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One of the most rewarding benefits of the Discover it® Chrome is its sign-up bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Most no-annual-fee cash back cards offer a capped $200 or $300 sign-up bonus, but the Discover it® Chrome gives you the chance to potentially earn more.
One of the downsides of the card is its cap on elevated rewards — you’ll only earn $20 in cash back per quarter on gas stations and restaurants combined. If you’re looking to earn a higher cash back rate on rotating quarterly categories, the Discover it® Cash Back may be a better fit. You’ll earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
Intro Purchase APR
0% Intro APR for 15 months
Regular Purchase APR
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Intro BT APR
0% Intro APR for 15 months
Regular BT APR
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Annual Fee
$0
Cash Advance Fee
see terms
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Gas and restaurant rewards
Cardholders earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically. Purchases made at merchants classified as gas stations and full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias and fast-food locations qualify for the higher rewards rate, while those made at warehouse clubs, wholesale distributors and discount stores do not.
Cash back rewards never expire and can be redeemed for statement credits, electronic deposits to your bank account, charitable donations, gift cards or Amazon and PayPal purchases.
Just know, there are cashback credit cards available that offer up to 2% cash back or more on every purchase you make, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
Potentially valuable sign-up bonus
For new cardmembers, there’s a unique sign-up bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
If you max out the $1,000 spending limit each quarter by making $1,000 in gas station and restaurant purchases, you’ll earn $80 cash back on those purchases at the end of the year. Once you factor in the cashback match bonus, that amount jumps to $160.
After the first year of having the card, the Discover cashback match bonus ends.
Long intro APR period
The Discover it® Chrome offers a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases. After, a 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR applies. This is a longer-than-average intro period that can help you pay off a large purchase over time.
The card also offers a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers. After that, you will be subject to a 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on any unpaid portion of your balance.
This means you can transfer high-interest credit card debt to the Discover it® Chrome without incurring interest for more than a year.
$0 annual fee
The Discover it® Chrome comes with a $0 annual fee. It also charges no foreign transaction fee, so this card is light on fees overall.
Spending cap on higher cash back rate
With the Discover it® Chrome, cardholders are limited to earning the higher cash back rate to the first $1,000 in combined gas station and restaurant purchases each quarter.
If you want to earn more cash back on every purchase, a card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, which lets you earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, could be a better fit.
Low general rewards rate
If you’re a foodie and a road warrior, the Discover it® Chrome could work fine for you, but it’s possible to earn higher rewards rates on dining and gas. For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. Plus, it has a stellar rewards program: 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply.
Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
Balance transfer fee
The Discover it® Chrome charges a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*.
It’s worth noting that a 3% fee is pretty standard on balance transfer cards, and you may still end up saving money compared to what you’d pay in interest charges. Just make sure to do the math and ascertain whether the transfer is worth it for your financial situation.
Sign-up bonus isn't earned quickly
The Discover it® Chrome‘s sign up bonus is unique and can be more valuable than other cards if you spend enough. However, you won’t see your cash back bonus until after a year of having the card.
Many other cards allow you to earn your sign-up bonus after just three to six months.
If you like most of what the Discover it® Chrome has to offer, but want the opportunity to earn a higher cash back rate in a variety of spending categories, the Discover it® Cash Back could be best for you.
The main difference between the Discover it® Chrome and Discover it® Cash Back is instead of a flat cash back rate and elevated earning in gas stations and restaurants, the Discover it® Cash Back offers cash back in popular categories that rotate quarterly. However, the rotating categories require activation.
You’ll earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
You have the potential to earn much more cash back each year if you max out the card’s bonus spending limit. The quarterly maximum is $1,500, allowing you to earn up to $75 cash back in the 5% categories each quarter. Purchases over $1,500 in the bonus categories earn an unlimited 1% cash back.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. That fee can be worth it for people who spend a lot on groceries. You’ll earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply. Cash back can easily be redeemed for statement credits.
Although it has an annual fee, you can potentially earn more with it than the Discover it® Chrome if you frequently shop at U.S. supermarkets. It has a much higher rewards rate on that category up to $6,000 per year — but also higher rewards on U.S. streaming subscriptions, U.S. gas stations and transit.
If you don’t mind paying an annual fee, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is likely a better fit. Plus, it comes with an $84 credit for The Disney Bundle and $120 Equinox+ credit (enrollment required) to help cover the annual fee.
The Citi® Double Cash Card is a great $0-annual-fee cash back card. The Discover it® Chrome only offers 2% cash back on select categories up to a point, but the Citi® Double Cash Card lets you earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Although the Citi® Double Cash Card can offer unlimited rewards, not earning your rewards all at once can be confusing for cardholders. The card also doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus, which is a big downside since most other no-annual-fee cash back cards offer at least $200 after qualifying purchases.
However, the Citi® Double Cash Card offers a longer intro APR on balance transfers than the Discover it® Chrome: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then a 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR applies.
So if you’re looking for a cash back card that you can also use for a balance transfer, the Citi® Double Cash Card may be a good option. If you’re looking for a simpler option and want to earn a sign-up bonus, then the Discover it® Chrome could be best.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Intro Purchase APR | Regular APR | Intro Balance Transfer APR | Regular Balance Transfer Rate | Balance Transfer Fee | Recommended Credit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Discover it® Chrome
 Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
N/A | $0 | Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. | 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically | 0% Intro APR for 15 months | 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | 0% Intro APR for 15 months | 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* | Excellent/Good |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Discover it® Cash Back
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
N/A | $0 | Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. | 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically | 0% Intro APR for 15 months | 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | 0% Intro APR for 15 months | 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* | Excellent/Good |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
|
N/A | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply. | 0% on purchases for 12 months | 19.24%-29.99% Variable | 0% on balance transfers for 12 months | 19.24%-29.99% Variable | Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. | Excellent/Good | |
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
$0 | None | Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. | N/A | 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) | 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers | 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) | There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening. | Excellent/Good/Fair |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
If you want to earn cash back on every purchase you make, the Discover it® Chrome card and the Discover it® Cash Back are both solid options. But if you spend a large amount on gas and dining each month, the Discover it® Chrome card may be the best choice.
On the other hand, if you want the opportunity to earn a higher cash back rate in a broader range of categories that rotate each quarter, such as Uber and Amazon.com, the Discover it® Cash Back card can help you do that — as long as you activate those categories.
Apply Now To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
