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3. Discover it® Chrome review: Straightforward bonus rewards, but low potential value

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20 reviews from Intuit Credit Karma members

4.5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Great for gas and restaurants

Annual Fee: $0

This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their Discover it® Chrome or similar cards.

% of members by credit limit range

The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $9,206, with $2,000 being the most common.

Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their Discover it® Chrome or similar cards.

% of members by credit score range

The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 707, with 763 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.

Member stats

Updated daily

28.7%

Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.

43 years

Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.

$93,844

Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.

Pros and cons

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Bonus rewards in common spending categories

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Cashback Match feature could be more valuable than a traditional sign-up bonus

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No annual fee

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Quarterly spending cap limits bonus rewards potential

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Low rewards rate on most purchases limits potential value

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Initial credit line could be quite low

4 things to know about Discover it® Chrome

Bonus category earnings may be limited

Your opinion of the Discover it® Chrome card will likely depend on what you think of its cash back bonus categories. Cardholders earn 2% cash back for every $1 spent on purchases at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined spending each quarter (then 1% after that). All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

There’s no annual fee to cut into your rewards, but the cash back rates this card offers don’t stand out compared to other cash back cards. If you hit the bonus spending cap of $1,000 every quarter, you’d earn a total of $80 in cash back each year. With just a 1% rewards rate on all other purchases, you’d have to spend an additional $8,000 every year for another $80 in cash back.

Compare that to the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, which offers an unlimited 3% back on dining, entertainment, eligible streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) as well as 1% back on all other purchases with no annual fee. Capital One indicates that this card requires excellent credit, but it’s still a useful example of how the Discover it® Chrome lacks some of the rewards value of other cards.

‘Cashback Match’ feature adds to potential rewards value

On the other hand, the Discover it® Chrome’s “Cashback Match” feature does help it stand out. (This match is offered on all of Discover’s rewards cards.) This means all the rewards you’ve earned during your first year of card membership will be matched, not just your account’s rewards balance at the end of that first year.

That means you can get additional rewards during the first year on top of what you earn from the card’s 2% cash back rate for purchases made at gas stations and restaurants. If you spent enough to earn $160 in rewards over the course of that first year, you’d get an extra $160 in value added to your balance after your account anniversary.

Depending on how much you spend, this feature could be worth more than a traditional sign-up bonus. Plus, not all cash back credit cards offer a sign-up bonus, so the Discover it® Chrome might offer better cash back rewards than other cards you’re considering.

The flexible cash back rewards program gives you options

A cash back card may seem like a straightforward way to earn and use credit card rewards, but the rewards programs sometimes limit the ways you can redeem your cash back.

Thankfully, the Discover it® Chrome gives you plenty of options for using your rewards. You can redeem your rewards for statement credit, deposits into any bank account and even charitable donations. In some cases, you can also use your rewards to pay for purchases at select merchants, including Amazon.com. Plus, your rewards won’t expire and will be credited to your account if it’s closed.

A decent intro APR offer, but be careful

The Discover it® chrome offers an introductory 0% APR for purchases and for balance transfers — but we advise caution before moving forward with either offer.

The introductory 0% APR offer applies balance transfers for 18 months and purchases for 6 months, after which the regular purchase and balance transfer APR will be a variable 18.49% - 27.49% (rates as of December 12, 2024), depending on your credit. The 18-month period starts on the date of your first transfer. Transfers made by a specific date also come with a 3% balance transfer fee, though the fee might go as high as 5% if you make a transfer past the cutoff.

If you want to transfer a balance to this card, we advise focusing on paying down your transferred balance before making any new purchases — Discover notes that any new purchases made after a balance transfer will accrue interest with no grace period until the full transferred balance is paid off. The only way to avoid that scenario is by making and paying off any purchases during the first 6 months of having the card, while you have a 0% interest offer on purchases.

Otherwise, we don’t advise carrying a purchase balance on your account if you can avoid it.

We also don’t recommend using a balance transfer offer if you plan to put numerous new purchases on the card while you pay off your balance. In addition to the interest charge previously mentioned, paying off an existing balance can require a great deal of discipline and focus. Managing two sizable balances on the same account can cause headaches and may result in you paying far more in interest than you earn from your rewards.

More information about the Discover it® Chrome

While the cash back offers help determine the value of the Discover it® Chrome, several other features may influence whether you decide to apply.

• The minimum credit limit is a relatively low $500. While you may receive a higher limit, you should be aware of this potentially low credit line if you plan to use this card often.
• Prequalification is available. Discover offers the ability to apply for prequalification for its cards, so you can see if you’re likely to get approved for the Discover it® Chrome before sending in an application that will trigger a hard inquiry on your credit. But keep in mind that prequalification is not a guarantee of eventual approval for the card.
• Late payment fee waiver. If you miss your payment deadline, Discover will waive the late payment fee the first time. But you’ll be charged a fee of up to $41 after that.
• Free FICO® score. Discover provides complimentary access to one of your FICO® credit scores to help you track your credit over time.

The Discover it® Chrome card could be a good fit for people looking for a simple way to earn extra rewards on common purchases. It’s not the greatest card for maximizing rewards, though — and it may be best suited for people who spend hundreds a month on their commute or dining out.

If you’re looking for more rewards value, you might prefer a card that offers high rates in several bonus categories or a card that offers more than 1% back on all purchases. The Discover it® chrome is a fine option for those who are just getting into the rewards world, but it lacks the potential value of other cash back cards.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: This card could be a better choice for people seeking more rewards for gas and grocery purchases.
• Discover it® Cash Back: If you like Discover but want more rewards variety, this card with rotating cash back categories could be right for you.