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Compare Discover credit cards with no annual fee

Earn cash back and Discover will double it at the end of your first year.

Kliment Dukovski
Kliment Dukovski

Updated

Fact checked

Discover is probably the most generous card issuer in the US, as it doesn’t charge an annual fee for any of its cards and instead of offering a flat signup bonus, Discover matches any cash back you earn during your first year.

You won’t find a large variety of cards, such as hotel cards, airline cards or store cards, but you can find decent cash back and travel options that could help you earn rewards on your purchases or save money on interest with an intro APR period.

Compare Discover credit cards with no annual fee

Name Product Annual fee Balance transfer APR Purchase APR Filter values
Discover it® Cash Back
Discover it® Cash Back
$0
0% intro for the first 14 months (then 11.99% to 22.99% variable)
0% intro for the first 14 months (then 11.99% to 22.99% variable)
Earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories every quarter you activate, then 1% thereafter. Earn 1% back on all other purchases.
View details
Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card
Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card
$0
10.99% intro for the first 14 months (then 11.99% to 22.99% variable)
0% intro for the first 14 months (then 11.99% to 22.99% variable)
Earn unlimited 1.5x miles on all purchases - from airfare and hotels to groceries and online shopping.
View details
Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurant Card
Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurant Card
$0
0% intro for the first 14 months (then 11.99% to 22.99% variable)
0% intro for the first 14 months (then 11.99% to 22.99% variable)
Earn 2% cash back on gas and dining on your first $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. After that earn 1% in these categories and on all other purchases.
View details
Discover it® Secured
Discover it® Secured
$0
10.99% intro for the first 6 months (then 22.99% variable)
22.99% variable
2% cashback at restaurants or gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus 1% cash back on all other credit card purchases.
View details
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Discover card fees to watch out for

All Discover cards come with useful and rewarding perks. But there are some things to keep an eye on, such as the fees and interest you could pay on your card. Note that you’ll find such fees with most providers.

  • Balance transfer fee. If you’re moving your balance to save money on interest, expect to pay a balance transfer fee. If this is 3% of the amount you transfer, a $5,000 balance transfer will cost you $150 in balance transfer fees.
  • Cash advance fee. Cash advances are among the most expensive transactions you can make. Aside from accruing interest the moment you make the transaction, you also pay a cash advance fee of 5% but not less than $10. This makes a $500 cash advance cost you $25 right off the bat.
  • Late payment fee. Discover won’t impose any fees the first time you’re late on your payment. But every time you miss payment after that, expect to pay up to a $40 fee.

How to compare Discover cards with no annual fee

When comparing Discover cards with no annual fee, consider the following:

  • Do you travel often?
    The Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card could be a solid choice for frequent travelers as it lets you earn unlimited miles on everything you buy with the card. Keep in mind, Discover cards aren’t as widely accepted overseas as Visa or Mastercard.
  • Do you want to earn cash back?
    Aside from the Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card, all other Discover cards earn cash back. You can either earn cash back on quarterly rotating categories or in predetermined categories.
  • Do you want to earn a signup bonus?
    Discover offers something special — a cashback match. This means Discover will double the cash back or miles you earn during your first year, without limits. For example, if you earn $1,000 cash back on your own, Discover will give you another $1,000 for a total of $2,000 cash back.
  • Are you a student?
    Discover offers two credit cards for students, the Discover it® Chrome for Students and the Discover it® Student Cash Back. Both cards offer cashback match, good grades reward of $20 each year your GPA is 3.0 or higher, and a 0% intro APR period on purchases. The main difference is the cash back that each card offers.
  • Do you want a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers?
    All cashback cards, except for the student cards and the secured card, offer 0% intro APR period longer than a year.
  • Do you want a 0% intro APR period on purchases?
    All Discover cards, except for the secured card, offer a long 0% intro APR period on purchases. However, the intro APR period on purchases on the student cards is shorter than the other cards.

Will I earn more rewards if I pay an annual fee?

No, because there is no Discover credit card that has an annual fee.

Consider a no-annual-fee card from other brand

Citi® Double Cash Card

  • Earn cash back twice. Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
  • Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
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Bottom line

Most Discover cards with no annual fee let you earn cash back, while only one card earns miles. If you’re looking to use a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers or purchases, you’ll find most of the cards suitable. However, if you’re looking to earn higher rewards by paying an annual fee, you’ll be disappointed as there is no such Discover card.

If none of the cards fit your needs, check out other credit cards to compare your options.

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