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How to Choose From Discover® Card Options

3 min read

Last Updated: March 18, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

All Discover® credit cards earn rewards on every purchase and no annual fee.
The percentage of rewards you can earn for each eligible purchase varies across Discover® Cards.
Discover offers both student and secured credit cards that may be ideal for those new to credit.

Picking the right credit card can be easy when you know what to look for. The best Discover card for you depends on which cards you qualify for, the types of purchases you make, and the rewards style you like. Discover offers credit cards with different rewards rates but ensures every cardmember receives great benefits no matter which card they choose.

What are the Discover credit card options?

All Discover credit cards will earn cash back on everything you buy. Discover even rewards students and those trying to rebuild credit with responsible use¹ through a secured card. Discover credit card options include:

Which Discover® Card options do you qualify for?

Credit card companies like Discover will check your credit report and credit score when you apply for a new credit card. These tell a lender if you’re likely to pay them back. So, your credit history impacts which cards you may qualify for. Standard or traditional unsecured credit cards may require good credit to qualify, but secured credit cards may have fewer requirements.

Applying for multiple credit cards within a short time could hurt your credit score. With the Discover pre-approval tool, you can check pre-approval offers you may qualify for without affecting your credit.²

See If You're Pre-Approved

Benefits that come with every Discover® Card

Each Discover^® Card has features that appeal to different people based on their financial needs. But every Discover^® Card comes with certain benefits. Among other benefits, Discover^® Cardmembers receive:

No annual fee: You don’t have to worry about paying to use your Discover^® Card because there’s no annual fee.
Bonus rewards: We’ll automatically double all the rewards you’ve earned at the end of your first year.³
Rewards that won’t expire: Don’t worry about losing your rewards. At Discover, your rewards never expire.⁴
Easy reward redemptions: Choose among multiple redemption options, including gift cards, charitable donations, or a statement credit.
$0 Fraud Liability Guarantee: You’re never held responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover Card.⁵

Which Discover® Card options offer the most rewards?

While every Discover Card offers rewards, each card’s rewards program falls into one of three distinct earning styles:

Fixed-rate rewards: Earn a flat rate of unlimited rewards on all purchases.
Tiered rewards: Earn a high percentage of rewards (up to a set limit) in certain spending categories. Earn a lower flat rate of unlimited rewards on all other purchases.
Rotating rewards: Earn a higher percentage of rewards (up to a set limit) in certain spending categories that rotate throughout the year. Then, earn a lower rate of unlimited rewards on all other purchases.

Did you know?

Credit cards with tiered rewards, like Discover it^® Chrome cards, or quarterly spending categories, like Discover it^® Cash Back cards, could help you earn more rewards. Choose a card with rewards that match your spending style.

Learn More

What to consider when choosing a Discover credit card

The right Discover^® Card for you will depend on your personal preferences. Here are a few suggestions that could help you determine which card is best for you:

You’re a student: College students might want to consider one of our two student credit cards. Student cards start with a low credit limit, making it easier to practice responsible credit card habits. These habits include making on-time payments each month and keeping your balance low.
You’re building or rebuilding your credit history: The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card helps you build your credit history.¹ And there’s no credit score required to apply.⁶
You travel: A good choice for frequent travelers who enjoy earning and redeeming credit card rewards for travel purchases and more.

You may already have an idea of what type of credit card you want. But learning about each Discover^® Card, including which ones you might get approval for, can make it easier to choose the best credit card for you.

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