How to apply for a credit card online
Look for top features and benefits
Choose the best credit card for you
See if you're pre-approved
When you consider credit card offers, it's important to know whether you want a card with no annual fee, a balance transfer offer, cash rewards or travel rewards, a 0% introductory APR, enhanced security programs, or other benefits.
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Once you know the card features that matter to you, you can review the benefits of each credit card online and pick one most likely to approve someone with your credit score.
Compare Credit Cards
You might already be preapproved for a credit card that has everything you want-Discover makes it possible to find out before you submit a credit card application, and checking won't hurt your credit.
Credit Card FAQs
Find information on Discover cards, how to apply for a credit card online, and more.
A credit card is a revolving loan that you can use to make purchases. Each month you’ll receive a statement telling you how much of the loan you have used and have to pay back. If you pay the statement balance in full by the due date each month, you will not be charged interest on purchases. Otherwise your APR will apply to your unpaid credit card balance and you’ll have interest charges in your next statement. When you apply for a credit card, the credit card issuer will pull your credit report – which could result in a hard inquiry – as one of the factors they use to decide whether to approve your application. Credit cards often provide rewards on purchases, which is usually a percentage of the amount you spent with the card. A credit card comparison shows you different rewards and benefits and can help you find the credit card that’s best for you. If you’re thinking about how to get a credit card, check your credit score to figure out your likely credit card eligibility. Then, a credit card comparison can help you choose the one that’s best for you. It’s always good to check if you’re pre-approved for a card before you apply. Checking if you’re pre-approved won’t harm your credit, but applying for credit cards may impact your credit score. Check to see if you‘re pre-approved. It’s always good to check if you’re pre-approved to see your likely offers before you apply for a card. While checking if you’repre-approvedwon’t hurt your credit, each full application for a credit card may impact your credit score. There are many reasons to get a credit card: you may decide to apply for a credit card for the rewards, APR (including intro rates) or sign-up offers. Or you might want to build your credit history. Some credit cards like Discover provide $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee, which means you’re never responsible for unauthorized purchases on your DiscoverCard.5 Also, credit cards often provide extra benefits, like providing helpful alerts on your spending and more. Discover credit cards are available on the Discover it®platform, a set of common benefits we’re committed to providing to every customer. However, the rewards and some extra benefits vary from product to product to be sure we can give different customers what they need. Discover it®Cash Back: earn rewards at different places Discover it®Miles: great for vacations or staycations Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurants: earn rewards on road trips Discover it® Secured Credit Card: build your credit history Discover it®Student Cash Back: students earn rewards at different places Discover it®Chrome for Students: students earn rewards at gas stations and restaurants NHL®Discover it®: put your favorite team on your card You can apply for Discover credit cards at Discover.com or by calling 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683). Select from cash back credit cards or travel credit cards. We also have Discover student cards. All our credit cards earn Discover rewards on every purchase. You’ll need to be 18 or older to apply for a card.If you're not yet 21, you will have to apply online. Discover Secured credit card applicants must also apply online. Different credit cards require a different credit rating for approval. Some cards are only for people with excellent credit or good credit. Other cards are great if you have fair credit or are building or rebuilding credit. The credit card company will run a credit check as part of its decision to approve your application. It’s a good idea to check your credit score or get a copy of your credit report before applying for a new card. Discover card credit score requirements vary by product. In general, the standard Discover it® Card is for people with established credit. But the Discover Secured credit card is built for people looking to build or rebuild their credit with responsible use.3 No matter what, cardmembers earn Discover Card rewards on every purchase. Your credit limit is the maximum amount of the revolving line of credit on your card—or the total amount you can use on your card for purchases, balance transfers, etc. When you apply for a credit card, the bank or credit card company uses a variety of information to decide what credit limit they can offer. As you show responsible credit use, credit card issuers may increase your credit card limit. You may receive credit card offers in the mail, by email or online. Compare your offers by rewards, sign-up bonus, benefits, APR (including introductory rates), fees and credit limits. Look for rewards programs that fit the way you spend: if you know you will use the card for groceries, gas, dining or travel, you may be able to find a card that helps you earn more. And look for a sign-up bonus that doesn’t have a minimum spending amount required to get your extra rewards. Credit card companies consider a number of factors in their decision to approve your application, including your credit history and your ability to repay. So they may consider your credit score, income and more. One of the simplest helpful credit habits is to make at leastthe minimum payment for all of your bills on time every month.
