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Discover it Miles Credit Card Review: A No-Fee Travel Card with Double Rewards
February 6, 2025
The Discover it Miles credit card is a flexible travel rewards card with no annual fee and a unique bonus: all the miles you earn in the first year are doubled. This means if you earn 20,000 miles in your first year, Discover will match it with another 20,000 – giving you 40,000 miles total.
With unlimited 1.5x miles per dollar on every purchase and broad redemption options, the Discover it Miles offers a simple approach to travel rewards that even converts easily into cash back. Let’s dive into how this card works, its pros and cons, and whether it deserves a place in your wallet.
What Is the Discover it Miles Card?
The Discover it Miles is a no-annual-fee credit card designed for travelers seeking straightforward rewards. Unlike many travel cards that earn airline- or hotel-specific points, the Discover it Miles earns “Miles” that function as flat-rate rewards – essentially 1.5 miles per $1 on everything you buy. Each mile is worth a cent apiece, whether redeemed for travel credits or cash back. In practice, this makes the card comparable to a 1.5% cash back card, with the twist that rewards are called “miles” and can be applied toward travel purchases.
Unique First-Year Bonus
Discover sets this card apart with an unusual intro offer: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile Match at the end of your first year. There’s no minimum spend requirement or cap – whatever you earn in your first 12 months will be doubled automatically. For example, if you rack up 30,000 miles (worth $300) in year one through normal spending, Discover will match that with another 30,000 miles. Effectively, you’ve earned 3% back on all purchases in Year 1 – a massive boost for a no-fee card.
Redemption Options
Miles earned with this card are extremely flexible. You can redeem miles as a statement credit toward any travel purchase – flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, etc. – or even for cash back direct deposit, with no loss in value either way. In fact, you can even use miles to pay for Amazon or PayPal purchases if you choose. No matter how you redeem, 1 mile = 1 cent.
This is a key advantage over many travel cards whose points lose value if not used for travel. With Discover it Miles, you don’t have to worry about finding award flights or hotel blackout dates; you simply buy travel as usual and later erase the charge with miles, or take the miles as cash. Plus, miles never expire as long as your account remains open.
Interest Rates and Fees
The card charges $0 annual fee, and also has no foreign transaction fees, making it friendly for overseas travel spending. New cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 month, which can be helpful if you need to finance a big trip and pay it off over time interest-free. Balance transfers are also 0% for 15 months. Other perks include a free FICO credit score on your statements and Discover’s standard protections.
Acceptance
Discover is now accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide in the U.S., so using the card for domestic purchases shouldn’t be an issue. Internationally, Discover’s acceptance is improving, but it’s still not as universally accepted abroad as Visa or Mastercard – so you may want a backup card when traveling overseas. The upside: if you do use it abroad, you won’t pay foreign fees, as noted.
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Pros and Cons of the Discover it Miles
Like any financial product, the Discover it Miles card has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a quick overview:
Pros:
- No Annual Fee: Pay $0 to hold the card, so all rewards earned are pure upside.
- Double Rewards in Year One: The first-year Match effectively gives 3% back on everything for 12 months, which is an outstanding return for any card.
- Flat-Rate Simplicity: 1.5x miles on every purchase – no need to track bonus categories or spending caps. Great for a single-card strategy or as a solid fallback for miscellaneous purchases.
- Flexible Redemption: Use miles for travel or cash at equal value. No complex airline award charts or devaluation to worry about. If travel plans change, you can always take the miles as cash.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Feel free to swipe abroad without the usual ~3% surcharge many cards impose.
- Additional Perks: Free FICO score monitoring, first late payment fee waived (a common Discover policy), and Discover’s highly-rated U.S.-based customer service.
Cons:
- Limited Travel Perks: Aside from rewards, the card lacks typical travel card benefits – e.g. no airline lounge access, no travel insurance coverage, no annual travel credits, and no point transfer partners. It’s basically a rewards earner with minimal frills.
