Review: Discover It

The Discover It card was my first ever rewards credit card. I have had this card since college and I haven’t looked back. Discover is known for its great US-based customer service, cash back rewards, fair terms, and helpful perks. My Discover card has grown with me since college and has become a long-term keeper card.

Discover primarily works with those who have thin credit files (or none at all). Their target market makes their cards great for those who are new to credit and those who are rebuilding. This is why I recommend the Discover It as a first credit card.

Earning

The Discover It has no annual fee and it earns 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories. Currently, it earns 5% on Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target (in store and online) purchases. The categories for 2022 are as follows:

• 1^st Quarter: grocery stores, fitness clubs, and gym memberships
• 2^nd Quarter: gas stations and Target
• 3^rd Quarter: Restaurants and Pay Pal
• 4^th Quarter: Amazon.com and digital wallet purchases (such as Apple Pay)

Your mileage may vary with earning. If Discover is your first card, you will likely be able to find most (if not all) of the categories useful. But if you have a lot of other cards, incorporating this one into your lineup might be difficult depending on the quarter. This is especially true if you have cards that earn transferable points (like Chase Ultimate Rewards).

Instead of a normal sign-up bonus, Discover will match the cash back you earn in your first year of card-membership. In other words, the 5% categories become 10% categories for the first year. Not many other cards will get you that much value in rewards.

You can also refer up to 10 friends each year to get the Discover It. The best part is that you and your friend will receive $50 each when your friend gets approved for the card. If you successfully refer 10 friends and they all get approved, you will receive a total of $500 per year!

Burning

Another thing that I like about Discover is that they provide multiple redemption methods when not all cash back cards do so. For example, the only way to redeem cash back earned with an American Express Blue Cash card is via statement credit. Just note that some redemption methods are more generous than others with Discover.

Gift Cards

Unlike many other credit cards, this is probably the most profitable option for redemption. Many gift cards are discounted at least 10%, making your cash back go further. The more cash you redeem, the larger the discount is. For example, you can redeem $40 for a $50 Starbucks gift card, a 20% discount.

Cash Redemptions

My favorite way to redeem cash back is to put it in your bank account. This way, you can do anything you want with the cash. I like to redeem this way because I can use it for unusual travel expenses, investing, or savings.

Statement credits are the easiest way to redeem cash back. If you want to redeem for current purchases, this will credit your account.

Discover lets cardholders use their cash back on Amazon.com. Like the other cash redemption methods, each dollar is worth face value on Amazon.

Donations

Donations to charity are a great way to redeem if you’re feeling generous. Like redeeming for gift cards, Discover will match a small percentage of what you donate for some charities.

Perks

Monthly TransUnion Score

Everyone should know what their credit score is. Discover gives you your official TransUnion score every month for no additional cost. This perk was vital for me when I was starting out as it let me keep track of my credit score and progress. And its still one of my favorite credit card perks today. Unfortunately, this perk is being discontinued for new users in June 2022.

Spend Analyzer

This feature lets you see how much you have spent on your Discover card. You can also break down your expenditures by categories or view a specific time period. For example, if you want to know how much you spent at restaurants in 2018, the Spend Analyzer will tell you.

Card Designs

While this benefit doesn’t do much, a credit card’s aesthetics mean a lot for some people. Discover offers over 140 different card designs.

NHL fans are also in luck because Discover has a card design for each team. Even though Discover is the official credit card of the NHL, there are no additional hockey-related benefits.

US Based Customer Service

US Based customer service is becoming increasingly rare. Many issuers want to save money and outsourcing customer service is usually one of the first ways large companies do so. Discover prides itself on keeping their customer service in the United States and it’s paying off for them and cardholders.

Discover won the 2018 and 2019 JD Power Credit Card Satisfaction awards primarily because of its customer service.

Rules & Regulations

Discover has one rule about product changes and one about getting another Discover card:

You can’t product change your Discover It to a Discover It Miles until having your card open for 12 months.

You also can’t get a second Discover card unless you’ve had your first one open for 12 months. This means that you need to choose between the Discover It and the Discover It Miles wisely.

Different Flavors

Like the American Express Platinum Card, the Discover It card has different “flavors” for different people.

Student Versions

Discover has student versions of its regular It card and the Chrome version. But the student versions are easier to get approved for and you will receive a smaller credit limit. Either student version can “graduate” to the regular or Chrome version once you prove your creditworthiness or finish school.

All student versions also offer a $20 bonus for each semester you maintain a 3.00 GPA. This bonus can net you up to $60 per school year (assuming you take fall, spring, and summer classes).

Chrome

This version has two constant bonus categories instead of the 5% categories. You will earn 2% cash back at Restaurants and Gas Stations on up to $1,000 per quarter. I don’t recommend this version because there are cash back cards that can earn you 2% on all purchases.

Secured

I don’t normally review secured cards on PYCR, but this variant is the same as the Chrome version. The only difference is that you must give Discover a set amount of money upon being approved for the card. That amount serves as your credit limit.

Upon proving yourself, Discover will “graduate” your secured card to an unsecured card. At that point, you will get your initial deposit back.

Similar Cards

Here are some alternatives if the Discover It is not for you.

Chase Freedom Flex

The Chase Freedom Flex is Chase’s version of the Discover It. Both cards earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories. However, this card is harder to get approved for because Chase isn’t as friendly to those with thinner files. This is why the Freedom Flex could be a great second card.

Plus, the Freedom Flex earns 3% cash back on dining and pharmacies and 1% on all other purchases. These extra categories give the Freedom Flex an advantage over the Discover It because it’s even more flexible

Furthermore, the Freedom Flex is the better card if you also have a premium Chase card (either Sapphire card or the Ink Business Preferred). The Freedom Flex earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points instead of cash back, assuming you have a premium Chase card too. Those points can be transferred to Chase’s travel partners or redeemed using their portal.

Those who do not have a premium Chase card can still earn 5% cash back with the Freedom. That puts it on the same level as the Discover It. However, if cash back is more attractive to you than points, the decision will depend on the categories for both cards.

Citi Custom Cash

The Citi Custom Cash card has no annual fee and is a great option for aspiring international travelers and cash back lovers. It earns 5x Thank You (TY) points or 5% cash back at your highest spend category every month. This could be anything from gas stations to travel. However, there is a spending limit of $500 per month, which is similar to the Discover It’s $1,500 quarterly spend limit.

Also, the Custom Cash offers a sign-up bonus worth $200 or 20,000 points. It can be earned after spending just $750 in the first three months. This is a nice bonus, but it’s also normal for a cash back credit card.

Final Draw

For beginners and rebuilders alike, my suggestion for a first credit card is the Discover It. Discover’s perks, redemption methods, and different flavors are great for many types of people who are starting out.

If you get approved for this card, use it wisely for 6-12 months and then apply for another no-annual fee card. This way, you will have a foundation to build upon for years to come.

When I got my Discover It, my only other card was a Chase Slate that I had for about four months. But they approved me with a paltry $500 limit and a sky-high APR. Since then, my credit limit has increased to five figures and my APR is much lower. My Discover was my first real credit card and is my oldest active account. I keep it around because it has no annual fee, it’s a great earner, and it’s doing wonders for my average age of accounts.

Apply Today: Discover It