Cash Back Credit Cards:Discover it®Cash Back, Gas & Restaurant Card, NHL®Discover it®
Travel Credit Card:Discover it®Miles
Student Credit Cards:Discover it Student®Cash Back, Student Chrome Card
Secured Credit Card:Discover it®Secured credit card
Cash Back Credit Cards
Intro purchase APR is x%for xmonths from date of account opening then the standard purchase APR applies. Intro Balance Transfer APR is x% for x months from date of first transfer, for transfers under this offer that post to your account by then the standard purchase APR applies. Standard purchase APR: x% variable to x% variable, based on your creditworthiness. Cash APR: x% variable. Variable APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Minimum interest charge: If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $.50. Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. Balance transfer fee: x% Intro fee on balances transferred by and up to x% fee for future balance transfers will apply. Annual Fee: None. Rates as of . We will apply payments at our discretion, including in a manner most favorable or convenient for us. Each billing period, we will generally apply amounts you pay that exceed the Minimum Payment Due to balances with higher APRs before balances with lower APRs as of the date we credit your payment.
Travel Credit Card
Intro purchase APR is x% for xmonths from date of account opening then the standard purchase APR applies. Intro Balance Transfer APR is x% for xmonths from date of first transfer, for transfers under this offer that post to your account by then the standard purchase APR applies. Standard purchase APR: x%variable to x%variable, based on your creditworthiness. Cash APR: x%variable. Variable APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Minimum interest charge: If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $.50. Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. Balance transfer fee: x%Intro fee on balances transferred by and up to x%fee for future balance transfers will apply. Annual Fee: None. Rates as of . We will apply payments at our discretion, including in a manner most favorable or convenient for us. Each billing period, we will generally apply amounts you pay that exceed the Minimum Payment Due to balances with higher APRs before balances with lower APRs as of the date we credit your payment.
Student Credit Cards
Intro purchase APRisx%forx monthsfrom date of account opening then the standard purchase APR applies.Intro Balance Transfer APRisx%forx monthsfrom date of first transfer, for transfers under this offer that post to your account bythen the standard purchase APR applies.Standard purchase APR: x% - x%variable, based on your creditworthiness.Cash APR: x%variable. Variable APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Minimum interest charge: If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $.50.Cash advance fee:Either$10or5%of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.Balance transfer fee: x%Intro fee on balances transferred byand up tox%fee for future balance transfers will apply.Annual Fee: None. Rates as of. We will apply payments at our discretion, including in a manner most favorable or convenient for us. Each billing period, we will generally apply amounts you pay that exceed the Minimum Payment Due to balances with higher APRs before balances with lower APRs as of the date we credit your payment.
Secured Credit Card
x% standard variable purchase APR.Intro Balance Transfer APRisx%forxmonthsfrom date of first transfer, for transfers under this offer that post to your account bythen the standard purchase APR applies.Cash APR: x%variable. Variable APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Minimum interest charge: If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than$.50.Cash advance fee:Either$10or5%of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.Balance transfer fee: x%Intro fee on balances transferred byand up tox%fee for future balance transfers will apply.Annual Fee: None. Rates as of. We will apply payments at our discretion, including in a manner most favorable or convenient for us. Each billing period, we will generally apply amounts you pay that exceed the Minimum Payment Due to balances with higher APRs before balances with lower APRs as of the date we credit your payment.
NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2023. All Rights Reserved.
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Cashback Match:We'll match all the cash back rewards you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You've earned cash back rewards only when they're processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This promotional offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.
Discover Match®:We'll match all the Miles rewards you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You've earned Miles rewards only when they're processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This promotional offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.
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2% Cash Back at gas and restaurants:You earn a full 2%Cashback Bonus® on your first $1000 in combined purchases at Gas Stations (stand-alone), and Restaurants each calendar quarter.Calendar quarters begin January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Purchases at Gas Stations and Restaurants over the quarterly cap, and all other purchases, earn 1% cash back. Gas Station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station, and some public electric vehicle charging stations. Gas Stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S. To qualify for 2%, the purchase transaction date must be before or on the last day of the offer or promotion. For online purchases, the transaction date from the merchant may be the date when the item ships. Rewards are added to your account within two billing periods. Even if a purchase appears to fit in a 2% category, the merchant may not have a merchant category code (MCC) in that category. Merchants and payment processors are assigned an MCC based on their typical products and services. Discover Card does not assign MCCs to merchants. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not earn 2% if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. Learn more atDiscover.com/digitalwallets.SeeCashback Bonus Program Terms and Conditionsformore information.
