If you’re big into points and miles, you might not have considered the Discover miles rewards program, because there aren’t a lot of ways you can accrue rewards. In fact, only one credit card earns Discover miles. That said, Discover miles have simple yet flexible redemption options and hold decent value.
See our list of the best credit card bonuses here.
The Discover miles program is a good option for occasional travelers looking for an easy-to-use rewards credit card. But if you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll want something more robust.
Discover also offers great sign-up bonuses for their Checking/Savings accounts.
| Personal Credit Cards | Discover it Miles Card |
| Business Credit Cards | No business credit cards |
| Redemption Options | Cash back Travel statement credits Amazon |
| Value Per Point | $0.01 |
Earning Discover Miles
All Discover credit cards earn cash back except one: Discover it Miles Card.
| Welcome bonus | UNLIMITED. Discover will match all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. |
| Bonus value | Depends on how much you spend in your first year. |
| Ongoing rewards | Unlimited 1.5x miles on all purchases. |
| Perks | No blackout dates. Free FICO credit score. |
| Annual fee | $0 |
Although coined “miles,” these rewards aren’t transferable like the points you earn with Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards. Instead, they have a fixed value of $0.01 per mile (more on that later).
With the card’s generous welcome bonus, you’ll essentially earn 3x miles once the rewards are matched at the end of your first 12 months. That’s an incredible return for a card with no annual fee.
Redeeming Discover Miles
You can use your Discover miles as cash back, against travel purchases, or toward Amazon orders. Because Discover rewards have a flat value of $0.01 each mile, we recommend you go with the most flexible option: cash back.
Discover miles do not expire unless
your account has been inactive for 18 months or more.
Cash back. This option is simple and straightforward. Plus, there’s no minimum redemption amount required.
Travel statement credits. Qualified travel expenses include airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, travel agents, online travel sites and commuter transportation. There are no blackout dates to worry about, but only travel charges made within the last 180 days qualify.
Amazon. Pay for your Amazon purchases directly with Discover miles. To access this option, you’ll need to link your Discover it Miles account to your Amazon account.
Discover Miles Tips & Tricks
You can pay for a travel purchase with your Discover it Miles card to earn rewards, then pay off the balance of these purchases with the miles you just earned. This double dip makes Discover miles just a bit more valuable.
Families should consider the Discover it Miles card for several reasons:
- There is no annual fee, so no pressure to earn enough rewards to cover the card’s cost.
- There are no rotating categories to keep track of.
- Discover miles are worth a fixed $0.01 each. There are no award charts or blackout dates. Redemption is simple.
All of the information presented above has been collected independently by MoneysMyLife. It is current at the time of publishing and will be updated from time-to-time but for the most up-to-date information, please click here to find our source.
Bottom Line
You can only earn Discover miles on one card, but the overall rewards program is easy and straightforward with decent redemption value. It’s a solid option if you’re looking for a simple, flexible travel rewards card that doubles as a cash back card.
To get the most out of your Discover miles, be sure to maximize the miles matching offer at the end of your first year.
