| Last updated on February 21st, 2024
Discover it® Miles
Discover it® Miles
Discover it® Miles
- 17.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 17.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
- 0% for 15 months from date of account opening Intro Purchase APR
At a Glance
The Discover It Miles Card is a straightforward travel card designed for those who want an easy way to earn miles. The card earns a flat-rate 1.5 miles per dollar spent on purchases, with Discover matching the total number of miles earned for the first year. The card also comes with 0% intro APR for 14 months on purchases, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles for every dollar spent on all purchases
- Automatic cashback match your first year
- Redeem your Miles as a statement credit with no blackout dates
- Earnings never expire
- Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months from date of account opening
- Regular Purchase APR: 17.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months from date of first transfer
- Balance Transfer APR: 17.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: 3% of the amount of each transfer posted at the promotional rate. After that, 5% of the amount of each transfer
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: None the first time you pay late. After that, up to $41
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
- You plan to use this card to book travel frequently
- You don’t expect to use the card outside of the United States
- You want to double your miles after the first year automatically
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee
In-Depth Review: Discover it® Miles Credit Card
The Discover It Miles Card is the Discover Card for those who want a no-nonsense way to earn rewards miles. Cardholders earn unlimited 1.5X miles for every dollar spent on purchases, with no cap on the total number of miles they can make in a year.
Discover provides itself on getting rid of the hassles that come with many credit cards, and the Discover It Miles Card is no different. Cardholders never have to worry about paying hidden fees, meaning they don’t have to pay any annual fees or foreign transaction fees.
Even better, with Discover Rewards, there are no blackout dates for travel redemptions, and miles earned never expire.
Who Can Benefit from the Miles Credit Card?
The Discover It Miles card is designed for individuals who want to earn rewards on their spending without the hassle of maximizing redemptions or keeping track of bonus miles. That said, the card can likely benefit novice travelers most:
- Travel for Beginners: The Discover It Miles card is a great introduction to travel credit cards for new cardholders. It provides a streamlined Rewards system that takes much of the confusion out of getting maximum value for miles.
- Benefits for Beginners: The Discover It Miles card also offers several benefits that make it particularly appealing to beginners. For instance, it waives the late fee on your first late payment, making it more forgiving for those who are new to credit cards.
How to Get the Card
Getting your hands on the Discover it® Chrome is straightforward and follows the same process as the other Discover It credit cards.
Credit Needed
The credit score requirement for the Discover it® Chrome card is generally a credit rating of excellent or good credit, and a FICO credit score of 670+ for approval.
Pre-Qualify Before You Apply
One of the great features of Discover credit cards is the option to pre-qualify before applying. By pre-qualifying, you can check if you meet the initial criteria for the Discover it® Chrome credit card without impacting your credit score. This allows you to assess your chances of approval and make an informed decision before officially applying. It’s a convenient way to ensure you’re on the right track to maximize your rewards and getting the most out of your spending.
How to Apply
When applying for a Discover it® Chrome credit card, applicants are typically required to submit the following personal information and documentation:
- Full name
- Social Security number
- Birth date
- Address and duration of residence
- Annual income
- Current employer and duration of employment
- Email address and telephone number
0% Introductory APR Offer
All Discover credit cards (excluding the Miles Card) offer a 0% intro APR. New Discover Miles Cardholders enjoy 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After that, expect a competitive APR that varies based on your creditworthiness and the Prime Rate.
How to Earn Miles with Discover
The Discover it® Miles is similar to Discover’s Chrome Card in that it offers enhanced rewards in select categories. With the Miles Card, cardholders earn an unlimited 1.5X miles on every dollar spent on purchases with the card, with no cap on the total number of miles they can make in a year.
This point haul is on-par with the 1.5% back that comes with the Chase Freedom Unlimited (but less than the up to 5% with the It Cash Back or Chase Freedom Flex). Another somewhat similar competitor is the Citi Premier® Card, though that card also comes with a $95 annual fee.
Miles Match
In addition to earning miles on every purchase, the Discover it® Miles Credit Card also offers a unique feature called “Miles Match.” At the end of your first year as a cardmember, Discover will match all the miles you’ve earned. For example, if you earned 20,000 miles in your first year, Discover will match that with an additional 20,000 miles, for a total of 40,000 miles. This feature is a great way to quickly accumulate miles and maximize your rewards.