- Mediocre Long-Term Rate: After the lucrative first year (3% back), you’re earning 1.5% on purchases ongoing. Competing no-fee cards or even some 2% cash back cards can out-earn this for everyday spending once Year 1 is over.
- Acceptance Abroad Not Universal: Discover’s network is not as widely accepted internationally as Visa/Mastercard. While you won’t pay foreign fees, you might simply not be able to use the card with some overseas merchants. Always carry a backup when traveling outside the U.S.
- Good Credit Required: You’ll generally need a good to excellent credit score for approval. This isn’t a starter card for people with no credit or poor credit.
How to Earn and Redeem Miles with Discover it Miles
One of the best aspects of the Discover it Miles is its ease of use. Earning is straightforward: use the card for all your purchases to get 1.5x miles per dollar, and do that heavily in the first year to maximize your double-mile bonus. There are no bonus categories or enrollment hoops – every purchase earns the same flat rate. For a frame of reference, if you spend $1,000 a month on the card, you’ll earn 18,000 miles in a year, and Discover will match another 18,000 on your anniversary for a total of 36,000 miles.
Redeeming your miles is also hassle-free. After logging into your Discover account online or in the app, you can choose from a few redemption methods:
- Travel Credit: You can apply miles as a statement credit toward travel purchases that you’ve made with the card. For example, if you bought a $200 airline ticket, you can redeem 20,000 miles to offset that charge on your statement. This effectively “erases” the travel expense. There’s no travel portal or specific airlines to book through – you simply make a travel purchase on your own, then use miles to wipe it out.
- Cash Back: If you prefer, you can convert your miles to cash in the form of an electronic deposit to your bank account or as a statement credit (not tied to any particular purchase). The conversion is 1 cent per mile, so 10,000 miles = $100 cash. Because the value is the same, you can treat this card as a 1.5% cash back card if you’re not traveling. In fact, NerdWallet dubs it “travel rewards with a cash-back twist” for this reason.
- Amazon or PayPal: Discover allows you to link your card rewards to Amazon and PayPal to pay at checkout. While convenient, this yields the same value, so it’s no better or worse than taking cash – though it can be a fun way to use up odd points balances for a small online purchase.
There’s no minimum redemption threshold for cash or travel credits – even small amounts of miles can be used. And since miles don’t expire and there’s no annual fee, you can save up rewards as long as you want. The simplicity and flexibility here are top-notch; you’re never stuck with “orphan” points or forced into redeeming in a specific way.
Comparing Discover it Miles Card with Other Credit Cards
When considering the Discover it Miles Card, it's helpful to compare it with other popular options in the mid-tier travel card category:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card:
- Annual fee: $95
- Sign-up bonus: Substantial points bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 2X points on travel and dining, 1X on other purchases
- Standout feature: 25% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase TravelSM
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card:
- Annual fee: $95
- Sign-up bonus: Large miles bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 2X miles on all purchases, 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Standout feature: Miles transferable to travel partners
American Express® Gold Card [rates & fees]:
- Annual fee: $325
- Welcome offer: Substantial points bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 4X points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1X) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X) and 3X on booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- Standout feature: Up to $120 dining credit and up to $120 Uber Cash annually. An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Each card offers unique benefits tailored to different spending habits and preferences. Consider your personal financial goals when choosing the best card for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Discover it Miles Card excels in offering straightforward rewards
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers versatile travel rewards
- Capital One Venture provides simple, flat-rate miles earning
- American Express® Gold Card features strong dining and groceries rewards
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Who Should Consider the Discover it Miles?
The Discover it Miles card is an excellent choice for certain types of users, especially:
Beginners to Travel Rewards
If you’re new to points and miles, this card is extremely user-friendly. There’s no complicated program to learn – you earn rewards at a flat rate and can redeem without jumping through hoops. It can serve as a great first travel credit card to get your feet wet, since it has no fee and gives you a nice head start with the double miles in year one.
