The Discover it® Chrome is the popular credit card issuer's gas and restaurant rewards card. It's light on fees and has a nice introductory APR offer for purchases and balance transfers, but it also has a low cash back rate that seriously limits its value. Find out whether you should apply for it or keep looking in our Discover it® Chrome review.
Ratings Methodology
Discover it® Chrome
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Score:Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Credit ScoreFalling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 6 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months
Rewards2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
1% - 2% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome OfferN/A
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Features the typically impressive slate of Discover card perks, but without the big bonus cash back.
- Sign-up bonus offer
- Gas and restaurants rewards
- 0% intro APR
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Low cash back rates
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–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.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Citi Double Cash® Card | Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 20,000 ThankYou® PointsEarn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Up to 2% cash back2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay | Intro:N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months Regular:19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) | |
Discover it® Cash Back | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.N/A | 1% - 5% CashbackEarn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. | Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular:18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited® OnChase'sSecure Website. | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | Up to $300 cash backEarn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash backEnjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases | Intro:0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular:20.49% - 29.24% Variable | Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited® OnChase'sSecure Website. |
Full Discover it® Chrome review
This credit card is a good fit for: Consumers looking for a straightforward cash back card that will earn a little extra at gas stations and restaurants.
Top perks
Here's a look at what you get with the Discover it® Chrome.
Unlimited Cashback Match sign-up bonus
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This sign-up bonus is only available during the first year and for new cardholders, but it can be particularly lucrative since the match is unlimited. If you earn $300 in cash back, you'll get another $300 from Discover.
SEE MORE: Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
Up to 2% cash back
The Discover it® Chrome earns:
- A 2% Cashback Bonus® at gas stations and restaurants, on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter in these categories
- Unlimited 1% back on other purchases
It's far from the highest cash back rate, and the spending cap is on the low side. But you'll at least earn extra in two popular categories.
OTHER OPTIONS: Best Cash Back Credit Cards
0% intro APR
This card offers 0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases and 18 months on balance transfers. The go-to 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR applies after the 0% intro APR period expires, and there's a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*. It's not the longest intro period we've seen, but it's a good offer for a cash back card.
There are a couple of ways to use the 0% intro APR. If you have large expenses that you can't pay in full, you can pay them off over time. As long as you get the balance paid off within 18 months, you won't be charged any interest. You could also transfer over balances from other credit cards to refinance debt and save on interest charges.
SEE MORE: Best 0% APR Credit Cards
No foreign transaction fee
You don't need to worry about paying extra when you travel abroad. The Discover it® Chrome doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. Many credit cards charge 3% for international transactions.
FICO® Score for free
Your FICO® Score can easily be accessed through Discover's web or app, or in every one of your monthly statements. Besides the score, users can see details about the five factors that impact it.
No cash back redemption minimum
You can redeem cash back at any time and for any amount. Your cash back also never expires as long as your credit card remains open.
What could be improved
There's only one notable drawback to this Discover card, but it's a big one.
Low cash back rates
The cash back rates for the Discover it® Chrome are mediocre at best. Many no annual fee credit cards earn rates of 3%, 4%, and even 5% back in bonus categories. That's much higher than this card's rate of 2%. There are also cards that offer a flat rate of 2% on purchases, in all categories. If you shop around and read more credit card reviews, you can find cards that offer higher rates, more bonus categories, or both of the above.
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
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Suggested credit score
A FICO® Score of at least 670 is recommended to apply for the Discover it® Chrome. It's a credit card for consumers with good to excellent credit.
Credit card companies weigh more factors than just credit scores in their decisions, so your credit score alone won't guarantee whether your application is approved or denied. There are reports of consumers getting the Discover it® Chrome with a credit score below 670, but there are also consumers with higher scores who have been denied.
The Discover it® Chrome is right for you if:
You're looking for a Discover card with bonus gas and dining rewards. It's also a good option for financing purchases or getting a lower rate on credit card debt, because of its 0% intro APR.
If your focus is earning as much cash back as you can, you should check out what other cards are offering. The cash back rate on the Discover it® Chrome is nothing special, even compared to other cards with no annual fee. You could earn much more with one of the top rewards cards.
Read more: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
The minimum starting credit limit for the Discover it® Chrome card is $500. Depending on your creditworthiness, you may qualify for a higher credit limit. Some cardholders have reported limits of $5,000 or more.
No, the Discover it® Chrome card isn't metal. It's made of plastic.
Yes, you can use the Discover it® Chrome card internationally wherever Discover is accepted, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