What Are Discover Miles Worth?
Discover matching mile-for-mile for the first year is great, but the value of such a reward entirely depends on what those miles are worth. Discover Rewards points (or miles, as is the case with this card) have a value of one cent per mile. This reward rate valuation means that the 50,000 miles mentioned earlier would have a cash value of approximately $500. Doubling that reward would give a cardholder $1,000 in rewards value, which is excellent for a bonus offer.
How to Redeem Miles
Redeeming miles with Discover Rewards is straightforward. You can opt to turn your miles into cash or redeem them as a statement credit for your travel purchases. This includes airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants, and more. There are no blackout dates with Discover, so you can use your miles whenever you want.
Other Card Benefits
Cardholders also enjoy a range of security protections and benefits provided by the Discover payment network. Discover, the fourth largest payment network in terms of size, offers many of the same features as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. These include:
- Fraud Protection
- Freeze It credit lock
- Cardmember Inquiry Services
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- No over-the-limit fees
In addition to these benefits, the Discover it® Cash Back card offers the following notable features:
- EMV Chip Technology: Shop securely with a contactless-chip enabled card.
- Digital Wallets Access: The card is compatible with popular mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
- FICO Score: Cardholders also receive complimentary access to their updated FICO® Score through Discover’s Credit Scorecard.
- SSN Alerts: Discover provides an alert if your Social Security Number is found on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. This service is free, but you need to activate it separately.
- S. Based Customer Service: Cardholders have 24/7 access to Discover’s customer service agents, who are based in the United States. Discover is well-known for its exceptional customer care, making this a valuable but often overlooked feature.
Comparison
How does the Chrome stack-up against other no annual fee travel cards?
| Commerce Miles® Visa Signature | Bank of America® Travel Rewards | Discover it® Miles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Rewards | Unlimited 2.5X miles on travel & rideshare purchases and 1X miles on all other purchases | Unlimited 1.5X points on all purchases | Unlimited 1.5X points on all purchases |
| Intro APR | 0% for 12 months on purchases | 0% for 15 months on purchases | 0% for 15 months on purchases |
| Other | No foreign transaction fees or blackout dates | No foreign transaction fees | No foreign transaction fees |
What We Like About the Discover it® Miles Credit Card
Miles Match
When it comes to the best features of the Discover It Miles Card, the miles match guarantee stands out as a major advantage. Not only does Discover automatically match the miles earned for the first year of membership, but they do so mile for mile. This means that cardholders can potentially earn double the miles on their purchases, making it a lucrative option for those looking to maximize their rewards.
Competitive Rewards
The Discover It Miles Card offers a competitive points program. Cardholders can earn 1.5X on travel purchases. This makes it an ideal choice for individuals who frequently use their credit card and want to save towards a vacation.
Things to Consider
Limited Redemption Options
The redemption policy is disappointing because it does not allow you to convert miles directly into trips. Furthermore, Discover Miles cannot be transferred to partner airlines or hotel chains.
This limitation may be a drawback for frequent travelers who prefer to use their miles for flights or hotel stays. However, the flexibility to redeem miles for cash or statement credits can still provide value for those who prioritize financial flexibility and freedom in their travel rewards.
Discover Ratings
How does Discover Financial Services rate as a credit card issuer? Here are a selection of ratings for the bank from experts and the public:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
4.5/5 |
5/5 |
3/5 |
Should You Apply for the Discover It Miles Card?
The Discover It Miles Card is a decent travel reward credit card. The ability to earn 1.5 miles for every dollar spent on purchases is great, as are the no blackout dates, no foreign transaction fees, no annual fee, and no expiration on miles earned.
If you frequently travel within the United States and plan to take your card with you, the Discover It Miles is a solid choice. If, however, you plan to travel abroad, there are better options available. As with other discover credit card products, the Miles Card suffers as an international tool due to the sparse acceptance of Discover overseas. While Discover claims to be making in-roads in this area, the acceptance of the card is likely spotty at best outside of North America.
Additionally, if you plan on using the card for anything other than booking travel, the Discover It Cash Back is a much better option. The Cash Back Card earns 5% back on a revolving set of categories, meaning better value might be found there. Of course, all Discover Cards have no annual fee, meaning you could simply get both cards, which is a smart option. Be aware, however, that Discover only allows individuals to have two Discover Cards at any one time.
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