Guide to Discover rewards program

Rather than offering a large variety of redemption options through its loyalty program, Discover has zeroed in on doing one type of reward really well: cash back. You can even use Discover’s travel cards to get cashback redemptions through statement credits.

Here are the ways you can cash out your Discover credit card purchases.

Why should you sign up for Discover rewards?

Discover cashback rewards cards are among the most robust on the market and comparable to the cashback offerings of the other big hitters on the market, such as American Express and Chase.

However, unlike Amex or Chase, your redemption options are largely restricted to cash back. Considering merchandise and similar redemption options are among the worst possible redemption choices in the Chase and Amex rewards programs, this isn’t a big loss. In fact, this means it’s nearly impossible to “waste” or get a poor value out of your Discover redemptions.

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How much are Discover points worth?

According to the provider site at the time of writing, all Discover reward points are worth 1 cent each except when redeemed on gift cards. This includes Discover it miles earned with Discover travel cards.

Discover cards that earn Discover rewards

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Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
Discover it® Cash Back		Discover will match cash back earned at the end of your first card year	5% back in rotating categories up to $1,500 combined each activated quarter, then 1% after that and on all other purchases	$0		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	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card		Discover will match miles earned at the end of your first card year	1.5x miles on all purchases	$0		Earn unlimited 1.5x miles on all purchases - from airfare and hotels to groceries and online shopping.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurant Card		Discover will match cash back earned at the end of your first card year	2% back on gas and dining up to $1,000 combined quarterly, then 1% after that and on all other purchases	$0		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	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Discover it® Secured		Discover will match cash back earned at the end of your first card year	2% back on gas and dining up to $1,000 combined each activated quarter, then 1% after that and on all other purchases	$0		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	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Discover it® Chrome for Students		Discover will match cash back at the end of your first card year	2% back on gas and dining up to $1,000 combined each activated quarter, then 1% after that and on all other purchases	$0		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	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Discover it® Student Cash Back		Discover will match cash back at the end of your first card year	5% back in rotating categories each activated quarter up to $1,500, then 1% after that and on all other purchases	$0		Earn 5% back in rotating categories each activated quarter up to $1,500, then 1% after that and on all other purchases.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
NHL Discover it® Card		Discover will match cash back at the end of your first card year	5% cash back on up to $1,500 in rotating quarterly activated categories then 1% after that and on all other purchases	$0		Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in rotating quarterly activated categories then 1% after that and on all other purchases.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Discover it® Business Card		Discover will match cash back ed at the end of your first card year	1.5% cash back on all purchases	$0		Earn 1.5% cash back on every dollar spent on all purchases. Your rewards never expire.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Ways to redeem Discover rewards

Cash back

The most straightforward way to redeem your Discover points is to convert them into cash. Your rewards are displayed on your account profile as cash back by default, so you’ll always know how much you’ll receive. You can move this cash into your bank account or apply it to your bill as a statement credit.

Note that if you’re using a Discover card that earns Discover it Miles, your statement credits can be applied to certain expenses. These include various travel purchases such as flights and hotel stays, restaurants and gas station purchases.

Pay with cashback bonus

In addition to redeeming for cash back, you can make Amazon purchases directly using your rewards balance. To do so, you’ll need to link your Discover card account to your Amazon account.

Paying for Amazon items doesn’t alter the value of your rewards, though you can choose to pay with just a portion of your rewards and the rest in cash. However, Amazon purchases made using Discover rewards will not earn additional cash back.

Redeem for gift cards

Unlike many credit card reward programs, redeeming your Discover rewards on gift cards is one of your best options in terms of sheer value. Redeeming your rewards on a gift card of a particular value will earn you at least an additional $5 to your gift card. Depending on the retailer, your bonus can go even higher.

The drawback to this additional value is flexibility. If a retailer you enjoy isn’t available through Discover’s site, you’ll have to settle for standard cashback.

Donate to charity

If you’re feeling charitable, you can offer your rewards to the Make-A-Wish foundation or ASPCA. You won’t get compensation for this, though Discover will make an annual contribution to the charity that receives the most donations from cardholders.

Bottom line

Discover card doesn’t demand much when it comes to earning and redeeming rewards, which is a nice change of pace if you’re tired of calculating point values. With no “bad choices” to speak of, you’ll find plenty to enjoy with this simple rewards program.

If you’re looking for more diverse rewards options, compare rewards credit cards to find a program that suits your preferences. Or take a look at other cashback options to find one that best fits your spending habits.

Frequently asked questions

• How many Discover miles for a flight?

  Discover miles are identical to reward points and are worth 1 cent each. That means you’ll need enough in rewards to cover the cost of your flight as a statement credit.

• Do I need a certain number of rewards before I can redeem?

  No. You can redeem any amount at any time.

• How do I add Discover rewards to Amazon?

  You’ll need to link your Discover account to your Amazon account by going to the Cashback bonus from Discover page at Amazon’s site.

• Does Discover have a refer-a-friend program?

  Yes. Read more about earning statement credit through Discover’s refer-a-friend program.