Discover it Chrome Credit Card Review
This article was last updated Jul 31, 2020. Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
If you eat out frequently, have a long daily commute or are planning an upcoming road trip, the Discover it® chrome offers a solid cashback rate on gas station and restaurant purchases, plus the card matches all of the cash back you earn at the end of your first year of card membership.
- Discover it® chrome pros
- Discover it® chrome cons
- Compare it to the Discover it® Cash Back
- Which credit card is best for me?
Discover it® chrome pros
Rewards rate. Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Purchases made at merchants classified as gas stations and full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias and fast-food locations qualify for the higher rewards rate, while those made at warehouse clubs, wholesale distributors and discount stores do not.
Note that items bought made using third-party payment accounts, tap-and-pay, mobile or wireless card readers, virtual wallets or similar technology may not qualify for the 2% cashback rate.
Cashback rewards never expire and can be redeemed for statement credits, electronic deposits to your bank account, charitable donations, merchandise or gift cards.
Just know, there are cashback credit cards available that offer up to 2% cash back or more on every purchase you make.
Sign-up bonus. For new card members – Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
If you max out the $1,000 spending limit each quarter by making $1,000 in gas station and restaurant purchases, you’ll earn $80 cash back on those purchases at the end of the year. Once you factor in the cashback match bonus, that amount jumps to $160.
Note that after the first year of having the card, the Discover cashback match bonus ends.
Intro APR. If you have a large amount of high interest credit card debt that you want to transfer or want to finance a large purchase and pay it off over time, you can do so without incurring interest charges for more than a year with the Discover it® chrome.
The card offers an APR of 0% intro for 14 months on purchases. After that, you will be subject to an APR of 11.99% - 22.99% variable on any unpaid portion of your balance.
The same intro APR applies to balances transferred to the Discover it® chrome card by Oct. 10, 2020.
Additional Discover it® chrome benefits:
- Annual fee. The Discover it® chrome card comes with a $0 annual fee.
- Freeze it®. If you misplace your card, you can freeze it on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances and balance transfers.
- Free FICO® credit score. View your FICO® Score for free on monthly statements, mobile or online through Discover Credit Scorecard.
- U.S.-based customer service: Discover’s 100% U.S.-based customer service representatives are available 24/7.
Discover it® chrome cons
Limits on higher rewards rate. With the Discover it® chrome, cardholders are limited to earning the higher cashback rate to the first $1,000 in combined gas station and restaurant purchases each quarter.
Balance transfer fee. The Discover it® chrome offers a long balance transfer APR of 0% intro for 14 months, then an ongoing APR of 11.99% - 22.99% variable. However, the card charges a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*.
Compare it with the Discover it® Cash Back
If you like most of what the Discover it® chrome has to offer, but want the opportunity to earn a higher cashback rate in a variety of spending categories, you may want to look at the Discover it® Cash Back instead.
The Discover it® Cash Back card offers the same annual fee, cashback match bonus, intro APR on purchases and balance transfers and benefits as the Discover it® chrome. But instead of a flat cashback rate on gas stations and restaurant purchases up to $1,000 per quarter, the Discover it® Cash Back card offers cash back in popular categories that rotate quarterly.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically. The quarterly maximum is $1,500, allowing you to earn up to $75 cash back in the 5% categories each quarter. Purchases over $1,500 in the bonus categories earn an unlimited 1% cash back.
See how the cards stack up side by side below.
Discover it® chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back
| Discover it® chrome | Discover it® Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. | Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. |
| Rewards rate | Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically. | Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically. |
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for 14 months, then 11.99% - 22.99% variable | 0% for 14 months, then 11.99% - 22.99% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for 14 months, then 11.99% - 22.99% variable | 0% for 14 months, then 11.99% - 22.99% variable |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* |
| Foreign transaction fees | None | None |
With the Discover it® Cash Back card, you have the potential to earn much more cash back each year if you max out the card’s bonus spending limit.
For example, if you make $1,500 in purchases in the 5% bonus category each quarter, you’ll earn $300 cash back in one year. That amount increases to $600 during the first year of card membership once you add in the cashback match bonus.
Just know, you will only earn 1% cash back on purchases made outside of the bonus categories and after hit you the $1,500 limit for purchases that earn the higher cashback rate. Additionally, you must opt into the bonus categories each quarter to earn the higher rate on those purchases.
Read our Discover it® Cash Back review.
Which credit card is best for me?
If you want to earn cash back on every purchase you make, the Discover it® chrome card and the Discover it® Cash Back are both solid options. But if you spend a large amount on gas and dining each month, the Discover it® chrome card may be the best choice.
On the other hand, if you want the opportunity to earn a higher cashback rate in a broader range of categories that rotate each quarter, such as Uber, PayPal and Amazon.com, the Discover it® Cash Back card can help you do that.
