Discover it® Miles
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A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Best for travel
- Annual Fee:
- $0
- Purchase Intro APR:
- 0% for 14 months
- Balance Transfer Intro APR:
- 10.99% for 14 months
- Regular APR:
- 13.49% - 24.49% Variable
Bankrate Rating
Discover it® Miles: Details and benefits
The Discover it® Miles card is a niche card that allows users to earn rewards that they can apply to travel purchases or redeem as cash back. This card really shines in its first 12 months, as Discover will match all of the miles that you earned in the 1st year of card ownership. The Discover it® Miles offers a rate of 1.5X miles for every $1 spent. And, since it’s a Discover card, they’ll match your rewards at the end of the first year. If you are looking for a straightforward card with no annual fee that offers an incredible amount of flexibility in how you redeem your rewards, this card is for you.
On top of the excellent year 1 rewards value that comes with the Discover it® Miles card, you will also get an introductory interest-free period of 14 months on purchases, after that the variable APR of 13.49 – 24.49 percent will apply. If you have plans to splurge on a trip that includes pricey airline tickets, this card could save you some money. Discover it® Miles charges no foreign transaction fees, so it could be a good choice to use if heading abroad.
As a stand-alone card that charges no annual fee, the 1.5X rewards rate on all purchases is about average. The end-of-year match makes it a solid choice among rewards cards – at least during your first year of ownership. The only other card that offers a similar rewards rate in the first year is the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card, but that has a $59 annual fee (waived the first year) and you have to be a member of Alliant Credit Union to be eligible.
Advantages
- Cardholders receive unlimited 1.5x miles for every dollar on all purchases.
- At the end of the first year your account is open, Discover will automatically match all the miles earned.
- There’s a 0% introductory APR offer for 14 months on purchases (13.49%-24.49% variable thereafter).
- Redeem rewards in any amount for cash-back or airline miles.
Disadvantages
- As a travel card, there are other cards that offer better rewards.
- You can transfer balances and pay a lower rate than your purchase APR, but many cards offer a 0% introductory balance transfer rate.
- There’s a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*.
Is it worth it for you?
Ignore the fact that this card has “miles” in its title, Discover it® Miles performs best as a cash-back card. If you’re looking for a high return without having to pay an annual fee, you should consider this card.
Travelers who are big spenders and road warriors might be better off with a card that pays bigger rewards on travel. There are cards that pay as much as 3 to 5 percent back on travel purchases and come with other plush perks like hotel upgrades.
Get the most value from Discover it Miles
There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the United States, so this could be a good option for your purchases made abroad.
You can also gain value from taking advantage of the introductory offers:
- On balance transfers, you’ll pay 10.99% APR for 14 months from the date of the first transfer. After the intro APR expires, you’ll pay a variable 13.49% – 24.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- On purchases, you’ll pay a 0% intro APR for 14 months from the date of account opening. After the intro APR expires, you’ll pay a variable 13.49% – 24.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
How much are the points worth?
Discover it Miles are worth 1 cent each, meaning you’ll earn 1.5 cents towards travel for every dollar you spend. When combined with the first-year match, that’s boosted to the equivalent of 3 cents per dollar.
In other words, if you make just $10,000 in purchases over your first year of card ownership, you can earn $300 back when you redeem your Miles. After the first year, the same $10,000 would earn $150 when redeemed.
How to redeem rewards:
There is no minimum amount required for redemption, and there’s no fee to redeem points for cash or airline miles.
Miles redeemed for cash can be electronically deposited into a bank account of your choice, starting at one mile. Miles redeemed for cash are paid at the same rate as they are when you redeem them to reimburse travel purchases.
Redemption is available for travel purchases only if the purchase was made within the last 180 days. If you’re interested in more information on how to earn and use your miles, check out our guide to Discover it® Miles.
Discover warns that purchases made using mobile wallets, like Apple Pay, may not be eligible for reimbursement.