year Cashback Match give students a straightforward way to earn cash back while building responsible credit habits.
Students looking for a first credit card with no annual fee, straightforward cash-back rewards and a generous first-year incentive. It’s particularly useful for students who spend aligns with Discover’s rotating 5% cash-back categories and who don’t mind activating those categories each quarter.
This card combines student-friendly features with the same rotating cash-back structure found on Discover’s flagship cash-back card. With no annual fee, it’s inexpensive to keep long-term, while the 5% rotating categories can provide a strong return on purchases you would make anyway.
If you are looking for a student card with a simpler rewards structure, consider the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. It offers elevated cash back on select everyday spending categories without requiring you to track rotating quarterly categories.
If you specifically want rotating bonus categories and don’t need a student-focused card, consider the Discover it® Cash Back. It offers the same 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter after activation, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases and a first-year Cashback Match.
The Discover it Student Chrome keeps earning rewards simple. Cardmembers automatically earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, so there’s no need to activate bonus categories or keep track of changing quarterly rewards. Plus, Discover's first-year Cashback Match can make the card more rewarding during the first year.
Students looking for a first credit card with no annual fee who regularly spend at gas stations and restaurants. It’s a particularly good fit for students who want elevated rewards without having to track rotating bonus categories — and those who can take full advantage of the first-year cash back match.
If you’re a student who wants a simple way to build credit while earning cash back on gas and restaurants, the Discover it Student Chrome is a solid starter card. However, the 1% base rate and $1,000 quarterly cap limit its value if you spend heavily outside those categories.
If you are looking for a student card with a simpler rewards structure, consider the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. It earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, with no annual fee and no bonus categories to track.
Or, if you don’t mind activating rotating quarterly bonus categories consider the Discover it® Student Cash Back credit card. It has no annual fee and earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories (activation required).
How we rate
How to choose a Discover credit card
- Earning a welcome bonus is a great way to maximize your spending. While most Discover credit cards don't offer a welcome bonus, they do feature a first year cash-back match.1Welcome bonus
- Discover cards do not come with annual fees which allow you to optimize your spending without worrying about justifying the cost of an annual fee.2Annual fee
- Discover cards offer various bonus categories that allow you to maximize your spending and, in turn, rewards earned. Plus, Discover cards offer elevated cash back rates in various rotating categories throughout the year, making these cards flexible for every type of spender.3Bonus categories
Pros + cons of Discover cards
Pros
- Discover cards do not charge annual fees
- Discover cards also do not charge foreign transaction fees
- Most Discover cards offer a healthy 5% cash back rate in specific spend categories
- Activating cash back bonus categories is fast and easy
- Redeeming cash back is also straightforward and simple
Cons
- You must remember to activate bonus spend categories
- There are better card options if you prefer to earn a flat reward rate across all purchases without needing to activate specific spend categories
Frequently asked questions
With no cash or points sign-up bonuses, Discover cards probably shouldn’t be the first cards you add to your wallet. That being said, for people with poor or limited credit histories, the various student and secured cards Discover offers can be a great stepping stone to more rewarding transferable points cards.
Experienced players can get great value here as well. Since there’s no cap on the first-year cash-back match, high-spending individuals and businesses can score an incredible return on bonus categories and everyday spending without jumping through as many hoops as some other cards require.
You can apply for a Discover credit card like you would apply for any credit card – online or by phone. The easiest option is to do it online. A credit card issuer will ask for some personal information, including your name, contact information, annual income, Social Security number and other financial details. You’ll be asked to read the terms and conditions of the card’s benefits, interest rates and applicable fees.
Once you apply, many issuers will give you a decision in just a few seconds, but you could end up having to wait for up to two weeks for an answer.
For Discover cards, you must be at least 18 or older to apply for a card. If you’re not yet 21, you will have to apply online. Discover Secured credit card applicants must also apply online.
Credit score requirements will vary by the card you are looking to add. For instance, the Discover it Secured credit card is meant for those needing to build or rebuild their credit. A standard Discover it® Card, such as Discover it® Cash Back or Discover it® Miles, would be more suited for those with established credit.
Credit card payments are typically due the same day each month. It’s smart to set some sort of reminder to remember to pay off your Discover credit card on time to avoid missing payments. You can normally use online banking services to make an electronic credit card payment.
We at TPG always recommend that you avoid carrying a balance on your credit card from month to month. Rapidly compounding interest charges you accrue when carrying a balance will likely wipe away any gains you earn toward valuable rewards.
Every Discover it credit card earns an unlimited cash-back match for the first 12 months of card ownership (with the exception of the Discover it® Miles, which matches every mile earned after the first year). This means Discover gives an unlimited dollar-to-dollar match of all the cash back (or miles) earned at the end of your first year.
Otherwise, certain Discover cards earn cash back differently. The Discover it® Cash Back earns 5% cash back in rotating quarterly bonus categories (up to the quarterly maximum when you activate) and 1% cash back on all other purchases, while the Discover it® Chrome earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically, plus 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases, for instance.
You can activate your new Discover credit card online, using the Discover mobile app or over the phone by calling customer service. Once you activate your card, you can use it immediately as long as the account is open and the card has not expired.
After weighing the appropriate considerations regarding whether you should keep the card open or ultimately cancel it, you can cancel a Discover credit card by picking up the phone and calling the card issuer. If the bank offers a “secure message center,” there’s a chance you may be able to close your account online.
Before canceling the card, be sure you’ve planned an exit strategy, protected any lingering rewards, paid the balance of the account and canceled any recurring payments.