Discoverit Secured

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VALID THRU 09/28JORDAN TAYLOR

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Secured Cards · United States

Discover it Secured Credit Card

4.6 / 5 editorial rating

Best for: Building or rebuilding credit while still earning rewards

Reviewed by the CreditCardCompare editorial team · Fees and rates checked September 2026 — confirm on the issuer's site before you apply

Annual feeNo annual fee

IssuerDiscover

NetworkDiscover

Purchase APR28.24% variable

Foreign transaction feeNone

Credit neededNew / rebuilding credit

Pros

Carries no yearly fee
Earns rewards plus the Cashback Match
Reports to all three bureaus

Cons

A refundable deposit is required
A high ongoing APR
Discover sees less acceptance overseas

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Rates and offers change. Confirm today's terms on the issuer's official site before applying. Independent comparison — not financial advice.

Our take on the Discover it Secured Credit Card

The Discover it Secured is the best choice for someone building or rebuilding credit who wants to earn rewards while doing it, because it pays the same rotating 5% categories as Discover's unsecured card with no annual fee. As of September 2026 Discover says a refundable deposit as low as $49 opens a credit line of at least $200, and that no credit score is required to apply.

The point of a secured card is the payment history, not the cash back. Keep the balance low, pay in full every month, and the card does its job. Discover says responsible use can earn your deposit back and lead to an upgrade to the Discover it Cash Back, which is the outcome to aim for.

Treat the rewards as a small bonus. With a starting line of a few hundred dollars, the quarterly cap on 5% purchases is out of reach for most cardholders, so realistic earnings are modest. The first-year Cashback Match doubles whatever you do earn. The ongoing APR is high, so carrying a balance on a secured card costs far more than any reward returns.

Good fit if

You have no credit history or a damaged one and can set aside a refundable deposit
You want a secured card that earns cash back rather than nothing
You plan to move up to an unsecured card once your record improves

Skip it if

You expect to carry a balance, given the high ongoing APR
You can already qualify for an unsecured starter card

Worked example

Say you use the card for a $60 monthly phone bill and $120 a month in groceries, paying the statement in full each month. If one quarter's 5% category covers grocery stores, those three months of groceries ($360) earn $18. The other nine months of groceries ($1,080) plus the phone bill all year ($720) earn 1%, or $18. That is $36 in year one, which the Cashback Match doubles to $72. The real return is 12 months of on-time payments. We count that cash back conservatively at face value.

How it stacks up

The Capital One Platinum Secured is the main no-fee alternative for rebuilding credit, but it does not earn rewards, so the Discover card is the stronger pick if you qualify for both. Students with a thin credit file rather than a damaged one should compare the Discover it Student Cash Back, which does not require a deposit. Neither alternative charges an annual fee.

This is the rare secured card that actually pays rewards: 2% at gas and restaurants (on up to $1,000 combined each quarter) and 1% elsewhere, doubled by the first-year Cashback Match, so rebuilders aren't earning nothing while they repair credit. Automatic reviews start around month 7 to graduate you to an unsecured card and refund the deposit, which beats most secured cards that trap your money indefinitely. The deposit (typically $200 minimum) and a high ~28% APR mean you should pay in full monthly. Discover's overseas acceptance is limited, so don't rely on it abroad; verify the deposit and graduation terms on Discover's site.