Discover it Balance Transfer Review: A Debt Zapper With Rewards
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Our Take
4.9
This is the rare balance transfer card with value beyond its introductory APR period. Be aware, however, that the intro period for purchases is a lot shorter than for transfers.
on Discover's website
Quick Facts
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
Intro APR period
Bonus categories
Cash rewards
Cons
Complicated rewards
Spending caps on bonus rewards
Lower acceptance abroad
This card is a match for the Discover it® Balance Transfer in terms of annual fee ($0), balance transfer fee (3%) and the length of the 0% APR period for balance transfers. But its rewards are simpler: 2% cash back on everything: 1% when you buy it, and 1% when you pay it off.
Compare to Other Cards
Annual fee$0 | Annual fee$0 | Annual fee$0 |
Regular APR17.49%-28.24% Variable APR | ||
Intro APR0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months | Intro APR0% Intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers and 12 months on Purchases | Intro APR0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers |
Recommended Credit Score |
Recommended Credit Score |
Recommended Credit Score |
Full Review
If you're chipping away at high-interest credit card debt, moving it to the Discover it® Balance Transfer can get you a nice long time to pay it off without interest.
It also offers a rare feature for a balance transfer card: elevated rewards on everyday spending. That gives you a good reason to keep the card around long after paying off your transferred balance.
One thing to be aware of, though, is that unlike other some other 0% intro APR cards, the Discover it® Balance Transfer isn't a great choice for financing a large new purchase. And while the card does limit certain common fees, there is one fee you’re going to want to pay attention to: a balance transfer fee that increases over time from 3% to 5% after several months.
Discover's balance-transfer card is not currently available through Discover's website, but you can apply through NerdWallet.
Discover it® Balance Transfer: Basics
Card type: Balance transfer and cash back.
Annual fee: $0.
Intro APR: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 16.24%-27.24% Variable APR.
Ongoing rewards:
5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter (requires activation); 1% after that. Bonus categories in the past have included gas stations, wholesale clubs, restaurants and more. (See below for current categories.)
1% cash back on all other purchases. (Note: Rewards are earned only on purchases, not on balance transfers.)
Redemption options: Cash back can be redeemed for a direct deposit into any account, a statement credit on your card, gift cards and eCertificates, charitable donations, shopping on Amazon.com or via PayPal. There's no minimum redemption requirement unless you redeem for gift certificates or eCertificates, which do require a minimum of $5.
For the Amazon option, sign in to your Amazon account and link it to your card. You can pay with your Discover it® Balance Transfer card and apply cash-back rewards when you check out. The PayPal option also requires that you link accounts.
New cardholder bonus: Discover offers a unique sign-up bonus for new cardmembers in their first year, which the issuer phrases this way: "INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300."
Balance transfer fee: 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms).
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Other benefits:
Free access to your FICO® score.
Discover offers a similar card with the same rewards structure but an introductory APR period that's longer for purchases and shorter for balance transfers. That card is known as the Discover it® Cash Back.
Why you might want the Discover it® Balance Transfer
Generous 0% intro APR period
The Discover it® Balance Transfer offers one of the longest 0% introductory APR periods for transfers: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 16.24%-27.24% Variable APR.
High rewards rate
Other credit cards also offer the dual benefits of a 0% intro APR period plus rewards. But few of them can match the 5% cash-back rate that the Discover it® Balance Transfer offers on up to $1,500 in combined spending on bonus categories per quarter (after activation). All other purchases earn 1% back. The current 5% categories on this card:
Discover bonus rewards categories for 2023 | |
|---|---|
Q1 (Jan. 1–March 31) | • Grocery stores*. • Drugstores. • Select streaming services. |
Q2 (April 1–June 30) | TBD (In 2022: Gas stations; Target). |
Q3 (July 1–Sept. 30) | TBD (In 2022: Restaurants; PayPal). |
Q4 (Oct. 1–Dec. 31) | TBD (In 2022: Amazon.com; digital wallets). |
*The grocery stores category does not include grocery purchases at Walmart or Target or at other superstores or wholesale clubs. | |
Potentially lucrative sign-up bonus
Discover's unique bonus allows cardmembers to essentially chart their own course for a personalized sign-up bonus in the first year of having the card.
Keep in mind, though, that if you’re using the balance transfer option on the Discover it® Balance Transfer card, you may want to avoid making new purchases with it entirely, and instead use the card solely for paying off debt — and that might mean missing out on the rich sign-up bonus offer, which you're eligible for only in your first year.
Why you might want a different card
The Discover it® Balance Transfer is a solid choice, but depending on what you're looking for in a balance transfer card, there are some other promising options available.
You can get a longer 0% period
The BankAmericard® credit card offers a longer 0% APR period for transfers — and a matching one for purchases. You get 0% intro APR on Purchases for 21 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 21 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, and then the ongoing APR of 16.24%-26.24% Variable APR. The annual fee is 0. There are no rewards, however.
A flat-rate card may better suit your spending
The Citi® Double Cash Card has an introductory APR of 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-28.49% Variable APR. There is, however, no 0% intro APR period for purchases. What makes it especially attractive is its flat-rate rewards, which make the card a good choice for someone not interested in keeping track of bonus categories. You'll earn 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy, then 1% as you pay. If simplicity is important to you, the Citi® Double Cash Card could fit the bill.
To see how these options compare versus other cards, visit the NerdWallet best credit cards roundup.
Should you apply?
If you want a long time to pay down a credit card balance while still earning cash back on new purchases, the Discover it® Balance Transfer is tough to beat. The introductory balance transfer fee is comparatively low, and the cash-back earning potential is promising.
on Discover's website
