Discover offers three main cards, and the right one depends on what you spend on most
Discover has three cards worth considering: the Discover it Cash Back, the Discover it Miles, and the Discover it Secured. The first two reward you in different ways—cash back on rotating categories versus flat miles on everything. The Secured card is designed for people building or rebuilding credit. None of them charge an annual fee, which means the main difference is how they reward spending and what credit history they require.
Your choice comes down to two questions: Do you want cash back or travel rewards? And do you have an established credit history, or are you starting from scratch? The answer to those two questions narrows it to one card almost every time.
Key Takeaways
- Discover it Cash Back rewards 5% on rotating categories (up to $1,500 per quarter) and 1% on everything else, making it best if you spend heavily on groceries, gas, or restaurants.
- Discover it Miles gives 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases with no category limits, better for people who travel or want a simpler rewards structure.
- Discover it Secured requires a cash deposit ($200 to $2,500) and is meant for people with no credit history or poor credit scores below 620.
- All three cards have no annual fee and offer fraud protection, so the choice is purely about which rewards structure matches your actual spending.
- You can move from the Secured card to an unsecured card after 8 months of on-time payments, at which point your deposit returns.
Discover it Cash Back: Best if you spend on rotating categories
The Discover it Cash Back card rewards you 5% cash back on two rotating categories each quarter (groceries, gas, restaurants, Amazon, or PayPal—the categories change), up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter. After you hit that $1,500 cap, you earn 1% on those categories for the rest of the quarter. Everything else earns 1% cash back year-round.
This card works best if you spend a lot on groceries or gas. If you spend $400 a month on groceries and that's a 5% category this quarter, you earn $20 in cash back instead of $4. Over a year, that's $240 instead of $48. The catch is that you have to activate each category each quarter—Discover sends you a notification, but if you forget, you only earn 1% that quarter.
The cash back sits in your account and you can redeem it as a statement credit, a check, or a deposit to your bank account. There's no minimum redemption amount, so you can cash out $5 if you want to.
Discover it Miles: Best if you travel or want simplicity
The Discover it Miles card gives you 1.5 miles per dollar on every purchase, with no categories to track and no quarterly activation. A $100 grocery bill earns 150 miles whether groceries are a bonus category or not. This simplicity appeals to people who don't want to remember which categories are active or who spend evenly across different types of purchases.
Miles can be redeemed for travel (flights, hotels, rental cars) at a 1-cent-per-mile value, or you can cash them out as a statement credit at the same rate. If you earn 10,000 miles, that's worth $100 either way. You can also transfer miles to airline and hotel partners, though the value varies depending on the partner.
This card makes sense if you travel at least a few times a year or if the simplicity of one flat rate appeals to you more than chasing bonus categories. It's also a solid choice if your spending is split across many categories and you don't have a clear highest-spend area.
Discover it Secured: For people with limited or poor credit history
The Discover it Secured card requires you to put down a cash deposit between $200 and $2,500, which becomes your credit limit. You can't spend more than the amount you've deposited. The card reports to all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), so on-time payments build your credit score.
The rewards structure mirrors the regular Discover it Cash Back card: 5% on rotating categories (up to $1,500 per quarter) and 1% on everything else. After 8 months of on-time payments, Discover reviews your account and may move you to an unsecured card, at which point your deposit is returned. Some people graduate in 6 months; others take longer depending on their payment history and credit score.
This card is designed for people with no credit history (recent immigrants, young adults with no prior accounts) or people rebuilding after missed payments or collections. If your credit score is above 660 and you have a few accounts in good standing, you'll likely be turned down for this card and approved for the regular Discover it Cash Back instead.
How the three cards compare side by side
| Feature | Cash Back | Miles | Secured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | None | None | None |
| Rewards Rate | 5% rotating / 1% other | 1.5% all purchases | 5% rotating / 1% other |
| Credit Deposit Required | No | No | Yes ($200–$2,500) |
| Minimum Credit Score | ~660+ | ~660+ | None (poor/no credit OK) |
| Best For | High grocery/gas spending | Travel or simplicity | Building credit from scratch |
What to consider before you choose
Look at your last three months of credit card or bank statements and add up what you spent in each category: groceries, gas, restaurants, online shopping, and everything else. If groceries and gas together are more than 40% of your spending, the Cash Back card will earn you more rewards than the Miles card. If your spending is spread evenly or you travel regularly, the Miles card is simpler.
Also consider whether you'll actually remember to activate the rotating categories each quarter on the Cash Back card. If you know you'll forget, the Miles card's set-it-and-forget-it structure saves you money by not leaving rewards on the table.
If you're applying for your first credit card or rebuilding after a setback, start with the Secured card. The deposit is returned after 8 months of on-time payments, and you'll have built enough credit history to move to an unsecured card by then. Don't apply for the regular Cash Back or Miles card if you know your credit score is below 620—you'll be denied and the hard inquiry will temporarily lower your score further.
How to apply and what happens next
You can apply for any of the three cards on Discover's website. The application takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, income, and Social Security number. Discover gives you a decision within seconds in most cases—either approved, pending review (decision in 1 to 2 business days), or denied.
If you're approved, your card arrives in 5 to 7 business days. You can use it right away once it arrives. If you're applying for the Secured card, you'll fund the deposit during the application process, and that money is held in a deposit account (it earns no interest). Your credit limit equals your deposit amount.
Start using the card for small purchases you'd make anyway—groceries, gas, a coffee—and pay the full balance each month. This builds your credit score faster than carrying a balance, and you avoid interest charges. After 8 months, check your Discover account to see if you've been upgraded to an unsecured card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have more than one Discover card at the same time?
No. Discover limits you to one Discover card per person. If you have the Secured card and graduate to the Cash Back card, you'll close the Secured card and your deposit will be returned. You cannot hold both simultaneously.
What if I don't travel—is the Miles card still worth it?
Yes. Miles can be cashed out as a statement credit at 1 cent per mile, so you're earning 1.5% cash back on everything. You don't have to use them for travel. The trade-off is that the Cash Back card's 5% on rotating categories beats 1.5% on those same categories, so the Miles card is only better if you don't spend much on groceries or gas.
How long does it take to build credit with the Secured card?
Discover reports to the credit bureaus monthly, so you'll see movement in your score within 30 to 60 days of your first on-time payment. Most people see a 40 to 100 point increase within 6 months if they started with no credit history. After 8 months of on-time payments, you're may be able to access for the upgrade review.
What happens if I miss a payment on the Secured card?
A missed payment is reported to the credit bureaus and damages your score. It also resets your clock toward the upgrade review—you'll need another 8 months of on-time payments after the missed one. If you miss a payment by more than 60 days, Discover may close the account.
Can I increase my credit limit on the Secured card?
Only by increasing your deposit. You can add money to your deposit account at any time, and your credit limit rises by that amount. You cannot get a credit limit increase without adding more money.