Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
NHL® Discover it® vs Emirates
NHL® Discover it®
Higher score in this comparison
Emirates
NHL® Discover it® vs Emirates: the differences
| Compare | NHL® Discover it®ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0Lower | $99 |
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%Lower | 19.49% to 29.49% |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Miles |
| Rewards rate | 1% cash back on all other purchases; 5% cash back in rotating categories, plus dollar-for-dollar match in first year | 3 Miles per USD 1 on Emirates spend, 2 Miles per USD 1 on travel spend, 1 Mile per USD 1 on all other spend |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%Lower | 5% |
| Perks | $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access, Pre approval tool that does not impact your credit score, Card Lock in the mobile app, 99% nationwide acceptance (Nilson Report, Feb 2026), Virtual card available before the physical card arrives, if eligible | Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card, Priority Pass Select lounge access (Premium World Elite Mastercard), USD 120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 years (Premium World Elite Mastercard), No foreign transaction fees on international purchases |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Credit needed | Good | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- NHL® Discover it® scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Annual fee is lower at NHL® Discover it®: $0 vs $99.
- APR is lower at NHL® Discover it®: 18.49% to 28.49% vs 19.49% to 29.49%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at NHL® Discover it®: 3% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at NHL® Discover it®: 15 months vs 12 months.
- Perks: only NHL® Discover it® offers $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access.
- Perks: only Emirates offers Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card.
- Support channels: only Emirates offers Email.
Our verdict on each
NHL® Discover it®
NHL Discover it is a US credit card that suits people who want cashback on everyday spending without paying an annual fee, and who are comfortable holding a balance at 18.49% to 28.49%. It is issued by Discover by Capital One, N.A., and rewards are cashback rather than points or miles.
Emirates
Emirates suits people who already pay in dollars and spend with the airline, since the miles build fastest on Emirates purchases and there is no foreign transaction fee. It also suits anyone shifting a balance, with a fee of 5% and an intro period of 12. The catch is the annual fee of $99.
Score breakdown
| Area | NHL® Discover it® | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherAnnual fee of $0 and a balance transfer fee of 3%, with APRs of 18.49% to 28.49% against a site median of 20.97%. | 8.8An annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherCashback on every purchase with a match on the first 15 of spending, plus good credit needed. | 9.3miles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.4 |
Cost in a real example
A year with 1,000 spent abroad
NHL® Discover it®
$0
1 × $0
Emirates
$99
1 × $99
NHL® Discover it® costs $99 less.
Excludes currency conversion fee (not stated by NHL® Discover it®). Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Sources behind this comparison
NHL® Discover it®
- discover.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- capitalone.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Emirates
- emirates.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | NHL® Discover it® | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 96 of 1020 | 151 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 3 of 35 | 9 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | NHL® Discover it® | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Discover by Capital One, N.A. | Emirates |
| Headquarters | United States | United Arab Emirates |
| Founded | 1985 | 1985 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | NHL® Discover it® | Emirates | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0at the median | $99highest quarter | $0 |
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%below the median | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsat the median | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 5%highest quarter | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
NHL® Discover it®
Pros
- No annual fee, so nothing to pay for keeping the card open: $0
- Cashback on all purchases, with a dollar-for-dollar match on the first 15 of spending
- Balance transfer offer of 15 at a fee of 3%
Cons
- Purchases carry an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, and cashback is smaller than the interest on a carried balance
- Rotating category bonuses mean the 15 match is the strongest part of the offer only early on
Emirates
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee on international purchases, a currency conversion fee of 0% on a card that sits at the top of our list on that measure
- Earning miles rather than cashback, and Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account stays open
- A balance transfer fee of 5% with an intro period of 12, useful for clearing a balance from another card
Cons
- An annual fee of $99 puts it near the top of our annual fee ranking, and Wise charges £0
- Interest of 19.49% to 29.49% applies on balances, and the lower end of that range is still above the site median
- A balance transfer fee of 5% still applies after the intro period of 12
Who each suits
NHL® Discover it®
Who it suits
- US cardholders who want a simple cashback card with no annual fee
- People planning a balance transfer who can clear the balance inside the offer period
- Hockey fans who want a card with cashback and no annual fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting points or miles instead of cashback, where Wise has no rewards at all
- Anyone who needs a debit card for daily spending, where Starling is the better fit
- Anyone rebuilding credit from scratch, where Varo is the better fit
Emirates
Who it suits
- People who fly Emirates often and put most of their spending through the airline
- Anyone paying in dollars and spending abroad, since the currency conversion fee is 0%
- Holders of a balance on another card who can clear it inside the intro period
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise users who want a card with an annual fee of £0 and a simpler cost base
- Anyone building credit from scratch, since a card aimed at established credit history is the wrong tool and the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) is built around a deposit with an annual fee of $0
- Spenders who never touch the airline, since the highest rate applies only to Emirates spend
Current offers
NHL® Discover it®
Current offer
Bonus
Discover it Cash Back $200 welcome bonus: $200 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
One-time, new cardholders only, available by clicking Apply Now on the page; may not be available if you navigate away or close the page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Unlimited Cashback Match on Discover it Cash Back: Dollar-for-dollar match of all cash back earned in the first 365 days, no limit
For new cardholders; no purchase minimums; offered from account approval through first 365 days; promotional offer may not be available in the future
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
0% intro APR on Discover it Cash Back: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Eligible customers only; 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Emirates
Current offer
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for the first year with the Rewards World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Silver tier from the second year onwards spend USD 20,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for the first year with the Premium World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Gold tier from the second year onwards spend USD 40,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | NHL® Discover it® | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
NHL® Discover it®
What does NHL Discover it cost to keep?+
There is an annual fee of $0, so the card costs nothing while it sits in your wallet. A balance transfer costs 3% and runs for 15, which is the only separate charge on the card.
What APR will I pay on purchases?+
Purchases carry an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, which is a range set by your credit profile. The site median across compared cards is 20.97%, so check where your own rate lands before carrying a balance.
Emirates
What does the Emirates card cost to hold?+
The annual fee is $99 on the card. Interest on balances runs at 19.49% to 29.49%, and a balance transfer is charged at 5%. If you want a card with no annual fee, the annual fee on Wise is £0.
Is there a foreign transaction fee on the card?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, and international purchases carry no foreign transaction fee. That makes the card one of the cheapest for spending abroad, provided the rate your issuer applies is competitive. It also means travel purchases do not eat into your miles with an extra layer of cost.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
NHL® Discover it®
Emirates