Discover credit cards have long been popular with consumers who want to earn cash-back rewards. But with the introduction of the Discover it® Miles card, customers can earn miles instead of cash back. The card earns an unlimited 1.5x miles on every purchase, and Discover will match all of the rewards earned during the first year.

This card is an excellent choice for people who want to earn elevated rewards on every purchase without having to track bonus categories or activate quarterly promotions.

Discover it Miles card

• Annual fee: $0

• Welcome offer: Discover will match all miles you earn in the first year

• Rewards: 1.5x miles on every purchase

• More details: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, no foreign transaction fee, free credit score, and online privacy protection

APR

If you carry a balance on the Discover it Miles Card, you’re charged a variable annual percentage rate (APR) of 17.24% to 28.24%.

When you have a rewards credit card, it’s important to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. Interest charges can quickly offset the value of any rewards you earn.

Annual fee

There’s no annual fee with the Discover it Miles card. This means that all of the rewards you earn are yours to keep without having to offset the cost of having the card.

Welcome offer

The Discover it Miles doesn’t offer a standard welcome bonus; new cardholders don’t have to meet a minimum spending requirement within a specific time frame in order to earn a bonus.

Instead, cardholders get a match on all miles earned during the first 12 months. This welcome bonus is unlimited and essentially means that you'll earn 3x points on every purchase during the first year. The size of the bonus depends on how much you spend on the card throughout year one.

For example, if you spend $20,000 during the year, you’ll earn 30,000 miles on your spending. Discover will match that, giving you another 30,000 miles for a total earnings of 60,000 miles. That’s worth $600 in travel, cash back, or other redemption option.

Intro offer

With the Discover it Miles Card, you’ll also benefit from a 0% intro APR offer on both purchases and balance transfers. The 0% intro APR offer is valid for all purchases made during the first 15 months.

Additionally, balance transfers made by June 10, 2024, will receive a 0% intro APR for 15 months from the account opening date. A balance transfer fee of 3% applies to all transfers made before this date.

If there’s an unpaid balance at the end of the promotional period, the standard APR of 17.24% to 28.24% variable applies from that point forward.

Rewards rate

• Unlimited 1.5x miles on every purchase

How to earn rewards

You’ll earn an unlimited 1.5x miles on every purchase you make. While there are no bonus categories, you’ll earn 50% more miles on everyday purchases compared to rewards credit cards that earn just 1x miles on non-bonus spending.

In addition, the welcome bonus can significantly increase your rewards. You'll get a first-year match on all miles earned during the first 12 months. This matching is unlimited, so there’s no cap on the number of miles you can earn from the Discover match.

How to redeem rewards

Miles can be redeemed in multiple ways, and they never expire as long as your account remains open. Cardholders can turn their miles into cash at any time and for any amount.

• Statement credits. Simply make purchases on your credit card, then redeem your miles for statement credits on eligible purchases like airfare, hotels, car rentals, ride shares, gas stations, and restaurants.

• Cash back. Convert miles into cash back that you can deposit into your linked bank account.

• Online shopping. Use your miles during checkout at Amazon or when paying with PayPal at participating websites.

Additional benefits

The Discover it Miles Card has limited perks beyond its 1.5x miles on purchases. As a travel credit card, it has no foreign transaction fees, so you won’t be hit with hidden charges while traveling outside the U.S.

Cardholders receive free access to their credit score through the Discover mobile app or website. Discover also provides free online privacy protection, which helps you remove your personal information from select people-search websites.

Who is the Discover it Miles best for?

This Discover it Miles card is ideal for consumers who want to earn rewards on every purchase without having to remember bonus categories or activate limited-time promotions. It earns an unlimited number of miles, so there are no spending caps to limit the rewards you can earn. And as a beginner-friendly travel card, there are no complicated reward structures or redemption methods to track.

Because of its 0% intro APR offer, it’s also a great option for those looking to make a large purchase or pay down existing credit card debt. Cardholders who take advantage of this can pay down their balance over 15 months without having to worry about accruing interest.

