The American Express Discover Card is a great option for those looking for a rewards credit card, but it's not the only game in town. The card offers 5% cashback on various categories throughout the year, with no rotating categories or spending limits.
One of the biggest advantages of the Amex Discover Card is its cashback rewards, which can be redeemed in any amount at any time. This flexibility is a major plus over some other cards that require you to redeem rewards in specific increments or at specific times.
The Amex Discover Card also offers a sign-up bonus of up to $150 cashback, which can be a nice boost to your rewards earnings. This bonus is available to new cardholders who spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
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Choosing the Right Card
Both Discover and American Express offer good credit cards, and you can use them without issues at most retailers and restaurants.
Consider what type of rewards you want - Discover cards focus on cash-back rewards, while American Express cards are better for travel rewards.
Adding a Visa or Mastercard is a good idea if you travel overseas frequently.
Ultimately, the best card for you depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Here's a quick rundown of the key differences:
Key Features
The Qantas American Express Discovery Card is a solid choice for those looking for a credit card with some great features. The card charges a variable interest rate of 23.99% p.a. on purchases, and there's no cash advance option available.
You can get up to 44 days interest-free on purchases if you pay your balance in full by the due date on each statement. This is a great perk for those who pay their balance in full each month.
A 3% fee applies for transactions made in a foreign currency overseas or online, which is something to keep in mind if you travel frequently.
Here are some key details about the card:
Card Comparison
When choosing between American Express and Discover, it's essential to consider your spending habits and rewards preferences. Discover credit cards tend to focus more on cash-back rewards, while many American Express cards will be more ideal for earning travel rewards.
If you're a frequent traveler, American Express might be the better choice, but if you're looking for cash-back rewards, Discover is a great option. Both issuers have their own networks and benefits structures, so it's worth exploring their offerings to find the best fit for you.
Consider adding a Visa or Mastercard to your wallet, especially if you travel overseas frequently, as they are widely accepted.
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Credit Card Issuer Comparison
American Express and Discover are two popular credit card issuers with their own unique features and benefits. American Express is known for its low APRs, making it a good option for those who want to pay less interest.
Discover, on the other hand, offers good credit personal loans with similar loan amounts to American Express, but with a wider range of loan term lengths, from 36 to 84 months. Both issuers have similar loan amounts, ranging from $2,500 to $40,000.
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American Express and Discover also have different APRs, with American Express offering a lower range of 6.90% to 19.97%, while Discover's APRs range from 7.99% to 24.99%. If you're looking for a low APR, American Express might be the better choice.
Here's a comparison of the two issuers' features:
Discover credit cards tend to focus more on cash-back rewards, while many American Express cards are ideal for earning travel rewards. If you prioritize cash back, Discover might be the better choice.
However, it's worth noting that American Express has a wider variety of statement credits and member-exclusive events, which might be attractive to some users. Ultimately, the choice between American Express and Discover depends on your individual needs and preferences.
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Choosing Between Express and Credit
Express cards have lower credit limits, typically ranging from $300 to $1,500, whereas credit cards offer higher credit limits, often up to $10,000 or more.
Express cards usually have lower fees, such as annual fees and late payment fees, compared to credit cards. Credit cards, on the other hand, often come with higher fees, including interest rates and balance transfer fees.
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Express cards are designed for everyday purchases and may not offer rewards or cashback, while credit cards often provide rewards programs and cashback incentives. Credit cards can also offer sign-up bonuses and other perks.
If you're looking to build credit, a credit card may be a better option, as they report payment history to the credit bureaus. Express cards, however, may not report payment history, making it less suitable for credit building.
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Benefits and Offers
The Qantas American Express Discovery Card offers a range of benefits and offers that make it a great choice for those who want to earn points without paying an annual fee.
You can earn Qantas Points on everyday purchases, with 0.75 points per $1 spent and 0.5 points per $1 spent with government bodies in Australia. The points are uncapped and credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account every month.
The card also comes with contactless and mobile payments, allowing you to tap to pay from your mobile device or with the card. You can add the card to Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay for added convenience.
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Here are some of the key benefits of the Qantas American Express Discovery Card:
- $0 annual fee
- Complimentary purchase and refund protection
- Earn 0.75 Qantas Points per $1 spent and 0.5 points per $1 with government bodies in Australia
These benefits make the Qantas American Express Discovery Card a great choice for those who want to earn points without paying an annual fee.
Loan Amount
When looking at the loan amounts offered by both lenders, you can get a loan ranging from $2,500 to $40,000 with Discover, and from $3,500 to $40,000 with American Express.
If you're in need of a small personal loan, Discover offers slightly smaller loan amounts than American Express.
