Discover it Chrome Card Review: Mediocre Cash Back, Great for Balance Transfers

Although the Discover it® Chrome card markets itself as a gas and dining card, its best feature is its 15-month 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers. This makes it a great choice if you’re looking to pay off existing credit card debt and need more time. The card also offers 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations (on up to $1,000 in purchases per quarter). This can be a helpful perk since these are common spending categories, allowing you to earn rewards while paying down your balance.

However, as a pure cash back card, the Discover it Chrome has its limitations. While the 2% cash back rate is decent, many other cash back cards offer 3% or higher on bonus categories. Additionally, the $1,000 spending cap per quarter can be restrictive, leaving you with just 1% cash back once you exceed the cap. For broader rewards, there are alternatives that offer flat cash back rates of 1.5% to 2% on all purchases.

The Discover it® Cash Back card could be a better option. It offers 5% cash back on rotating categories and a 15-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74% after that. Another strong contender is the Citi Double Cash® Card, which provides 2% cash back on all purchases and a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months.

The Discover it Chrome has a lengthy 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers, but the intro period on purchases is significantly shorter. And while it has a unique welcome bonus, it’s not particularly valuable. 

Discover it Chrome Intro APR

The Discover it Chrome offers an 18-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers, making it a solid choice for consolidating and paying off existing debt from non-Discover cards without accruing interest. While it’s marketed as a cash back card for dining and gas, its balance transfer intro APR is arguably its most valuable feature. The six-month 0% APR on new purchases is a nice addition, but it’s shorter than the at least 12-month offer of many similar cards.

Welcome Bonus

The Cashback Match offer is a unique feature of the Discover it Chrome, which doubles the cash back you earn in the first year. While it may sound appealing, its value depends heavily on how much you spend with the card. For example, maxing out the 2% cash back category will only earn $80, meaning you’ll need to rely on the 1% rate for additional spending to reach the typical $200 welcome bonus offered by many cash back cards. This makes it far less practical, as earning a comparable bonus requires significantly more spending and effort.

By comparison, other cash back cards with welcome bonuses often pay $200 after spending just $500 to $1,000 within three to six months. To earn the same $200 with the Discover it Chrome, you’d need to spend $16,000 and wait 12 months for your Cashback Match to be applied. For most users, this makes the Cashback Match feel less rewarding compared to the straightforward welcome bonuses offered by competing cards.

The Discover it Chrome’s cash back program favors folks who spend heavily on gas and dining, though it only has a cash back score of 2.9 out of 5. It lets you earn: 

• 2% cash back on gas and dining (up to $1,000 per quarter)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Its 2% cash back is lower than the 3% or higher cash back that other cards offer on their bonus categories. The spending cap also limits how much you can earn with the card. Compared to bonus category cards and flat-rate cash back cards, the Discover it Chrome underperforms. 

Still, the cash back you earn does not expire, and you can redeem it anytime as cash, statement credit, a gift card (starting $5) or payment for Amazon or Paypal.

The Discover it Chrome card offers a competitive fee structure that’s appealing to new users. Aside from having no annual fee, it also waives the late payment fee for the first time that you miss your due date and has no penalty APR. 

Here's a breakdown of its fees and penalties:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Regular APR: 18.24% – 27.24% variable
• Penalty APR: None
• Late Fee: None the first time you pay late, then up to $41
• Balance Transfer Fee: 5% of the amount of each transfer after the intro period
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $30

Applying for the Discover it Chrome is straightforward. You can check for pre-approval online without affecting your credit score. Approved applicants often see initial credit limits ranging from $500 to over $10,000, depending on factors like income, credit history and credit score. 

Discover is known for quick approvals and user-friendly customer service. If you’re new to credit, the card is accessible, but established users may find other options with higher rewards more appealing.

Discover consistently earns praise for its exceptional customer service. Cardholders highlight the quick, friendly and efficient support, often resolving issues within minutes. The availability of representatives in multiple languages, including Spanish, further enhances accessibility. 

Discover’s fraud protection and dispute handling are generally reliable, though a few users have reported mixed experiences with certain claims. Overall, Discover stands out for its approachable and well-trained support team, making it a favorite among cardholders seeking a seamless experience.

To help you find the best cards for your needs, we’ve compared Discover it Chrome with other cash back cards.

Pairing the Discover it Chrome with a card that offers higher cash back in different categories can be a savvy move.

We evaluated the Discover it Chrome using our Cash Back Score, reviewing 78 cards in total. The evaluation considered several factors:

• Effective Reward Rate (50%): Measures how rewarding the card's cash back program is.
• Annual Fee (10%): Rates the annual fee, with 5 indicating no fee.
• Intro Purchase Offer (5%): Rates the 0% APR offer on purchases.
• Recommended Credit (5%): Rates the accessibility based on credit score.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Based on JD Power issuer satisfaction study.
• Penalties (5%): Rates penalty rates and fees.
• Regular APR (5%): Rates the regular APR.
• Foreign Transaction (5%): Rates foreign transaction fees.
• Offer ROI (5%): Rates the return on introductory bonus offers.

We respond to some frequently asked questions about the Discover it Chrome to help you decide if it’s right for you.