Discover it Miles pros

• Unlimited 1.5x miles on every purchase

• All rewards earned during the first year are doubled

• Intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers

• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees

• Free credit score and online privacy protection

Discover it Miles cons

• Does not have a traditional welcome bonus, and you’ll have to wait a full year before receiving your miles match

• No bonus categories to maximize rewards

• No airline or hotel transfer partners

• Limited benefits that don’t include travel protections

Where can you use Discover it Miles?

Discover cards are accepted at 99% of U.S. merchants that allow customers to pay with a credit card, according to the issuer.

However, Discover is not as widely accepted when traveling internationally. While Discover does not charge foreign transaction fees, it’s recommended that travelers bring a Visa or Mastercard credit card with them on international trips as a backup.

How to make a Discover it Miles payment

• Online at Discover.com or through its mobile app

• Over the phone at (800) 347-2683

• Payments by mail are based on your current address. Your Discover it Miles Card statement will include one of these four mailing addresses:

  • PO Box 6103, Carol Stream, IL 60197-6103

  • PO Box 45909, San Francisco, CA 94145-0909

  • PO Box 70176, Philadelphia, PA 19176-0176

  • PO Box 71242, Charlotte, NC 28272-1242

Discover it Miles customer service info

Customer service is available 24/7 through the following channels:

• Phone number: (800) 347-2683

• Website chat

Alternative cards to consider

While the Discover it Miles Card offers unlimited 1.5x miles on every purchase, it may not be the best card for the way you spend or the benefits it offers. Before applying, consider these alternative travel cards.

Learn more

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Annual fee
  $0
• Welcome offer
  Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 within the first 3 months
• Card type(s)
  Travel
• Purchase APR
  19.74% - 29.74% variable
• Introductory APR
  0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable 19.74% - 29.74% APR
• Recommended credit score
  Good, Excellent

• Rewards rate
  • 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 1.25x miles on all other purchases

• Benefits
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
  • Transfer your miles to more than 15 travel partners
  • Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad

Why we like it: The VentureOne Card from Capital One earns a flat rate on most purchases, so you don't have to memorize bonus categories or complicated rewards programs. The intro APR is also useful for large purchases or balance transfers.

Learn more

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• Annual fee
  $95
• Welcome offer
  Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months — that's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Card type(s)
  Travel
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Recommended credit score
  Excellent/Good

• Rewards rate
  • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
  • 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
  • 2x points on all other travel purchases
  • 1x points on all other purchases

• Benefits
  • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel
  • Earn up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
  • On every account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year

Why we like it: Consumers looking for more benefits and bonus categories should consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. While it has an annual fee, its earning power and benefits could easily make up for the cost.

The points you earn are worth 25% more when booking travel through Chase. Plus, you get an annual statement credit for hotel bookings made through Chase Travel.

The flexible points can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, and travel, or you can transfer them to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners. The card also includes complimentary travel and purchase protections, including primary rental car insurance.

Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred review

Learn more

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Rates & fees, terms apply

• Annual fee
  $0
• Welcome offer
  Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months
• Card type(s)
  Cash-back
• Introductory Purchases APR
  0% on purchases for 15 months
• Introductory Balance Transfer APR
  0% on balance transfers for 15 months
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  18.49%-29.49% Variable
• Recommended credit score
  Excellent, Good

• Rewards rate
  • 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
  • 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
  • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout

• Benefits
  • Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
  • Get a $7 monthly statement credit after spending $9.99 or more on a streaming subscription to the Disney Bundle, plus earn up to $15 in monthly statement credits after purchasing a Home Chef subscription

Why we like it: The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns up to 3% cash back on popular spending categories without charging an annual fee. The card also includes a 0% intro APR offer for 15 months, which could be useful for large purchases or balance transfers.

Read more: Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card review

This article was edited by Alicia Hahn

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the author(s) and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.