Skip to Main Content

Discover it® Miles review: A simple card to simply skip

The ideal card for people new to the world of travel benefits

 /  11 min
Bankrate logo

The Bankrate promise

At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for .

Snapshot

3.9

Bankrate rating
Info Icon
Rating: 3.9 stars out of 5

Bottom line

The Discover it® Miles card is a no annual fee travel card that operates similar to its cash back siblings with few meaningful travel benefits. Frequent travelers seeking premium perks may not receive a ton of long-term value, but it can be a decent beginner card for the first year.

Best for first-year value

Recommended credit score:670 - 850
InfoHover to learn more
Apply nowLock

on Discover's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

InfoHover to learn more

Discover Match®

Rewards rate

InfoHover to learn more

1.5X

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR

3.9

Bankrate score

InfoHover to learn more
star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon

Rewards value

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
2.0 / 5

APR

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
5.0 / 5

Rewards flexibility

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
5.0 / 5

Features

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
2.0 / 5

Why you'll like this: Discover’s first-year rewards match could carry more value than the bonuses you’ll find on even the best no-annual-fee travel cards.

compare
Compare

Discover it® Miles overview

The Discover it® Miles credit card stands apart from every other Discover card as the only travel card in the issuer’s portfolio. Yet, it works remarkably similar to its cash back siblings. Rather than using your miles to book travel, you can redeem them for statement credits that can cover various travel purchases.

While the Discover it® Miles is a solid low-cost travel card option, its 1:1 value for all redemption options, including cash back, is what gives it a competitive edge over rival cards. If you want a backup plan for your rewards for when your future travel plans are uncertain, this card’s rewards program is a good Plan B.

  • Credit Card Cash Back Icon

    Rewards

    • Unlimited 1.5X miles on all purchases

    Expert Appraisal: Typical
    See our expert analysis

  • Rewards Icon

    Welcome offer

    • Discover Match®: All miles earned at the end of the first year are matched.

    Expert Appraisal: Good
    See our expert analysis

  • Credit Card Apr Icon

    0% intro APR offer

    • 0 percent intro APR on purchases for 15 months
    • 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
    • 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR

    Expert Appraisal: Good
    See our expert analysis

  • Credit Card Search Icon

    Rates and fees

    • $0 annual fee
    • No foreign transaction fees
    • No penalty APR
    • No first late payment fee (none the first time you pay late; after that, up to $41).

    Expert Appraisal: Exceptional
    See our expert analysis

  • Congrats Icon

    Other cardholder perks

    • Online privacy protection
    • Miles never expire as long as account is in good standing

    Expert Appraisal: Typical
    See our expert analysis

Discover it® Miles pros and cons

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    Because there's no annual fee, there's no cost to carry this card.

  • Checkmark Icon

    It offers unlimited, flat-rate miles and redemption flexibility for travel purchases.

  • Checkmark Icon

    You have the option to redeem miles for cash back at a 1:1 rate, so none of the reward’s value is lost.

Cons

  • You can’t transfer its reward miles to airline or hotel loyalty programs, which limits your travel redemption options.

  • The Discover credit card network has fewer international acceptance partners and perks compared to Visa and Mastercard.

  • The card lacks some travel benefits found on other no annual fee travel cards, like trip interruption or rental card insurance.

First-year value vs. ongoing value 

Thanks to Discover Match, the Discover it® Miles, will match all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. That's one of the best rates on the market and also functions as the card's welcome offer.

Beyond the first year, however, you'll only earn 1.5X miles per dollar, which is lackluster when there are myriad 2% cash back cards available. Plus, the card lacks any meaningful perks that would boost its ongoing value. Think of this card as being great for a year, especially if you're a beginner or want a strong cash back card, and then being easily replaceable by any number of better cards with actual benefits.

Why you might want the Discover it® Miles

While the best perks might come with cards with high annual fees, some no annual fee cards like the Discover it® Miles may have some limited utility. 

Welcome offer: Limitless earning potential

Instead of a traditional welcome bonus, Discover will match all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. So cardholders who spend highly in their first year could potentially get more value out of this offer than with a traditional welcome bonus. 

For instance, spending just over $13,000 by the end of your first year with your Discover it® Miles card would earn you about 20,000 bonus miles, worth at least $200 in rewards. Discover would match those miles, giving you a total of 40,000 miles in your first year, worth $400 in travel.

Rewards rates: Slow but steady earning rate

One of Discover it® Miles’ closest rivals is the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (See Rates & Fees) because it doesn’t have an annual fee, but it only earns a flat 1.25X miles. Although other flat-rate rewards cards earn at higher rates, the Discover it® Miles stacks up pretty well as a middle-of-the-road option.  