Both lenders offer a maximum loan amount of $40,000, which is a significant amount for personal financing.
Offers
The Qantas American Express Discovery card offers a range of benefits, but one of its standout features is its Amex Offers program. You can earn rewards, get discounts, and accumulate points for shopping at Amex brand partners. To take advantage of this, you need to enroll your card at Amex Offers via the app or website, then select the ongoing offer for your card.
One of the best things about the Amex Offers program is that it's targeted, so you'll only receive offers that are relevant to your spending habits. This means you can earn rewards on purchases that you make regularly, such as groceries or gas.
Here are some of the benefits you can expect from the Amex Offers program:
- Get discounts
- Earn cash back
- Accumulate reward points
It's worth noting that the Amex Offers program is just one of the many benefits that come with the Qantas American Express Discovery card. With this card, you can also earn uncapped Qantas Points on everyday purchases, and enjoy complimentary purchase insurances.
Transfer and Balance
If you're considering transferring a balance to your Amex Discover Card, you can do it online or by phone.
To transfer a balance online, you'll need to compare balance transfer cards from Amex until you find the one that works best for your needs. Then, apply and get approved for the card, and American Express will ask if you have any balances you'd like to transfer.
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You'll need to enter information like your other card's account number, issuer, and how much debt you'd like to transfer. This will determine your eligibility for a balance transfer.
To transfer a balance by phone, you can call American Express customer service using the number on the back of your credit card. They'll request the same information as the online process, including your other credit card issuer, account number, and how much debt you want to transfer.
Here are the steps to transfer a balance online:
- Compare balance transfer cards from Amex until you find the option that would work best for your needs.
- Apply and get approved for the card you’re interested in.
- Enter information like your other card’s account number, your other card’s issuer and how much debt you’d like to transfer.
General Information
Amex and Discover have increased their outreach drastically in the last few years, with millions of domestic and global partners.
Their network is impressive, but it still lags behind Visa and Mastercard.
Repayment Terms
Discover offers options for a longer period for repayment than American Express, up to 84 months, allowing you to repay your debt in smaller increments over time.
American Express allows for a shorter repayment period of just 12 months.
With Discover, you can repay your debt in smaller increments over a longer period, but with American Express, you'll need to pay off the balance more quickly.
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General Overview
American Express and Discover have increased their outreach significantly in recent years, with domestic and global partners numbering in the millions. This growth has put them just behind Visa and Mastercard in terms of partnerships.
Both Amex and Discover have managed to expand their reach despite being smaller than their competitors. This achievement is a testament to their ability to adapt and innovate.
Their extensive network of partners is one of the key factors contributing to their growth. This allows them to offer a wide range of benefits and rewards to their customers.
The increased outreach has also led to a wider acceptance of their cards globally. This makes it easier for people to use their cards when traveling abroad.
Return
Discover is now at 99% acceptance among U.S. merchants that take credit cards, according to the February 2020 Nilson Report.
It took Discover a little longer to get to 99%, with only 96% acceptance in 2019, as noted in the 2019 Nilson Report.
Discover has relationships with all major payment enablers in the U.S. and is embedded in their standard payment solutions for merchants, allowing for wider acceptance.
Discover even featured an ad sharing the news of its growing acceptance during Super Bowl LIV.
Acceptance by More Places
Both Discover and American Express have significantly increased their outreach in recent years, with domestic and global partners in millions. This has helped them catch up with Visa and Mastercard.
Discover has made a remarkable achievement, with 99% acceptance among U.S. merchants that take credit cards. This is according to the February 2020 Nilson Report industry newsletter.
In fact, Discover was only accepted by 96% of U.S. merchants in 2019, but they've since caught up with American Express, which also has 99% acceptance. So, for now, both cards have an equal advantage.
Both Discover and American Express have a global outreach to 100+ countries, making them widely accepted abroad as well. However, it's always a good idea to carry a backup card on travel in case of non-acceptance.
Comparison and Verdict
Discover is a better card issuer due to its low card fee and reachable qualification criteria.
Discover's big cash back rewards make it a great option for everyday expenses.
Amex offers customers premium perks, but these come with a higher cost.
In comparison, Discover's rewards categories are more geared towards everyday expenses.
Here's a brief comparison of the two card issuers:
Overall, Discover is a better choice for those looking for a low-fee, easy-to-qualify-for card with big rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amex a Discover card?
No, American Express is a separate financial services corporation from Discover. It issues its own unique credit cards.
Sources
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/discover-american-express-acceptance
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/american-express-vs-discover/
- https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/balance-transfer/american-express-balance-transfer/
- https://www.expensivity.com/american-express-vs-discover/
- https://www.finder.com.au/credit-cards/american-express-credit-cards/qantas-american-express-discovery-card
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