Key takeaways

  • The Discover it® Miles is a no-annual-fee travel card that offers 1.5X miles on every purchase
  • The card comes with an introductory APR offer on both purchases and balance transfers, making it a good option for those looking to pay off existing debt or cover a large purchase without forfeiting rewards
  • You can also enjoy a first-year welcome bonus where Discover matches all of the cash back you earn at the end of your first year

While Discover’s only travel credit card — the Discover it® Miles — comes without many of the perks you’ll find with premium travel credit cards, this option does let you earn flexible rewards without having to pay an annual fee. Considering other travel credit cards charge annual fees of up to $695, the lack of an annual fee is a major plus. Ultimately, this is why many consumers wind up picking the Discover it® Miles over other similar options.

That said, there are other reasons to love the Discover it® Miles, and we found out all about them when we interviewed someone who carries this card. Learn why one woman chose the Discover it® Miles card over similar options and the reasons she has grown to love it.

5 reasons to love the Discover it® Miles

The main benefits of this card are pretty obvious, but why choose it over other rewards credit cards? We interviewed Melissa Bennett, an elementary school teacher, to find out. Here’s what she said.

1. No bonus categories to keep track of

One of the main cardholder benefits Bennett loves is the lack of bonus categories on this card. Past credit cards she’s had have had confusing bonus categories that left her wondering if she was using the right card for the right purchase. Now, she uses the Discover it® Miles to earn a flat 1.5X miles on everything she buys without worrying.

Additionally, she no longer wonders if she is close to exceeding rewards caps since the Discover it® Miles doesn’t have any. Not only does the Discover it® Miles offer the same flat rewards rate on every purchase you make, but the miles you earn are unlimited.

2. Rewards with Discover Match®

When Bennett’s one-year cardmember anniversary with the Discover it® Miles was coming up, she was very much looking forward to seeing her rewards essentially doubled through the Discover Match® program.

At the time, she had around 40,000 miles in her account, which are worth 1 cent each, for a total value of $400. Thanks to the Discover Match® program, she had approximately $800 in cash back to spend.

3. Easy redemptions for travel

Bennett likes the redemption flexibility of this card — especially the fact that you can redeem Discover miles to cover travel purchases charged to your card in the past 180 days at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

Also, miles earned in the Discover rewards program can be used to cover a user’s credit card bill, including the minimum payment. Cardholders can also redeem Discover miles for cash back (in the form of a direct deposit) or purchases made through PayPal or Amazon.com.

Ultimately, having all of these options means Bennett and other Discover it® Miles cardholders can’t get “stuck” with miles they’re unable to use.

4. No annual fee

The fact that the Discover it® Miles doesn’t charge an annual fee makes it an easy option to keep for the long haul. As a result, Bennett says she will probably keep this card even if she upgrades to a different travel card later on. This makes sense considering that the average length of a person’s credit history helps determine their FICO score. Keeping older cards and accounts open can help on that front.

“I’ll keep this card open no matter what to improve my credit score,” Bennett says.

5. Intro APR offers

The Discover it® Miles also comes with introductory APR offers for purchases and balance transfers. Bennett wasn’t aware of an intro APR offer on her card when she signed up, but she says she would’ve taken advantage of an intro offer on purchases if she had had the chance.

Currently, the Discover it® Miles offers new card holders a 0 percent intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 17.24% – 28.24%.

The bottom line

The Discover it® Miles may not have the travel benefits you’ll get with more premium cards, but you won’t have to pay an annual fee, either. In fact, the Discover it® Miles comes with a $0 annual fee each year, so you’ll never have to wonder if you’re spending enough to justify keeping it.

Other reasons to love this card include rewards flexibility, the intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers and the fact that Discover matches all miles earned at the end of your first year with the card. If you’re looking for a travel credit card that rewards you without being overly complicated, the Discover it® Miles could be what you’re looking for.