Is the Discover it Chrome Worth It?

• Written by Erin Gobler
  

  Erin Gobler

  Credit cards, credit building, banking, mortgages, investing, retirement, insurance

  Erin Gobler is a personal finance expert with more than a decade of experience writing online. She covers credit cards, as well as other financial topics like banking, investing, mortgages, insurance, and more. Her work has appeared in major publications like Newsweek, Business Insider, USA Today, Forbes, and more. Through her work as a writer, Erin tries to make the financial industry more accessible by breaking down complex financial topics. Before her time as a finance writer, Erin worked in state government. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her husband, her two daughters, and their dog Phoebe where they live in Madison, Wisconsin.

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• Edited by Emily Gadd
  

  Emily Gadd

  Credit Cards, Personal Finance, Health and Wellness

  Emily Gadd is an editor, responsible for writing about personal finance and credit cards. She got her start writing and editing at Healthline. She is passionate about creating educational content that makes complex topics accessible. Emily lives in Seattle with her husband and two cats.

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• Reviewed by Jasmin Baron
  

  Jasmin Baron

  Credit Cards, Travel Rewards, Loyalty Programs, Family Travel, Credit Building, Credit Scores

  Jasmin Baron is CardCritics’ senior editor, responsible for editing and writing credit cards, travel rewards, loyalty program, and other credit-related content. She is passionate about personal finance education and enjoys sharing tips and tricks for making the most credit card points and miles with her readers. Her expertise in maximizing credit card travel rewards originated from over two decades of aviation industry experience, including 18 years working as a pilot and college professor/flight instructor in her native Canada. Her work has appeared on sites such as CNN Underscored Money, Business Insider, The Points Guy, and point.me. When she’s not planning her next trip with credit card rewards, you’ll probably find her tinkering around in the kitchen, hanging out with her three kids, or playing with her dog, Benji.

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• Last Updated Oct 24, 2025

Discover first introduced its line of “Discover it” cards, including the Discover it® Chrome, more than a decade ago. The card offers elevated cash-back rewards in a couple of key spending categories, in addition to a first-year Cashback Match® and introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers.

This card isn’t the right choice for everyone, but the Discover it Chrome has some definite benefits for those who can take advantage of its key perks.

Are you wondering if the Discover it Chrome is worth it for you? I’ll break down this card’s key features, who it’s right for (and not), and give a final verdict on whether it’s a good overall card.

Quick Verdict

The Discover it Chrome may be a good option if you don’t already have a card in your wallet with elevated cash back for gas station and dining purchases, and you need one to round out your rewards credit card collection. While you’ll only earn 2% back on your first $1,000 of combined spending at gas stations and restaurants per quarter (then 1%), it’s better than the 1% flat rate many cards offer.

Additionally, you might consider the Discover it Chrome if you have large purchases coming up you can’t pay off right away, or if you want to consolidate high-interest debt with a balance transfer. New cardholders receive a 0% Intro APR on purchases for 6 months and 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by 17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR. 

However, the low rewards rate for most purchases means it won’t be a staple card for most consumers. Consider other options like those with higher rewards rates for dining or gas station purchases, or those with flat cash-back rates of more than 1%.

Discover it Chrome: At a Glance

• Annual fee: $0
• Welcome offer: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
• Introductory APR: 0% Intro APR on purchases for 6 months and 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by 17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR
• Rewards structure: 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 
• Statement credits and perks: No foreign transaction fees, free FICO Scorecard
• Estimated value: $160+ in the first year, $80+ each year after that

Who Should Consider the Discover it Chrome?

The Discover it Chrome may be a good option if you spend a decent amount at restaurants and gas stations and don’t already have a card that gives you elevated cash back on those purchases. I think this card is specifically well-suited to pairing with other cards.

For example, maybe you have another card that you use for travel rewards or one that has a higher cash back rate on groceries, but you’re missing a card that offers bonus rewards on gas and dining out. In that case, the Discover it Chrome could help fill an important gap in your wallet.

I don’t reach for this card for most purchases because of the 1% return on most purchases, but the 2% cash back in a couple of bonus spending categories is competitive.

Another reason someone might want this card — and the reason I initially applied for it — is for the intro APR offer. You’ll receive a 0% Intro APR on purchases for 6 months and 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by 17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR. If you need to do a balance transfer to pay off some debt (which was the case for me) or are planning a larger purchase and want to spread the payments out a bit more, this card could be a good option.

Who Should Skip the Discover it Chrome?

This probably isn’t the right card for someone who wants to use just one credit card for all of their purchases. If that’s you, you can find a card that has a higher rewards rate than the flat 1% you’ll get in most categories from the Discover it Chrome.

Another thing to consider is whether you can find another no-annual-fee card that offers even better rewards at gas stations and restaurants.

This is why I don’t reach for this card often anymore (aside from shopping at a nearby grocery store that only accepts Discover for credit cards). I’ve found no-annual-fee cards with 3% cash back rates for gas and dining, so I’m more inclined to use those.

How To Maximize Discover it Chrome’s Value

Take Advantage of the Balance Transfer Offer

The Discover it Chrome is a solid option if you’re interested in doing a balance transfer to pay off some credit card debt. The intro period is likely long enough for many people to pay off their entire debt balance, or at least make a significant dent in it. 

Be careful, though — the card has a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*. It may not be worth it after the intro fee expires, especially if you can find a different card that charges a 3% fee.

Strategically Plan Your Spending

If you’re pairing this card with other rewards credit cards, make sure you’re only using this one for your gas station and dining purchases. Chances are that you can find a different card to offer better flat rewards for your other spending.

Pay Attention to the $1,000 Quarterly Cap

A big caveat to this card’s 2% cash back rate is that it only applies to the first $1,000 of combined gas and dining out purchases per quarter. Once you hit that limit, you’ll only earn 1% cash back. If you have another card with a flat rewards rate that’s higher than 1%, use that one once you hit your quarterly rewards limit.

Max Out Rewards in the First Year

While this card doesn’t necessarily offer the highest rewards rate, it’s a lot more valuable in the first year. At the end of your first year, Discover will match your cash back dollar for dollar.

For example, let’s say you max out your 2% rewards on gas and dining by spending $1,000 per quarter. You would have originally earned $80 cash back for those purchases, and you’ll get an additional $80 at the end of the year.

If you also spent $10,000 in other categories to earn $100 cash back, you’d get another $100 at the end of the year. All in all, you take your first-year rewards from $180 to $360.

Final Verdict on the Discover it Chrome Card

While the Discover it Chrome has some selling points — the 2% cash back on select spending categories and the intro APR offer, for example — it’s not the first card I would recommend. You can find no-annual-fee cards that offer 2% or more on gas station and restaurant purchases and more than 1% rewards on your other purchases.

The balance transfer and purchase intro APR is a big selling point of this card, but be mindful of the balance transfer fee.