Discover It Chrome Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The Discover It Chrome card is our least recommended Discover card option. Unlike most credit cards, it doesn't offer a traditional sign-up bonus with a specific reward amount. Instead, Discover provides an "unlimited cashback match" by doubling whatever rewards you earn during your first year.
This might appear attractive, especially to newcomers in the points and miles space. However, your earning potential is limited since the card only offers 2% back at gas stations and restaurants, up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Even if you maximize this benefit every quarter, you'll only earn $80 annually. With Discover's match, that becomes $160 after spending $4,000 – significantly less impressive than sign-up bonuses available on many competing cards.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
You earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants each quarter, with a $1,000 quarterly cap on this bonus rate. After reaching this limit, purchases earn 1% back, matching the rate for all other spending categories. At the end of your first year, Discover matches all cash back rewards earned, which serves as their sign-up bonus alternative.
This card has no annual fee. The Discover It Chrome also offers 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, along with a 3% introductory balance transfer fee.
Your rewards never expire and can be redeemed in multiple ways: direct deposit, statement credit, Amazon purchases (by linking your account), PayPal shopping, Apple Pay, donations to select charities, or gift cards to participating merchants.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Situations where this card might not suit your needs:
- You want to use rewards for travel, but Discover doesn't offer transfer partners or allow you to offset travel purchases with this card
- Better category multipliers exist on other cards that will help you maximize your spending and rewards
How The Discover It Chrome Credit Card Fits In The Cash in Cents Ecosystem
Discover's other no-fee cash back option is the Discover It Cash Back card. While also not highly recommended, it offers more value than the It Chrome card if you're willing to put in additional effort. You can earn up to 5% cash back each quarter on rotating categories chosen by Discover. These categories vary quarterly and annually – one quarter might feature gas stations, another groceries. There's a $1,500 cap on 5% earnings, but you could potentially earn up to $300 yearly by maximizing these categories. Like the Chrome card, the It Cash Back card matches your first-year rewards total.
The Discover It Miles card simplifies reward earning by offering 1.5% back on all purchases with no limits. It also matches earned rewards after your first year and charges no annual fee. The key difference is that it earns miles instead of cash back, allowing you to receive credits for travel purchases rather than just statement credits or direct deposits. You can effectively offset any travel purchase with earned rewards.
No Discover card offers airline or hotel transfer partners. This limitation, combined with their modest sign-up bonus alternatives, is why we rarely recommend applying for Discover cards.
Card Information
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1 | 0.0 ¢ | $0 | $0 |
$0
|
| Best Value | Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Back | Discover will match Cash back after the first year with no cap, 2x Cash Back for gas and restaurants up to $4,000 annually | No 5/24 |
Spend Categories
1X points
0¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
0¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
0¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes
Transfer To Friends Yes
Travel Partner Transfers
Outside Point System Cash in Cents
Transfers In From
1:1 71% value retained
1:1 100% value retained
1:1 91% value retained
1:1 63% value retained
1:1 91% value retained
1:1 71% value retained
Discover It Chrome Application Rules
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
