Discover It Balance – How to apply

By Raquel Oliveira • 04/11/2025

Discover It Balance is a credit card that offers a good limit for different customer profiles.

The Discover it Balance Transfer Card is a compelling option for those looking to consolidate debt and minimize interest costs. Its attractive balance transfer offer provides a practical path toward managing and paying down high-interest balances.

Cardholders receive a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers and new purchases for 18 months, offering an extended period to reduce existing debt while avoiding interest on new spending.

With a balance of everyday usability and strong debt management support, this card allows users to streamline their payments and focus on achieving a lower overall balance.

Used strategically, the Discover it® Balance Transfer Card can be a valuable resource for reducing financial pressure, saving on interest, and making steady progress toward long-term financial goals.

How does the Discover It Balance work?

Discover It Balance is a credit card that offers a good limit for different customer profiles, enabling the use of a payment method with affordable rates.

Ideal for those who want to transfer balances, the card is accepted in thousands of establishments and, depending on the limit available, it helps you pay off debts with higher rates.

Furthermore, it is a credit card that can be used to make your regular purchases, enabling interesting transactions for your routine.

Therefore, it is an advantageous credit card, but it is not free and it can easily be part of your payment routine.

Main benefits of Discover It Balance

This card offers a strong combination of debt relief and rewards.

• Cashback Match – Discover matches all cashback earned in the first year, doubling the rewards potential.
• Security and financial tools – Fraud protection, free FICO® Score tracking, and the Freeze It® feature to lock the card instantly if needed.
• 0% APR introductory offer – Enjoy zero interest for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers. After the promotional period, the APR ranges from 18.24% to 27.24%, based on creditworthiness.
• No annual fee – Users save money since there are no annual costs to keep the card.
• Cashback rewards – Earn 5% cashback on rotating categories like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and online shopping (activation required) and 1% on all other purchases.

How to Maximize the Benefits of This Card

To get the most out of the Discover It Balance Transfer Card, follow these strategies:

• Pay off the balance before the promotional period ends – Avoid high interest rates once the 0% APR expires after 18 months.
• Take advantage of cashback categories – Activate the 5% bonus categories each quarter to maximize rewards.
• Monitor your credit score – Use the free FICO® Score tracking to improve credit health.
• Avoid late payments – Late payments can lead to fees and penalty APR, reducing the financial benefits.

Earn cashback while managing your balance

One of the biggest advantages of the Discover It Balance Transfer Card is that it not only helps with debt consolidation but also allows users to earn cashback on purchases.

• 5% cashback on rotating categories such as gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and online shopping, with activation required.
• 1% unlimited cashback on all other purchases, ensuring that every transaction earns rewards.
• Cashback Match – Discover automatically doubles all cashback earned in the first year, maximizing rewards potential.

Unlike other balance transfer cards that focus solely on reducing interest, this card provides the added perk of earning cashback while you spend. For those who plan to use the card beyond debt repayment, this feature makes it a more rewarding financial tool.

These options may be a better fit for those looking for longer promotional APR periods or specific perks. However, Discover’s combination of cashback and 0% APR makes it a unique choice.

Cons for the Discover it® Balance Transfer

While the Discover it® Balance Transfer is a strong option for many, it does have some limitations. The balance transfer feature, while generous, comes with a fee, which may reduce the overall savings depending on the transferred amount.

Additionally, the cashback program’s rotating categories require activation each quarter, which may not suit users who prefer simpler rewards structures.

Cons of the Discover It Balance Transfer Card

While highly beneficial, this card has some drawbacks.

• Cashback rewards mainly apply to purchases – Those using the card only for balance transfers won’t maximize its cashback potential.
• Balance transfer fees – The 3% introductory transfer fee increases to 5% after 15 months, affecting potential savings.
• Limited international acceptance – Discover cards are not as widely accepted abroad as Visa or Mastercard, making them less ideal for frequent travelers.

APR and Fees

Generally speaking, the card’s APR rate is zero for 15 months, but after the promotional period it goes up significantly.

The value varies between 18.24% and 27.24% depending on the customer’s profile. In addition, there is no annual fee for using the card, which makes the costs affordable and the customer can benefit.

It is important to know that in the first months of use, the balance transfer costs 3%, but the rate increases to 5% after the end of the promotional period. Another relevant point is that cash withdrawals are charged at 29.24% APR.

It is worth knowing all the details about the fees so that you can use the card wisely. If the customer delays payments, for example, they will have to pay $41 per delay.

Who Should Apply for the Discover It Balance Transfer Card?

This card is best suited for:

• People with high-interest debt – Ideal for consolidating balances and paying no interest for 18 months.
• Disciplined budgeters – Those who can clear their debt before the promotional APR expires.
• Shoppers looking for cashback – A great option for earning rewards on daily purchases.
• People who don’t rely on their credit card for international travel – Since Discover has limited acceptance abroad, frequent travelers might need another option.

For those seeking only cashback rewards or needing a travel-friendly card, other alternatives may be a better fit.

Conclusion

The Discover It Balance Transfer Card offers an excellent 0% APR period, making it an effective tool for consolidating and paying off debt.

With no annual fee, strong cashback rewards, and security features, it provides financial flexibility for responsible cardholders.

However, balance transfer fees and limited global acceptance are factors to consider before applying.

For users who can pay off their balance within the promotional period, this card delivers significant savings and valuable benefits, making it a smart financial choice.