Updated: August 9, 2024
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Both the Discover it® Chrome and the Discover it® Miles cards offer appealing perks such as no annual fee and generous introductory APR periods. The Discover it Miles edges ahead slightly with a higher balance transfer score and a longer 0% APR period on purchases and balance transfers.
However, if earning cash back at gas stations and restaurants is a priority, the Discover it Chrome's 2% cash back in these categories could sway your decision.
You might prefer the Discover it Chrome if you frequently spend on gas and dining out because it offers 2% cash back in these categories on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. The card also provides a generous 18-month 0% APR period on balance transfers, which can be beneficial if you're planning to transfer and pay down existing debt.
You might prefer the Discover it Miles if you value simplicity in your rewards program because it offers a flat 1.5x Miles on every dollar spent on all purchases. This card is also advantageous if you're looking for a longer 0% intro APR period on purchases, which lasts for 15 months, giving you ample time to pay off new purchases without interest.
Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features side by side clarifies which card aligns with your financial habits. For instance, if you spend frequently on gas and dining, the Discover it Chrome's 2% cash back could be more beneficial, whereas the Discover it Miles offers consistent rewards on all purchases.
Regular APR: Tie
Both the Discover it Chrome and the Discover it Miles offer a variable APR range of 18.24% to 28.24%.
Annual Fee: Tie
Both the Discover it Chrome and Discover it Miles cards offer a $0 annual fee, making them equally appealing for users looking to avoid extra costs.
Introductory 0% APRs: Discover it Miles
The Discover it Miles offers a longer 0% APR period on purchases and balance transfers, with 15 months compared with Discover it Chrome's six months on purchases and 18 months on balance transfers. Additionally, the balance transfer fee for the Discover it Miles is lower at 3% compared with the Discover it Chrome's 5%.
Rewards: Discover it Miles
The Discover it Miles is better for rewards, offering unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase. By contrast, Discover it Chrome provides 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.
Both cards match the rewards at the end of the first year, but the unlimited 1.5x Miles on all purchases with Discover it Miles can be more valuable if you spend across various categories.
Welcome Offers: Discover it Miles
The Discover it Miles offers a better welcome offer with its Discover Match program, which matches all Miles earned in the first year without minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Recommended Credit Score: Tie
The Discover it Chrome and Discover it Miles require a credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they are equally accessible to people with good to excellent credit.
Penalties and Fees: Tie
Both the Discover it Chrome and the Discover it Miles impose no foreign transaction fees, have the same late payment fee structure (none for the first late payment, then up to $41), and charge the same for cash advances (either $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater).
Issuer Satisfaction: Tie
Because both the Discover it Chrome and Discover it Miles are issued by Discover, they share the same issuer satisfaction rating of 4.5.
Other Features & Perks: Tie
Both the Discover it Chrome and the Discover it Miles offer unique perks. The former provides free overnight card replacement and no penalty APR, while the latter Miles offers an account freeze feature and dark web alerts for your Social Security number. Both cards also help reduce online personal information exposure.
The Discover it Chrome offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, reverting to 1% cash back after the cap is reached. This could be appealing if your spending is heavily concentrated in these categories.
But the Discover it Miles simplifies the rewards process by providing a flat 1.5x miles on every dollar spent on all purchases, without any caps. With a higher expected reward value, Discover it Miles may offer more consistent value over time, especially for those with a diverse range of expenses.
While the Discover it Chrome has the edge in specific categories like gas and dining, the Discover it Miles maintains a steady reward rate across all purchases, which could be more beneficial for users with varied spending habits.
The table provides a visual comparison of the bonus categories for both cards.
Category | Discover it Chrome | Discover it Miles |
|---|---|---|
Gas Stations | 2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter | 1.5x Miles |
Restaurants | 2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter | 1.5x Miles |
All Other Purchases | 1% | 1.5x Miles |
Both the Discover it Chrome and the Discover it Miles offer user-friendly redemption processes. With the Discover it Chrome, you can redeem your cash back for gift cards, as a credit to your account, or even for Amazon purchases, and these rewards never expire.
The Discover it Miles allows you to redeem miles for travel or cash back, with the flexibility to book travel through any agency without facing blackout dates. Miles also have no expiration date, ensuring you can use them whenever it suits you best.
MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Discover it Chrome and the Discover it Miles using a tailored scoring system for various use cases. For these cards, the balance transfer use case is where they score highest.
The most significant factors in this scoring are the balance transfer offer and the introductory purchase APR. These elements, along with other criteria such as issuer satisfaction and penalty fees, contribute to a comprehensive balance transfer score. For a detailed understanding of our scoring process, you can review our ranking methodology.
The Discover it Chrome offers 2% cash back on gas and dining, while the Discover it Miles earns 1.5 miles on all purchases. Both have unique rewards programs.
The Discover it Chrome is a better credit card for gas and dining, offering 2% cash back in these categories.
Yes, miles earned with the Discover it Miles can be redeemed for travel purchases like airfare and hotels.
No, both the Discover it Chrome and the Discover it Miles are cards with no annual fee.
Although they aren't among our best 0% APR cards, the Discover it Chrome offers 0% APR for six months on purchases, while the Discover it Miles offers 0% for 15 months.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
