Discover it® Chrome Review: Mediocre Cash Back, Great for Balance Transfers

The Discover it Chrome card caters to your gas and dining purchases with 2% cash back. There’s a cap on these categories, but unlike with other cards, you don’t need to activate them. Although its cash back is not as high as some other cards, it has a lengthy 0% intro APR period on balance transfers, making it a great option if you’re looking to manage existing credit card debt.

The Discover it Chrome offers 2% cash back on gas and dining for up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% on all other purchases. It also has a first year cash back match feature, which effectively doubles the rewards for new cardholders.

Its cash back system is fair, but the most appealing feature of this card is its 18-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers. This extended period offers relief for managing existing debt from non-Discover cards. Its six-month no-interest period on new purchases is nice to have but relatively short compared to other cards.

If your primary goal is debt reduction, the Discover it Chrome is an excellent choice, thanks to its lengthy no-interest period on balance transfers. You can consider the cash back on essentials as a bonus to help you reduce your balance. However, if earning cash back is your priority, other cards may offer higher rates and more favorable terms.

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The Discover it Chrome card rewards everyday spending with a straightforward cash back program. The card offers 2% cash back on up to $1,000 in combined gas and restaurant purchases each quarter, and all other purchases earn an unlimited 1% cash back.

In addition to the primary rewards, Discover it Chrome features a unique cash back match at the end of your first year. This means that every dollar you've earned in cash back will be matched, effectively doubling your rewards for that year without any limits.

The cash back you earn does not expire, and you can redeem them anytime as cash, statement credit, gift card (starting $5) and payment for Amazon or Paypal.

The Discover it Chrome is a great balance transfer card with fair rewards.

Intro APR on Balance Transfers. With an 18-month 0% intro APR period on balance transfers, this card is a good option for those looking to consolidate and pay off existing debt from non-Discover cards without accruing more interest.

Cash Back on Gas and Dining. The card lets you earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.

No Annual Fee. Like other cash back cards, you don’t need to pay an annual fee for this card.

The Discover it Chrome card has some disadvantages compared to similar no-annual-fee cards. Consider these drawbacks before getting this card.

Spending Cap on Bonus Categories. The 2% cash back on gas and dining is limited to $1,000 per quarter. If you spend more than $333 per month on those categories, you’ll reach the cap and all your subsequent purchases will only get 1% cash back. Cards like the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards don't have spending caps for its bonus categories.

Low Cash Back Rate. The Discover it Chrome’s bonus and regular cash back rate is low compared to similar cards. Many cards offer at least 3% on their bonus categories, with some like the Discover it® Cash Back offering up to 5% cash back. Moreover, most flat-rate cards give at least 1.5% back on all purchases — the Citi Double Cash® card provides 2% cash back on everything.

High Spend Required for Cash Back Match. Other cash back cards with welcome bonuses pay $200 after you spend between $500 and $1000 in the first three to six months. To earn $200 cash back on the Discover it Chrome, you'd need to spend $16,000 and wait 12 months to get your match amount.

To help you find the best cards for your needs, we’ve compared Discover it Chrome with other cash back cards.

Aside from the Discover it® Cash Back and Citi Double Cash®, we also compare Discover it Chrome with these cards:

• Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
• Citi Custom Cash® Card

The Discover it Chrome card is an option for people looking to consolidate credit card debt. It has an 18-month no-interest period on balance transfers. As an added perk, you get 2% cash back on common spending categories.

However, if your goal is to get returns on your purchases, the card’s cash back structure (even on its bonus categories) becomes less appealing unless you spend heavily with the card, and at that level, it’s just better to get other cards.

Our evaluation of the Discover it Chrome card involved a comprehensive review of 105 cards. We considered several key features, with the following weights indicating their importance in our scoring system:

• Balance Transfer Score (50%): A top rating reflects an exceptional balance transfer offer.
• Cash Back Score (10%): A high rating indicates a highly rewarding cash back program.
• No Interest Score (25%): This measures the value of introductory no-interest offers.
• Gas Score (15%): A top score denotes excellent rewards for gas purchases.
• Dining Score (15%): This reflects the rewards earned on dining expenses.
• Grocery Score (5%): A high rating indicates strong grocery rewards.
• Online Shopping Score (5%): This measures rewards for online purchases.