Explore it Chrome Overview
The Discover it® Chrome Card is a cash back offering from Discover that earns 2% cash back on up to $1,000 in purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter (1% thereafter). All other items receive 1% cash back. It’s a great option with no annual fee, but there are better options for earning cash back on everyday purchases. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐
*card rating Based on the opinions of TPG editors and not influenced by card issuers.
Discover it Chrome is different from Discover it® Cash Back Credit Cardanother cash back option from the issuer, because it doesn’t have rotating bonus categories and has a lower quarterly threshold for cash back earnings enhancements.
This card has no annual fee, recommended credit score At least 670. Read on to learn more about Discover it Chrome and see if it’s worth adding to your wallet.
Information for the Discover it Chrome Card and Discover it Cash Back Credit Card is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: best discovery cards
Understand the pros and cons of Chrome
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Explore Chrome Welcome Offers
Discover it Chrome doesn’t offer the typical welcome offer, but you’ll get cash back at the end of the first year.
There’s no limit to how much you can earn with the cashback match at the end of the first year, meaning your earnings will effectively double after 12 months. This is the same cash back offer offered by the Discover it Cash Back Credit Card.
If you’re planning on doing this, this might be a solid offer Frequent consumption Use this card for the first year.
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Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses out there
Explore the benefits of Chrome
Discover it Chrome’s suite of features is standard and not flashy, but they are useful for beginner.
Here’s a list of what you can expect from this card:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Get your FICO credit score for free with a credit scorecard
- If you lose your card, you can freeze your account on the Discover website or mobile app
- $0 fraud liability if you discover an unauthorized purchase has been made on your card
- Online privacy protection, including removal of personal information from selected people search sites
Again, these perks are not part of the more premium offerings, but I believe they can be beneficial to someone new to credit cards.
Related: 6 of our favorite little-known credit card perks
Earn cash back with Discover it Chrome
With Discover it Chrome, you can get 2% cash back on purchases at: Gas station and Restaurant Combined purchases can be up to $1,000 per quarter. Once you reach that threshold, you’ll earn 1% cash back in these categories.
You will earn 1% return All other purchases.
These are good cash back rates No annual fee card Divided into two popular categories. However, for high-end spenders, the 2% rebate cap of $1,000 per quarter may be limiting. Aside from a cash back match for the first year, Discover it Chrome doesn’t offer the strongest earning options.
Assuming you spend $1,000 each quarter in the 2% category, you’ll only get $20 in cash back.
Plus, there are other, arguably better, options that offer higher cash back with no annual fee (more on that later).
Related: The best rewards credit cards for every bonus category
Redeem cash back with Discover it Chrome
It’s easy to redeem the cash back rewards you earn with Discover it Chrome.
You can deposit the cash back into your bank account or use it as statement credit. You can also get gift cards starting at $5; use your rewards at Amazon checkout, Apple Pay, or PayPal; or make a Charitable donation.
A nice perk is that you have the flexibility to redeem any amount of cash back rewards at any time.
I believe Discover it Chrome is a great option for beginners because it makes redeeming cash back so easy.
Related: How to Redeem Cash Back Rewards from a Credit Card
What cards compete with Discover it Chrome?
There are a variety of cash back cards to consider that earn more than 1% in popular reward categories, including gas stations and restaurants.
- If you want to earn more by buying natural gas: this American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card Offers 3% cash back at US gas stations, which is higher than what Discover it Chrome offers. The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year and $95 thereafter (see Rates and fees), so you have to weigh whether the annual fee is worth it to you. To learn more, check out our Full review of American Express Blue Cash Preferred.
- If you prefer rotating bonus categories: The Discover it Cash Back Credit Card is another card in the Discover ecosystem that offers 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories (requires activation) and sometimes includes options like gas stations and restaurants. You’ll earn higher cash back on the first $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter, which is a higher threshold than Discover it Chrome. To learn more, see our Discover it cash back full review.
- If you don’t want the 2% cash back earnings cap: this Citi Double Cash® Card (look Rates and fees) is an easy way to earn 2% cash back on every purchase (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay). Earn 2% cash back on all purchases, and the card has no annual fee. To learn more, read our Citi Double Cash Full Review.
For other options, check out our list Best Cash Back Cards.
Related: Why Citi Double Cash Will Always Have a Place in My Wallet
Is Discover it Chrome worth buying?
In my opinion, Discover it Chrome isn’t the best option for maximizing cash back rewards because the $1,000 quarterly cap on 2% bonus earnings on gas station and restaurant purchases diminishes its potential. However, those who can take advantage of the first-year cash back matching offer or newcomers looking for an easy redemption option may find this no-annual-fee card worth it.
bottom line
Even if you don’t plan on paying the annual fee, there are better options than Discover it Chrome to earn more cash back on gas and restaurant purchases. If you’re familiar with managing the rotating bonus category, you may find Discover’s other cash back product, the Discover it Cash Back Credit Card, to be a better value.
Those who are willing to spend a significant amount of money within the first 12 months of owning Discover it Chrome are most likely to get the most value from it. For most people, I say there are better options.
Related: How to choose the best credit card for you
For Blue Cash Preferred Card rates and fees, click here.
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