Reasons to get the Discover it Miles card

Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money.

Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.

This page includes information about the Discover it® Miles that is not currently available on Million Mile Secrets and may be out of date. 

When we talk about the top credit cards for travel, we’re often discussing cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express — cards that offer big welcome bonuses and valuable travel perks. Often we overlook other cards because they don’t have these sorts of benefits. But sometimes it might actually make more sense to opt for a card with fewer premium perks in exchange for no annual fee or not having to hassle with rotating bonus categories.

Enter the Discover it® Miles card. There’s no sign-up bonus with the Discover it® Miles card, but it earns 1.5 miles (or 1.5% back) on everything, and there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn. Plus, Discover will match the miles you’ve earned at the end of the first year. It offers a solid and simple rewards-earning structure with no annual fee.

I’ll share a few reasons below why the Discover it Miles card might deserve a place in your wallet.

You can apply for the Discover it® Miles card here.

Reasons to apply for the Discover it Miles credit card

1. You’re looking for simplicity

There’s no sign-up bonus with the Discover it® Miles card, but it earns 1.5 miles (or 1.5% back) on everything — and there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn. Plus, Discover will match the miles you’ve earned at the end of the first year. It really doesn’t get any simpler than that. You don’t have to worry about meeting minimum spending requirements or tracking bonus categories.

When it comes to redeeming your rewards, you can redeem miles (worth 1 cent per mile) for statement credits toward travel expenses made within the past 180 days, including airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, commuter transportation and more.

If you prefer to get cash, you can redeem miles at the same rate for a direct deposit into your bank account. So although this is called a travel rewards card, it’s really a 1.5% back card (or 3% in the first year because Discover matches the rewards you earn during this time period).

2. You have large expenditures coming up within the next year

Discover will match the rewards you earn after your first year of being a Discover it® Miles cardholder. For that reason, this card could be a good choice for anyone who has larger expenditures coming up. Maybe you or your loved one is expecting? Check to see if the hospital will accept payment via credit card. Maybe you have a large home remodel coming up? Determine whether you can pay for supplies or contractors with a credit card.

3. You can’t meet higher spending requirements

There’s no welcome bonus with the Discover it® Miles card, which means you don’t have to worry about meeting any minimum spending requirements. That’s especially useful for anyone who might have a hard time spending a few thousand dollars within a three-month period — which is the typical requirement for many of the best rewards credit cards.

4. You’re over Chase 5/24

If you’ve exceeded the Chase 5/24 limit but still want to apply for another solid rewards card, the Discover it® Miles card is worth considering. But we don’t recommend applying for this card if you’re under the Chase 5/24. That’s because if the Discover it Miles card is one of the first cards you open, it will limit which Chase cards you’re eligible for — and many of the best travel credit cards are issued by Chase.

For an in-depth look at this card, check out our review of the Discover it Miles card here.

Other cards to consider

The card that most closely matches the Discover it® Miles card is the Chase Freedom Unlimited. With the Freedom Unlimited, you won’t pay an annual fee and you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back (1.5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) on purchases. In addition, you’ll earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. So if you’re looking for a card with a welcome offer, the Freedom Unlimited is the better choice.

There’s also the Chase Freedom, which offers a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This card offers 5% back in quarterly rotating categories and 1% back on everything else. But the earnings in quarterly bonus categories are capped at $1,500 in spending per quarter. So again, you’ll have to review your own spending habits to decide which card is best for you.

You can read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom here.