The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Please review our list of best credit cards, or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your needs.
Discover is well known for its competitive credit cards, whether you’re trying to maximize your cash back or score a generous introductory APR for new purchases or balance transfers. If you are considering signing up for a Discover credit card, you might want to check out preapproved offers.
When Discover preapproves you, it generally means they’ve identified you as a strong candidate for one or more of their credit cards. They’ve likely done a soft pull of your credit report – which doesn’t affect your credit – and would like to invite you to formally apply for a card.
Preapproved offers allow you to get a glimpse of which Discover cards you are most likely to be approved for – saving you the worry of applying for a card, suffering a hard pull to your credit and still being denied. By checking out the cards that Discover has already matched to your credit profile, you can better decide which product is best for you. Read on to learn more on how to get one of these offers.
How to get preapproved for a Discover credit card
It’s fairly easy to get preapproved for a Discover credit card. You can check for Discover card preapproval offers right here at CreditCards.com, through the issuer’s website or even in your mail.
Check prequalified offers at CardMatch
CardMatch™ is a free tool that makes it easy to check your eligibility for the best credit cards from Discover and other card issuers. Since CardMatch only uses a soft credit pull, using the tool won’t impact your credit. You’ll have to plug some information into the CardMatch form, including your name, home address, email address and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Once you submit the form, CardMatch will reveal a list of credit cards you’re likely to get approved for.
Prequalify on the Discover website
Another place where prospective cardholders can check for a Discover preapproval is on the Discover site.
The Discover prequalified offers tool asks for a bit more information than similar products from other issuers. You’ll need to enter information such as your annual income, whether you own or rent your home, whether or not you are a student and the other bank accounts you currently have open. You’ll also enter basic identifying information like your name, address and Social Security number.
Don’t worry – all of these additional questions are designed to help Discover better match you with cards that align with your lifestyle. You’ll still only have a soft pull to your credit, and it won’t affect your score.
Other ways to prequalify for Discover cards
In addition to prequalified offers online, Discover might target you for a prescreened offer by mail. Next time you get a letter from Discover, check for a good card deal before tossing it. Depending on how you apply for a card, Discover will occasionally offer different terms and conditions. That means you might be able to score a better introductory offer if you are targeted. Be sure to check out the details of your prequalified card offers closely before applying.
Boost your chances
If you check Discover’s site only to find you aren’t prequalified for the card you wanted, don’t fret. You can work to boost your credit score and better your chances of scoring a top offer.
The best way to do this is by making consistent, on-time payments on your other accounts. Additionally, you should keep your credit utilization low. If you don’t have enough credit history, consider becoming an authorized user on a family member’s card. Just remember that the primary cardholder will still be responsible for payments being made on time, so you should be responsible about using the card.
Top Discover cards for prequalified offers
Cash back Discover it® Cash Back | Intro APR Discover it® Chrome | Travel Discover it® Miles |
|---|---|---|
| 5% cash back on rotating categories that you activate each quarter, on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter 1% cash back on all other purchases 0% intro APR for 15 months on new purchases and balance transfers then 13.49%-24.49% (variable) | 2% cash backon restaurant and gas station purchases (up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter) 1% cash backon all other purchases 0% intro APR for 15 months on new purchases and balance transfersthen 13.49%-24.49% (variable) | 1.5 miles per dollaron all purchases 0% intro APR for 15 months on new purchases and balance transfers then 13.49%-24.49% (variable) |
Why you should prequalify with Discover before you apply
The main reason to prequalify with Discover is to help protect your credit score from an unnecessary hit. Remember, when you formally apply for a credit card, the card issuer performs a hard inquiry on your credit. Hard inquiries stay on your credit report for up to two years, although they only affect your score for one year.
Prequalifying gives you opportunity to discover if you’re likely to be approved. Though credit card approval is never guaranteed, you’ll feel better about applying if you know Discover has already preapproved you. On the other hand, if prequalifying doesn’t yield any positive matches for Discover cards based on a soft pull of your credit, it may be a sign that the card issuer’s review of your credit report turned up an issue.
In that case, you may want to wait and build your credit before formally applying for a credit card. Consider obtaining copies of your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com so you can identify potential issues. Comb through your credit reports with a keen eye towards any mistakes or fraudulent information. If you discover errors, file disputes with the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Bottom line
Your credit scores play an important role in whether you are approved for credit cards and loans – and the rates you’ll receive – so it pays to protect your score from unnecessary risk. If you’re thinking about getting a Discover card, consider taking the extra step to get preapproved first. At least then, you’ll have a better idea of your odds of approval, which can help you decide whether or not to proceed.
Editorial Disclaimer
The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.
Tim Maxwell is a freelance personal finance writer and blogger with a particular focus on credit cards and consumer lending. In 2002, he stumbled upon a copy of "The Millionaire Next Door," by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, which ignited a passion for learning and sharing fact-based money principles. Tim has a passion for demystifying personal finance and helping people live their best lives.
