Finding a credit card that offers generous cashback rewards is a smart move so you can get the maximum percentage back with every purchase you make. And the good news is that there are lots of cashback cards out there — including multiple options from Discover. Show
If you want to get the most bang for your buck every time you make a purchase, it's helpful to learn what each of the Discover credit cards offers. This guide will help you find out everything you need to know about how to earn cash back with Discover — and pick the right Discover card for you. How to earn cash back with Discover credit cards
Discover it Cash BackThe Discover it Cash Back is one of best cash back credit cards if you’re willing to activate and keep track of rotating bonus categories to maximize the potential rewards you can earn. This card offers:
You'll need a good-to-excellent credit score to qualify for this card, but you can reap these generous rewards if you're approved. Discover it Student Cash BackThe Discover it Student Cash Back card is a great choice if you're a younger borrower who hasn't yet had time to build a strong credit history — as long as you don't mind activating different rewards bonuses and keeping track of rotating bonus categories to maximize your cash back. This card offers:
Because this is a student card, it can be easier for younger people with shorter credit histories to qualify for the Discover it Student Cash Back versus the Discover it card not targeted to students. See our list of the best credit cards for students for more options. Discover it ChromeIf the bulk of your monthly spending takes place at restaurants and gas stations, you’re the ideal customer for the Discover it Chrome card. This card provides the chance to earn bonus rewards for those purchases without having to worry about activating rotating rewards categories. It offers:
Discover it Chrome for StudentsThe Discover it Chrome for Students card is the perfect choice for students who want the same cashback benefits of the standard Discover it Chrome card. This includes bonus cash back on restaurant and gas station purchases, as well as a cashback match after the first year as a cardmember. Key features of this card include:
Like with the Discover it Student Cash Back Card, the Discover it Chrome for Students is easier for young people to qualify for than the standard Discover it Chrome card. This is because it's specifically designed for people whose credit history isn't as established. NHL Discover itIf you are an avid hockey fan with good or excellent credit and want special savings when spending on your favorite sport, the NHL Discover it is the ideal cashback card for you. This card offers:
Discover it Balance TransferIf you want to transfer existing debt to lower the interest rate you have to pay, you should give the Discover it Balance Transfer Card a close look. This card not only provides you the chance to earn generous rewards, but you'll also enjoy a long introductory APR on those transferred balances — making your debt repayment much cheaper. Some of the key features of this card include:
Discover it SecuredThe Discover it Secured Card is the perfect choice if you’re trying to build credit, can't qualify for a standard card, and still want to earn rewards points. This card is one of the few secured credit cards available that offers generous cash back and charges no annual fee. Some of the key features of this card include:
Like all secured cards, the Discover it Secured requires you to place a deposit equal to your line of credit. But the big benefit of this is that you can qualify for a card even if you have no credit history at all or had credit problems in the past. With the Discover it Secured, your security deposit is refundable, so you can eventually get back the deposit you've put down as you establish credit and become eligible for an unsecured card. Discover it MilesThe Discover it Miles Card gives you the option to earn miles for purchases — but you can also redeem your miles for cash back if you'd prefer. Some key features of the card include:
While travel cards don't typically provide as much flexibility in what you do with your rewards as cashback cards, they can be ideal for jet-setters who prefer miles that they can use toward free trips. But since the Discover it Miles Card allows you to redeem for cash back if you'd prefer, it can be a great choice if you want a travel card but also want a cashback option on occasion, too. The Discover 5% cashback calendarThe Discover it, Discover it Student, and NHL Discover it Card all offer 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories. You have to manually activate this category each quarter to take advantage of it, so cardholders need to know the schedule to get the most out of these bonus rewards. The table below shows the Discover cashback calendar for 2022:
Important things to know about Discover cashback matchOne of the single best benefits of signing up for a new Discover cashback card is that you can get your cash back matched in the first year as a new cardmember. This means if you earn $1,000 in cash back, Discover will match that amount and give you an extra $1,000. Discover imposes no minimum or maximum limit on the amount of bonus cash back you can earn, and you automatically qualify for this bonus when you hit your one-year anniversary as a new cardholder. This special bonus is available on multiple Discover credit cards, including the following:
The Discover it Miles Card also provides matching miles instead of matching cash back, since this card provides your rewards in the form of miles instead of money. You'll receive your bonus within one or two billing periods following the first 12 consecutive billing cycles after your new account is open. However, if you close your account or are no longer enrolled in the cashback rewards program when your bonus is calculated, you won't get the match. The cashback match is also available only to new cardmembers. How to access your Discover cashback rewardsAny cashback rewards you’ve earned in your most recent billing cycle will show up on the first page of your monthly statement. This helps you to keep track of how much money you're earning by using your Discover card. You can also go online and sign into your Discover Account Center to see your available cash back at any time. This is listed under the Cashback Bonus Summary. If you don't already have an online Discover account, you can quickly and easily register for free.
How to redeem your Discover cashback rewardsRedeeming your cash back is easy with Discover. Just sign into your Account Center and choose which redemption option works for you. Or redeem your cash back by calling 1-800-DISCOVER if you don't want to create an online account. Options for redeeming cash back include:
If you redeem for a gift card, you’ll need to have at least $20 in available cash back. For other redemption options, there’s no minimum required, and you can redeem as much or as little of your cash back as you want.
Application rules for Discover cardsDiscover limits you to applying for one new card per year and to having two different Discover accounts total. Since you can open just one new card annually, you can get the cashback match only once per year. And because you’re restricted to two total Discover cards, you'll be able to take advantage of the matching cashback bonus for new cardmembers only twice. The bottom line on how to earn cash back with DiscoverAs you can see, you have tons of opportunities to earn cashback rewards as a Discover customer. You just need to pick the right Discover card for you. The Discover it, or its variations — including the Discover it Student or Secured Card — can work well if you want to earn a high rate of cash back on rotating categories. The Discover it Chrome or its student version is a better choice if you'd prefer to always earn a smaller but consistent amount back on restaurants and gas — rather than worry about activating a rotating bonus. The “best” Discover card for you just depends on your spending habits and whether you're interested in keeping track of and activating rotating bonuses. Regardless, you can't go wrong with any of these Discover cards — especially if you're a new cardmember eligible for the matching cash back. Author Details
Christy Rakoczy Christy Rakoczy has a Juris Doctorate from UCLA Law School with a focus in Business Law, and a Certificate in Business Marketing with an English Degree from The University of Rochester. As a full-time personal finance writer, she writes about all things money-related but her special areas of focus are credit cards, personal loans, student loans, mortgages, smart debt payoff strategies, and retirement and Social Security. Her work has been featured by USA Today, MSN Money, CNN Money and more, and you can learn more at her LinkedIn profile. Do Discover cards do cash back?With your Discover it card, you automatically earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases. Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter, when you activate. NOW: Earn 5% at Amazon.com and Digital Wallets, now – December 31, 2022, on up to $1,500 in purchases, when you activate.
How do I redeem my cash back rewards?How to Redeem Cash Back Rewards. Check in the mail.. Direct deposit to a linked checking or savings account.. Statement credits toward your recent purchases.. Gift cards.. Merchandise.. Travel through a travel portal.. How long does it take for cashback to show up on Discover?These rewards are added to your Cashback Bonus Account within 2 billing periods. With Discover Deals,® you can shop at top merchants and earn additional Cashback Bonus or instant savings at checkout both online and in stores.
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