Occasional or Casual Travelers
Maybe you take a couple of trips a year or you’re not loyal to one airline or hotel chain. The Discover it Miles is ideal because you’re not tied to any brand – your miles can offset any travel expense or just become cash. Occasional travelers will appreciate that they’re getting solid rewards without paying for premium perks they might not use.
One-Card Households
For someone who wants a single credit card for everyday use, this is a strong contender. You get a decent 1.5% back on everything (again, 3% in year one) with zero fees or headaches. It’s a simpler alternative to complex travel cards that often require juggling bonus categories or paying annual fees for perks. As The Points Guy notes, it’s a “fantastic choice for single-card wallets because it is so simple — just swipe and earn 1.5 miles on every dollar”.
Fee-Averse Individuals
Hate annual fees? This card lets you earn travel rewards without ever paying one. You also won’t have to worry about foreign fees or high interest. It’s a very low-cost card to hold long-term, which also makes it good as a backup card in your drawer for the occasional purchase, since it won’t cost you anything.
On the flip side, who might not benefit as much? Hardcore travelers and luxury-seekers might find the Discover it Miles lacking. If you travel frequently overseas, need airport lounge access, free checked bags, or the ability to transfer points to airline miles for potential outsized value, you’ll likely be better served by an annual-fee travel card from Chase, Amex, or Capital One. Also, big spenders might squeeze more total value from cards that earn higher rates in certain categories or offer large up-front bonuses. Think of Discover it Miles as a “no-frills” travel card – fantastic in its niche, but not trying to compete with premium $95+ fee cards on perks.
Kudos Tip: If you do carry multiple credit cards to maximize different bonuses, the Kudos smart wallet (our free browser extension) can help you remember which card to use for each purchase to get the best reward. For example, Kudos will remind you to use your 5% cash back card at the grocery store, but default to your Discover it Miles for non-category purchases – so you always earn the most miles or cash back on every swipe!
Put Your Cards To Work With Kudos
Kudos is your ultimate financial companion – a free browser extension and digital wallet that helps you maximize rewards and manage all your credit cards in one place. It automatically recommends the best card for each purchase so you never miss out on miles, points, or cash back.
Plus, Kudos simplifies tracking your spending and even monitors your credit score, all in a single convenient platform. Boost your earnings and get more from cards like the Discover it Miles by letting Kudos guide your spending. Add to Chrome – It’s Free and watch your rewards take off!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I redeem rewards on the Discover it Miles card?
Redeeming your miles is easy. Log in to your Discover account online or via the mobile app. Navigate to the rewards section and select “Ways to Redeem.” You’ll typically see your total miles and options to redeem as a statement credit toward travel purchases or for cash back. If choosing travel credit, you simply apply your miles to offset eligible travel transactions that you charged to your card. If you prefer cash, you can have the equivalent dollar amount deposited to your bank or credited to your statement. There’s no minimum – even a small number of miles can be redeemed. You can also link your Discover rewards to Amazon or PayPal and use miles at checkout, but many cardholders find straight cash or travel credits more valuable.
What credit score do I need to get approved for Discover it Miles?
Discover targets applicants with good to excellent credit for this card. Generally, a FICO score around 670 or higher is recommended. If you have a solid credit history and a score in the high 600s or above, you stand a good chance. Keep in mind that credit approval also considers income, existing debts, and other factors – not just your score. If you’re new to credit or still building, you might consider the Discover it Secured or Student versions first, which are designed for those with limited credit. The good news is that if you’re approved, Discover often provides a decent credit limit and you’ll be on your way to earning miles quickly.
Does the Discover it Miles charge foreign transaction fees?
No. One great perk of Discover it Miles is that it has no foreign transaction fees on overseas purchases. This means if you use the card abroad (or on foreign websites), you won’t incur the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards charge. This makes the card friendly for international travel in terms of fees.
Can I transfer my Discover it Miles to airline or hotel programs?
No, Discover it Miles cannot be transferred to airline frequent flyer programs or hotel loyalty programs. Despite the “Miles” name, these points are essentially fixed-value rewards only redeemable through Discover’s channels . This is a key difference from some other travel cards.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
