Discover it® Chrome review 2024: A cash-back card that doesn’t stack up (2024)

The no-annual-fee Discover it® Chrome card tries to woo by offering elevated cash-back rewards at gas stations and restaurants, but falls flat by capping the elevated earnings at up to $1,000 in quarterly purchases. The card does offer an attractive welcome offer where Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year, but that hardly makes up for the card’s shortcomings.

Discover it Chrome basics

• Annual fee: $0.
• Welcome bonus: Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.
• Rewards: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• APR: 0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases and 0% intro APR for 18 months on eligible balance transfers. Then, a variable rate of 18.24% to 28.24% applies. There's a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms).
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.

Discover it Chrome review

At first glance, the Discover it Chrome card may look appealing — who wouldn’t want to earn elevated cash-back rewards on gas and restaurant purchases? But after reading the terms and comparing it to the best credit cards on the market, it becomes clear that the rewards and perks fail to shine.

And if you happen to be carrying high-interest debt on another card, the Discover it Chrome comes with a 0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases and 0% intro APR for 18 months on eligible balance transfers. Then, a variable rate of 18.24% to 28.24% applies. There's a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms). Although a decent offer, other cards offer longer low-interest periods and lower balance transfer fees.

Considering a balance transfer? Here’s how a balance transfer can affect your credit score

Ultimately, Discover it Chrome is a no-frills card. It touts online privacy protection, account freezing and free FICO Score viewing as its major benefits — all useful, but underwhelming when compared to other no-annual-fee rewards cards that come with much more valuable perks and privileges.

Pros

• Cashback Match: Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.
• Intro APR offer: 0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases and 0% intro APR for 18 months on eligible balance transfers. Then, a variable rate of 18.24% to 28.24% applies. There's a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms).
• Straightforward redemption: Redeem your rewards for cash at any time, with no expiration.
• No annual fee: With no annual fee, all rewards earned on the card are a net positive.

Cons

• Low rewards rate: Outside the elevated categories, you’ll earn minimal rewards on all other purchases.
• Bonus category capped: You earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Not widely accepted abroad: Although the card has 99% acceptance nationwide, it’s not as commonly accepted internationally.
• Few perks: Does not offer purchase and extended warranty protection or travel insurance.

When choosing a cash-back credit card, you’ll want to look at the card’s pros and cons, but also at your own spending habits and lifestyle to find the best fit for you. With this card, make sure you spend enough on gas and restaurants each month to meet the $1,000 quarterly spending cap for the rewards boost in those categories.

Discover it Chrome rewards

The Discover it Chrome card is geared toward those who spend heavily on gas and at restaurants, offering 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. While there’s no standard welcome bonus, the Discover it Chrome card has a one-time perk where Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.

Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has around $29,525 in annual expenses that can be charged to a credit card. Here’s how our sample household’s rewards could break down:

The cardholder in this example earns a total of $335.25 in cash-back rewards if they maximize the gas and restaurants bonus category at $1,000 per quarter. Plus, with the Discover it Chrome’s Cashback Match offer, the cardholder would earn a grand total of $670.50 in the first year.

Discover it Chrome APR

The Discover it Chrome card comes with a 0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases and 0% intro APR for 18 months on eligible balance transfers. Then, a variable rate of 18.24% to 28.24% applies. There's a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms).

How the Discover it Chrome compares to other rewards cards

Discover it Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back

For those with varied spending habits who want the opportunity to earn more cash back, and can keep up with the quarterly category activations, the Discover it Cash Back card has more earning potential.

The Discover it Cash Back earns 5% cash back on purchases at different places each quarter up to $1,500 spent each quarter when activated and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Like the Discover it Chrome card, Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year with the Discover it Cash Back card as well. In fact, it topped our list of best Discover credit cards for earning cash back. But for those who value simplicity, the Discover it Chrome card may be a better fit.

Discover it Chrome vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Unlike the Discover it Chrome card’s limited bonus categories and capped earnings, the Wells Fargo Active Cash card earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. The card also offers a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening. However, the offer on the Discover it Chrome — where Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year — offers greater potential than that of the Active Cash.

Perks on the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash card include up to $600 of cellphone protection against damage or theft (up to two claims per 12-month period and subject to a $25 deductible), rental car insurance, Visa Signature® Concierge service and select benefits at Visa Signature Hotel Collection properties — while the Discover it Chrome card fails to offer any such perks. The Wells Fargo Active Cash card made our list of best Wells Fargo credit cards and, overall, anyone who spends more than $1,000 a year on a card, will come out ahead with the Active Cash card.

Discover it Chrome vs. Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card*The information for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Earning 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 1% on all other purchases— the no-annual-fee Capital One SavorOne card outearns the Discover it Chrome card — and that’s before you factor in the card’s other perks. This card is one of the best Capital One cards on the market. And, unlike the Discover it Chrome, the Capital One SavorOne card has travel features like elevated cash-back rewards on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as travel accident insurance¹.

The card comes with a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, which may be lower than what you can earn with the Discover it Chrome’s offer where Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year. Regardless, unless you’re dead set on wanting elevated cash-back rewards on gas (up to that $1,000 quarterly cap), the Capital One SavorOne card’s elevated cash-back categories and many other benefits are hard to beat.

Discover it Chrome is right for you if:

• You spend at least $333 per month on average on gas and restaurant purchases combined.
• You are in need of a cash-back card with an introductory APR on purchases and eligible balance transfers.
• You will spend enough in your first card year to make the Cashback Match more lucrative than a traditional welcome bonus.
• You don’t need or want travel and purchase protections on a card.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

^{¹For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.}