Get Chrome Overview
The Discover it® Chrome Card is a cash back offer from Discover that earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter (1% thereafter). You will earn 1% on everything else. It’s a decent option without an annual fee, but there are better options out there for cash back benefits on everyday purchases. Card rating*: ⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Discover it Chrome differs from the Discover it® Cash Back credit card, another provider cash back option, as it does not include variable bonus categories and has a lower quarterly limit for higher cash back.
The card has no annual fee and a recommended credit score of at least 670. Read on to learn more about Discover it’s Chrome to see if it’s worth adding to your wallet.
Discover it Chrome Card and Discover it Cash Back credit card information has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card information on this page has not been updated or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Discover’s best cards
Find out about the pros and cons of Chrome
| Benefits | Evil |
|---|---|
|
|
Get yourself a welcome offer for Chrome
Discover it Chrome doesn’t offer a standard welcome offer, but you’ll get the same cashback at the end of your first year.
There is no limit to how much you can earn with the cashback game at the end of your first year, meaning your earnings are doubled after 12 months. The same applies to the cash back offered by the Discover it Cash Back credit card.
This can be a solid offer if you plan to spend regularly with the card in your first year.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for the best news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts
Related: The best credit card acceptance bonuses available right now
Discover the benefits of Chrome
Discover it Chrome’s suite of benefits are standard and unremarkable, but perfect for beginners.
Here’s a list of what you can expect with the card:
- There are no foreign transaction fees
- Free access to your FICO credit score with Credit Scorecard
- The ability to suspend your account on the Discover website or mobile app if you misplace your card
- $0 fraud charge if you see an unauthorized purchase on your card
- Online privacy protection, including removal of personal information from certain people search sites
Again, these benefits are not at the level of additional premium offers, but I believe they are good for credit card newcomers.
Related: 6 of our under-the-radar credit card perks
Cashback with Discover it Chrome
With Discover it Chrome, you’ll earn 2% cash back on gas station and restaurant purchases of up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. After that limit is reached, you will earn 1% cash back on these categories.
You will earn 1% back on every other purchase.
These are the best cash back rates for an annual fee card in two popular categories. However, the $1,000 quarterly fee to earn 2% back may be limiting for high net worth users. Aside from the first year’s cashback game, Discover it Chrome doesn’t offer very strong monetization options.
Assuming you spend $1,000 in 2% interest each quarter, that’s only a $20 return.
Also, there are other, arguably better, options available to earn higher cash without an annual fee (more on this later).
Related: The best credit card rewards in every bonus category
Using Discover it Chrome cashback
It’s easy to use the cashback rewards you earn with Discover it Chrome.
You can deposit your money back into a bank account or use a statement credit. You can also get gift cards starting at $5; redeem your rewards at Amazon checkout, Apple Pay or PayPal; or make a charitable donation.
A great benefit is that you have the ability to use any amount of your cashback rewards at any time.
I believe Discover it Chrome is a solid choice for beginners, as it makes refunding as easy as it gets.
Related: How to use cash back rewards on your credit card
What cards compete with Discover it Chrome?
There are many cash back cards worth considering that earn more than 1% in all popular bonus categories, including gas stations and restaurants.
- If you want to earn more from buying gas: I Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers 3% cash back at US gas stations, which is higher than what Discover it Chrome offers. The card charges a $0 annual introductory fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees), so you’ll have to weigh whether the annual fee is worth it. To learn more, check out our full Amex Blue Cash Preferred review.
- If you choose the rotating bonus stages: The Discover it Cash Back credit card is another card in the Discover ecosystem that offers 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories (activity required) that includes garages and restaurants, among other options. You’ll get a higher cash back on the first purchase of $1,500 in combined purchases within the bonus categories each quarter, which is a higher limit than Discover it Chrome. To learn more, see our full Discover it Cash Back review.
- If you don’t want to pay 2% of the income: I Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) is an easy way to earn 2% cashback on every purchase (1% when you make a purchase and 1% as you pay for that purchase). You’ll earn 2% cash back on everything, and the card doesn’t charge an annual fee. To learn more, read our full Citi Double Cash review.
For more options, check out our list of the best cash back cards.
Related: Why Citi Double Cash will always have a place in my wallet
Is Discover it Chrome right for you?
In my opinion, Discover it Chrome isn’t the best option for maximizing cash back rewards, as the $1,000 quarterly 2% bonus for gas station and restaurant purchases dilutes its potential. However, those who can’t take advantage of the first-year cash-back offer or newcomers looking for easy redemption options may find this no-annual-fee card valuable.
Bottom line
There are better options to earn more money on your gas station and restaurant purchases than Discover it Chrome, even if you’re not looking to pay an annual fee. If you’re comfortable managing revolving bonus categories, you’ll likely get more value from Discover’s other cash back offer, the Discover it Cash Back credit card.
Those who are willing to spend a decent amount on Discover it Chrome in the first 12 months of holding it will most likely get the most value out of it. For most people, I say there are better options.
Related: How to choose the best credit card for you
For rates and fees for the Preferred Blue Cash card, click here.
Source link
