Picking the right credit card can be difficult, especially when there are so many credit card issuers and cards to choose from. Discover offers credit cards with different rewards rates but ensures every cardmember receives valuable benefits regardless of which card they choose.
How to Choose From Discover® Card Options?
Last Updated: May 15, 2023
3 min read
Key points about: Discover credit card options
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All Discover credit cards offer rewards for eligible purchases and no annual fee.
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Discover® Cards vary by the percentage of rewards you can earn for each eligible purchase.
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Discover offers student and secured credit cards ideal for those trying to build or rebuild their credit history.
What are the Discover credit card options?
All Discover credit cards offer rewards, including cards geared toward college students and people looking to build or rebuild their credit history. Discover credit card options include:
Which Discover® Card options do you qualify for?
A credit card company will likely check your credit report and credit score when you apply for a new credit card, and your credit can impact which cards you may qualify for—from unsecured credit cards, some of which may require good credit to qualify, to secured credit cards which have fewer requirements. With the Discover pre-approval tool, you can see which Discover® Cards you’re pre-approved for before applying.
Benefits that come with every Discover® Card
Each Discover® Card has specific features that may 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: Youdon’t have to worry about paying to use your Discover® Card because there’s no annual fee.
- Bonus rewards: New Discover® Cardmembers can earn extra rewards at the end of their first year.
- Rewards that won’t expire: Don’t worry about losing your rewards. At Discover, your rewards never expire.1
- Easy reward redemptions: Choose among multiple redemption options, including gift cards, charitable donations, and statement credits.
- $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee: You’re never held responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover Card.2
Which Discover® Card options offer the most rewards?
While every Discover credit card offers rewards, the rewards programs can vary based on three earning styles:
- Fixed-rate rewards: Earn a flat rate of unlimited rewards on all purchases.
- Tiered rewards: Earn a higher percentage of rewards up to a set limit in certain spending categories and 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 and a lower flat rate of unlimited rewards on all other purchases.
Did you know?
Cards that offer fixed-rate rewards, like the Discover it® Miles card, let you earn rewards without tracking specific spending categories. But cards with tiered rewards or quarterly spending categories, like Discover it® Chrome cards or Discover it® Cash Back cards, could help you earn more rewards if your purchases align with the spending categories and quarterly changes.
What to consider when choosing a Discover credit card
Choosing the right Discover® Card can depend on your financial circumstances and personal preferences. Here are a few suggestions that could help you determine which card is best for you:
- You’re a student: Collegestudents might want to consider one of our two student credit cards. With less strict requirements to qualify, these cards could start with a low credit limit, making it easier to get the hang of using a credit card responsibly, such as making on-time payments each month and keeping your balances low.
- You’re building or rebuilding your credit history: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card helps you build your credit history.3 And there’s no credit score required to apply.4
- You travel. Our travel rewards credit card could be 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 approved for, can make it easier to choose the best one for you.
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- Rewards never expire. We reserve the right to determine the method to disburse your rewards balance. We will credit your Account or send you a check with your rewards balance if your Account is closed or if you have not used it within 18 months.
- $0 Fraud Liability: An “unauthorized purchase” is a purchase where you have not given access to your card information to another person or a merchant for one-time or repeated charges. Please use reasonable care to protect your card and do not share it with employees, relatives, or friends. Learn more at Discover.com/fraudFAQ.
- Build Credit History (Student Card): Discover reports your credit history to the three major credit bureaus so it can help build your credit if used responsibly. Late payments, delinquencies or other derogatory activity with your credit card accounts and loans may adversely impact your ability to build credit.
- No Credit Score Required (Secured Card): Based on 2022 Discover it Secured credit card application data, applicants without a credit score may qualify. You must meet other applicable underwriting criteria. When we evaluate your creditworthiness, we consider all the information you provide on your application, your credit report, and other information. If you have a credit score, we may use that in our evaluation.
- Legal Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. The material on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and does not indicate the availability of any Discover product or service. It does not guarantee that Discover offers or endorses a product or service. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.