Rates and fees: Card’s versatility comes with minimal cost

There's no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, no penalty APR and no first late payment fee (none the first time you pay late; after that, up to $41). You’ll also be able to keep interest at bay with a 15-month 0 percent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, which can be great if you’re planning a big trip you need extra time to pay off.

You won’t have to worry about the ongoing APR much either since the lower end is below the current average interest rate — clocking in at 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR. This is a great deal considering comparable cards sometimes have these charges or higher rates.

Why you might want a different travel credit card

Unfortunately, the Discover it® Miles card’s versatility comes without many added benefits. Discover uses its own credit card network, so you won’t receive basic perks — like rental car damage insurance or travel and purchase protections — typically available to Visa and Mastercard members.

Perks: Slim beyond security features

Many of the Discover it® Miles’ benefits focus on card security. You're protected if you ever lose your Discover it® Miles card an the Freeze it® feature available within the Discover mobile app or online account lets you lock your card account instantly with an on/off switch. No one is able to use your card unless you turn it back on, rendering it useless if stolen.

However, coveted travel perks like lost baggage or trip delay insurance won't be found on this card. 

Redemption: Consistent but not flexible

Rather than using your miles to book travel accommodations such as flights, hotels, vacation packages or rental cars, you use miles to reimburse yourself for travel purchases via statement credits.

According to Bankrate's latest valuations, Discover miles are worth roughly 1.0 cents apiece across all redemption options, including cash back. This is a great perk since it’s rare to find a travel card that lets you opt for non-travel redemptions without sacrificing point value. However, the Discover it® Miles card may not measure up to other cards that let you transfer points to partnering airlines or hotels to achieve a boosted point value (depending on the issuer and travel partner). The maximum point value you can expect with travel redemptions through Discover is 1.0 cents per mile.

Best cards to pair with the Discover it® Miles

Other cards may offer ways to earn more rewards in specific spending categories, more flexible redemptions or better benefits. Pairing cards together gives you more flexibility and allows you to enjoy the perks of each.

How the Discover it® Miles card compares to other travel cards

The Discover it® Miles card is hard to beat when it comes to versatile and competitive flat-rate miles. However, even though it's accessible to newcomers with a good to excellent credit score (a FICO score of 670 or higher), this card’s major drawback is its lack of cardholder benefits. Other travel cards bring more value to the table, like travel and shopping protections, annual credits or upgrades that make traveling a bit smoother. 

Image of Discover it® Miles

Annual fee

$0

Intro offer

Discover Match®
Info Icon

Rewards rate

1.5X
Info Icon

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info Icon
Image of Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Bankrate Score
Apply now Lock Icon
on Bank of America's secure site

Annual fee

$0

Intro offer

25,000 points
Info Icon

Rewards rate

1.5X - 3X
Info Icon

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info Icon
Image of Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Annual fee

$95

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points
Info Icon

Rewards rate

1x - 5x
Info Icon

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info Icon

Is the Discover it® Miles right for me?

The Discover it® Miles isn't the most rewarding card of the pack, but it can be worth it for:

  • Beginner travelers: If you want to dip a toe into the world of travel rewards, this card is very hassle-free and straightforward.
  • Bonus seekers: It's an amazing card for the first year. If you have a lot of spend coming up and want strong rewards, you might pick up this card in advance of your spending.
  • Spend planners: If you have a plan for the intro APR offer, this card could be well worth considering for the extra wiggle room.

Frequently asked questions

How we rated this card

Document Icon
150+
cards rated
Congrats Icon
50+
rewards programs valued
Search Icon
1800
data points analyzed
Credit Card Reviews Icon
40+
perks evaluated

We rate credit cards using a proprietary card scoring system that ranks each card’s estimated average rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more against those of other cards in its primary category.

Each card feature is assigned a weighting based on how important it is to people looking for a card in a given category. These features are then scored based on how they rank relative to the features on other cards in the category. Based on these calculations, each card receives an overall rating of 1-5 stars (with 5 being the highest possible score and 1 being the lowest). 

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular rewards and cash back cards to determine where each stacked up based on their value, cost, benefits and more. Here are some of the key factors that influenced this card’s overall score and how the score influenced our review:

Written by
India Davis
Editor, Credit Cards
India Davis is an editor specializing in credit cards and updates. She believes in putting the reader first and carrying out a brand’s voice to its fullest potential. She has lived and worked in three different countries and hopes to explore more of the world post-pandemic.
Edited by Senior Editor, Credit Cards
Reviewed by Former Senior Editor, Credit Cards

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.