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Build credit with responsible use: Discover reports your credit history to the three major credit bureaus so it can help build/rebuild your credit if used responsibly. Late payments, delinquencies or other derogatory activity with your credit card accounts and loans mayadversely impact your ability to build/rebuild credit.
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Minimum Security Deposit:If approved, you must make a minimum security deposit of $200 (or more, in increments of $100 up to $2,500), which will equal your requested credit limit. Discover will determine your maximum credit limit by your income and ability to pay.
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$0 Fraud Liability:An “unauthorized purchase” is a purchase where you have not given access to your card information to another person or a merchant for one-time or repeated charges. Please use reasonable care to protect your card and do not share it with employees, relatives, or friends. Learn more atDiscover.com/fraudFAQ.
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About product reviews: We calculate the average product rating based on ratings that customers submit. We exclude some reviews from being displayed for reasons such as the customer included profanity, reviewed the wrong product, submitted inappropriate or irrelevant content, or revealed personally identifying information. Reviews are not filtered, edited, or deleted simply because they are negative or are lower rated. If a review is excluded, the associated rating is not calculated in the average product rating.
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There is no hard inquiry to your credit report to check if you’re pre-approved. If you’re pre-approved, and you move forward with submitting an application for the credit card, it will result in a hard inquiry which may impact your credit score. Receiving a pre-approval offer does not guarantee approval. Applicants applying without a social security number are not eligible to receive pre-approval offers. Card applicants cannot be pre-approved for the NHL Discover Card.
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As an enthusiast with in-depth knowledge of credit cards and the application process, I want to share comprehensive information on the concepts discussed in the article "How to apply for a credit card online." I'll break down the key points and provide insights into each aspect mentioned:
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Credit Card Basics:
- A credit card is a revolving loan for making purchases.
- Monthly statements show the used credit amount, and you need to pay it back by the due date to avoid interest charges.
- Failure to pay the full statement balance results in APR (Annual Percentage Rate) being applied to the unpaid balance.
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Credit Card Application Process:
- When applying for a credit card, the issuer pulls your credit report, potentially resulting in a hard inquiry.
- Your credit score is a crucial factor in the approval decision.
- Checking your credit score before applying is recommended.
- Pre-approval checks are available to determine eligibility without affecting your credit score.
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Reasons to Get a Credit Card:
- Various reasons include rewards, APR, sign-up offers, and building credit history.
- Some credit cards offer additional benefits, such as fraud liability guarantees and spending alerts.
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Discover Credit Cards:
- Discover provides a range of credit cards, each with specific rewards and benefits.
- Examples include Discover it® Cash Back, Discover it® Miles, Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurants, and more.
- Rewards are earned on every purchase, and there are options for students and those looking to build or rebuild credit.
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Credit Limit and Factors Affecting it:
- Your credit limit is the maximum amount you can use on the card.
- Responsible credit use may lead to credit limit increases over time.
- Different cards have varying credit rating requirements.
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Comparing Credit Card Offers:
- Offers can come through mail, email, or online.
- Comparison factors include rewards, sign-up bonuses, APR, fees, and credit limits.
- Tailor your choice based on your spending habits and preferences.
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Understanding Credit Card Fees and Terms:
- Introductory APR rates, balance transfer fees, cash advance fees, and annual fees vary.
- Terms and conditions dictate how payments are applied and other important details.
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Special Offers and Guarantees:
- Some credit cards offer special promotions, like cashback matches or miles matches within specific periods.
- Responsible use of Discover cards can contribute to building or rebuilding credit.
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Security and Fraud Protection:
- Discover emphasizes security with features like $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee.
- Protecting your card information is crucial to prevent unauthorized purchases.
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Application Process:
- Applications can be submitted online at Discover.com or by calling 1-800-DISCOVER.
- Different cards cater to various needs, including cash back, travel, and student cards.
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Credit Score Impact:
- Checking for pre-approval won't harm your credit, but submitting a full application may impact your score.
In summary, understanding your financial needs, comparing card features, and being aware of terms and conditions are vital steps when applying for a credit card online. Consider your credit score, spending habits, and the specific benefits each card offers before making a decision.
