Updated: June 9, 2024
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Both the Discover it® Chrome and Discover it® Student Chrome cards offer enticing cash back rewards and no annual fee. The Discover it Chrome has a robust balance transfer option with its introductory APR offer, which is suitable if you are looking to manage existing debt and have established credit.
However, the Discover it Student Chrome requires no credit history, making it accessible for students or first-time cardholders.
You might prefer the Discover it Chrome if you have a good to excellent credit score and are looking for a card that offers a longer 0% introductory APR period on balance transfers. This card allows you to earn cash back on gas and dining with no annual fee, making it a solid choice for everyday spending and efficiently managing existing credit card debt.
You might prefer the Discover it Student Chrome if you're a student or someone with no credit history. This card offers the chance to build credit while earning rewards on gas and dining without worrying about an annual fee. With its introductory APR offer on purchases, it's a great starter card for those new to credit.
Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features clarifies which card aligns with your financial habits. For instance, while both cards offer cash back on gas and dining, the Discover it Chrome is suited for those with established credit, whereas the Discover it Student Chrome caters to students building credit.
Regular APR: Discover it Student Chrome
In terms of regular APR, Discover it Student Chrome is slightly better. It has an APR range of 18.24% to 27.24% (variable) compared to Discover it Chrome's 18.24% to 28.24% (variable).
Annual Fee: Tie
Both Discover it Chrome and Discover it Student Chrome have no annual fee, making them equally appealing for users looking to avoid extra costs.
Introductory 0% APRs: Discover it Chrome
Discover it Chrome has a better introductory 0% APR offer of 0% interest for six months on purchases and an extended 18 months on balance transfers. In contrast, Discover it Student Chrome provides 0% for six months on purchases but only 10.99% APR for six months on balance transfers. After the introductory period, both cards have a balance transfer fee of 5%.
Rewards: Tie
Both Discover it Chrome and Discover it Student Chrome offer identical rewards structures. Cardholders earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Rewards never expire, and there are various redemption options available, including statement credit, direct deposit and Amazon payment. Given these identical rewards features, there is no difference between the two cards in terms of rewards.
Welcome Offers: Discover it Chrome
The Discover it Chrome offers a better welcome offer due to its ROI of 1.13%, indicating a tangible return on the cash back match for the first year. Both cards feature a Cashback Match, but Discover it Chrome's specified ROI provides a clearer benefit.
Recommended Credit Score: Discover it Student Chrome
The Discover it Student Chrome is better for individuals with no credit history or lower credit scores, making it more accessible than the Discover it Chrome.
Penalties and Fees: Discover it Student Chrome
The Discover it Student Chrome is better for penalties and fees, as it does not impose a late fee. Both cards share the same cash advance and foreign transaction fees, and neither has a penalty APR.
Issuer Satisfaction: Tie
Discover it Chrome and Discover it Student Chrome are issued by Discover Bank, which has an issuer satisfaction rating of 4.5. There is no difference in the level of customer service, dispute resolution and overall satisfaction you can expect from the issuer, regardless of which card you choose.
Other Features & Perks: Tie
Both Discover it Chrome and Discover it Student Chrome offer unique perks, including online personal information protection. Discover it Chrome also provides free overnight card replacement.
Both the Discover it Chrome and Discover it Student Chrome cards have a straightforward rewards program. You'll earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. All other purchases net you an unlimited 1% cash back. The rewards structure is identical for both cards, so your choice might come down to other factors such as credit limit or eligibility requirements.
While neither card has a clear advantage in terms of rewards, the Discover it Chrome might be better for those with higher spending as it may offer a higher credit limit. The Student Chrome, while having the same rewards rate, is tailored to students who may have lower spending and are building their credit.
The table below details the bonus categories for each card to help you compare the rewards program at a glance.
Category | Discover it Chrome | Discover it Student Chrome |
|---|---|---|
Gas Stations | 2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter | 2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter |
Restaurants | 2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter | 2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter |
All Other Purchases | 1% | 1% |
With Discover it Chrome, you can redeem your cash back for gift cards, statement credits, direct deposits, Amazon payments or even as donations.
Similarly, Discover it Student Chrome offers the flexibility to redeem rewards for statement credits, deposits to bank accounts, charitable donations, pay with rewards at select merchants or gift cards. The absence of an expiration date on rewards for both cards means you can redeem your cash back at your convenience.
MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like Discover it Chrome and Discover it Student Chrome using a detailed scoring system. For each card, the highest scoring use case is highlighted. Discover it Chrome scores highest for balance transfers, with an emphasis on introductory APR offers and regular APR rates. Discover it Student Chrome is most notable for cash back, with its effective reward rate and introductory APR offers being key factors.
These scores are part of a comprehensive review process with considerations that include issuer satisfaction and penalties. For a deeper understanding of our process, you can review our ranking methodology.
The Discover it Chrome is designed for consumers with good to excellent credit, while the Discover it Student Chrome is tailored for students with no credit history.
Yes, both cards offer 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants and 1% on all other purchases.
No, both cards come with no annual fee.
Both cards offer an introductory 0% APR on purchases for six months.
Yes, the Discover it Student Chrome is available to students without a credit history.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
