Discover It Chrome Review
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Written by
Andrew Lisa
The Discover it® Chrome card is one of the best balance transfer cards on the market, but that is by far its strongest suit.
Discover promotes it as a gas and restaurant card that’s perfect for road trips, but qualified applicants can do better at both the diner and the pump with rotating category cards — even several flat-rate cash-back cards pay more back.
However, if you’re looking for a place to park high-interest balances at a low APR, Discover it Chrome card is tough to beat.
Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on purchases for 6 months and 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Intro Bonus
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Annual Fee
$0
Cash Back
1% – 2%Earn 2% Cash Back At Gas Stations And Restaurants On Up To $1,000 In Combined Purchases Each Quarter.
Earn 1% Unlimited Cash Back On All Other Purchases – Automatically
CardCritics™ Opinion
This is a solid choice for anyone in the market for a balance transfer credit card that offers cash back rewards. It will appeal to those who spend modestly (the 2% categories are capped at $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter) and are looking for a straightforward cash back credit card focused on gas and restaurants. The dollar-for-dollar match of the cash back you’ve earned your first year is also a nice bonus to look forward to.
Our Critical Analysis:
Discover it® Chrome
- Long introductory APR for balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Comparatively low intro balance transfer fee
- No rotating categories to keep track of or sign up for
- Unlimited dollar-for-dollar cash back match in the first year
- Elevated 2% rewards rate for gas stations and restaurants
PROS
- The highest cash-back rate, 2% for gas and restaurants, is limited to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter.
- Unimpressive 1% default cash back rate
- Balance transfer fee jumps from 3% up to 5% after a specific amount of time (see terms for current timing)
CONS
Discover it Chrome is the rare balance transfer card that adds value after the introductory period ends beyond just the open credit it adds to your debt ratio. There’s no annual fee, and gas and restaurants earn 2% cash back. After that, and for all other purchases, the rate is 1% cash back.
However, the 2% rate is capped at a low $1,000 in combined spending per quarter or just $250 per billing cycle. That means you can’t earn more than $80 per year at the special rate — and 2% isn’t particularly special.
Several category cards offer 3% or higher on gas and restaurants, and no-fee flat-rate cards like Citi Double Cash® Card (an advertising partner) and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card pay unlimited 2% cash back on purchases across the board with no rotating spending categories.
Generous Intro APR
Discover it Chrome offers a 0% Intro APR on purchases for 6 months and 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR. There’s a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*.
Rewards
The card pays 2% cash back on gas and restaurant purchases up to $1,000 per quarter, or just $80 on $4,000 per year. After that, and for all other purchases, the card pays 1% cash back.
In lieu of a welcome bonus, Discover it Chrome pays an unlimited, dollar-for-dollar cash-back match in the first year.
However, that unique and potentially lucrative rewards structure has a built-in flaw, considering that balance transfers are the card’s primary selling point.
Discover’s dollar-for-dollar cash-back match applies only to spending in the first year after opening the account. The introductory APR period extends three months beyond the match program’s expiration date. Since balance transfers don’t earn cash back, many will miss out on the chance to double their rewards during the first-year match if the card is used primarily for the balance transfer and not spending.
You can redeem your rewards as cash deposited to your bank account or applied to your balance. You can also apply them to your Apple Pay or PayPal account, use them for purchases with partner sellers like Amazon, receive them as gift cards or donate them to charity.
Additional Benefits
Like all Discover cards, Discover it Chrome is accepted at 99% of businesses that take credit cards. Most applications are approved or rejected instantly and Discover periodically reviews accounts for possible credit limit increases.Is It the Right Card For You?
The Discover it Chrome may be the right fit for you if any of the following apply:
- You want a card with no annual fee.
- You don’t want to keep track of rotating categories.
- You want rewards as cash back.
- You plan to spend significantly in the first year on purchases that are eligible for Discover’s dollar-for-dollar match.
- You want a road-trip-themed card that rewards restaurant and gas station purchases.
- You want to transfer a high-interest balance at a low rate.
Card Details From Discover
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–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.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers to some frequently asked questions will help you decide if Discover it Chrome is the right card for you.
What’s the difference between Discover it® Cash Back and Chrome?
Discover it® Cash Back offers 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories that vary by quarter. Categories require activation and are subject to maximum spending caps. You earn 1% after the cap is hit and on all of your other purchases. The Discover it® Chrome offers 2% cash back on your first $1,000 spent on gas and restaurant purchases per quarter and 1% after that and for all other purchases.
Does Discover it Chrome have an annual fee?
No. The Discover it Chrome card does not charge an annual fee.
Is the Discover it Chrome card good for building credit?
The Discover it Chrome requires good to excellent credit. Its student counterpart, the Discover it® Student Chrome card is designed specifically for young people with limited credit history to help them build credit while adding flexibility to their emerging financial lives.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
