Bob Haegele is a personal finance writer who specializes in topics like credit cards, banking, and investing. After repaying his student loans and taking control of his finances, he’s made it his mission to help people get out of debt, save, and invest for a better future. His practical approach helps people simplify their finances and stop overspending. He’s been quoted or featured in media outlets such as Business Insider, Forbes Advisor, MarketWatch, TIME, and many others.
Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.
With more than 10 years of accounting experience, Danielle Marshall has a deep understanding of many financial disciplines, including personal and commercial lending, retirement annuities, financial forecasting, and general bookkeeping. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida's Fisher School of Accounting and currently manages all accounts receivable and payable for the parent company of CardRates.com. She works directly with credit card issuers and advertising partners to ensure our content meets compliance expectations and regulatory standards.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
The Discover it® Chrome is just as it sounds — a credit card from Discover® Bank that rewards consumers for their dining and gas purchases. While most consumers can appreciate these categories, the amount of bonus cash back you can earn is limited.
Still, this card has a few other tricks up its sleeve, such as a first-year Cashback Match and introductory APR offers, after which the regular rate applies.
So, is the card worth considering? If not, what are the alternatives? This Discover it® Chrome review will answer these questions and help you decide.
Discover cards are popular choices among credit card users. Here are some of the main benefits of the Discover it® Chrome card:
Disclosure: When you apply through links on our site, we often earn referral fees from partners. For more information, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
Advertiser Disclosure
CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
Let’s break each of these points down. As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy:
Automatic Cash Back
As its name suggests, the main benefit of this card is that it earns cash back on purchases at gas stations and restaurants. You earn cash back automatically, and there is no need to activate these categories. Unfortunately, the amount of bonus cash back you can earn is capped at a low amount.
Unlimited Cashback Match
With this perk, Discover will match all your cashback at the end of your first year, dollar-for-dollar. There’s no limit to how much Discover will match, and it matches both bonus and non-bonus-rate cash back.
No Hidden Fees
Discover prides itself on keeping fees low, so you won’t have to worry about extra fees. As a result, the card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees (like all Discover cards). This means you can use it in any country where Discover cards are accepted without incurring extra fees.
Intro APR
This card comes with introductory 0% interest rates on both balance transfers and purchases, which could save you a significant amount on interest charges. There is still a balance transfer fee during the intro period, and the 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR will apply once the introductory rates expire. Fortunately, the standard purchase APR on this card is reasonable.
Easy Redemption
Credit card rewards on Discover cards never expire, and you can redeem them anytime for cash back. Redemption options include:
Cash back
Shopping at Amazon.com
Shopping with PayPal
Gift cards
Charitable donations
You can also redeem cash back for any amount. The only exception to this is the gift card option, which starts at $5.
Discover also has a prequalification tool that lets you check your approval odds without impacting your credit score. While preapproval doesn’t guarantee final approval, it can help you gauge your approval without a hard credit inquiry, which typically causes a temporary drop in your credit score.
If your FICO credit score is low or you aren’t seeing the results you want from the prequalification form, Discover has steps to help you improve your chances of approval. These include paying your bills on time, paying down debt, and not applying for too many credit cards simultaneously.
This Discover card has a simple online application that only requires a few steps. Click the “Apply Now” button below to visit Discover’s website and fill out the online application with your information.
Disclosure: When you apply through links on our site, we often earn referral fees from partners. For more information, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
Advertiser Disclosure
CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
Generally, you’ll receive a response to your application within a few minutes. You should receive your card within 7-10 business days if approved. You may receive your card sooner, but this is the typical time frame.
If you aren’t approved, you will receive an initial response informing you of the decision. You can then expect to receive a letter in the mail, usually within 7-10 business days, explaining the decision. This is known as an adverse action letter, and lenders are legally required to send them.
Keep in mind that there are several cards offered by Discover, including the Discover it® Student Chrome. However, you shouldn’t apply for the student card unless you are a student and meet its other requirements.
Also, remember that it can be a good idea to prequalify if you haven’t already done so. This gives you an idea of your approval odds. By applying only for cards with high approval odds, you can avoid unnecessary impacts on your credit scores.
Drawbacks and Considerations
The main drawback of the Discover it® Chrome is that it doesn’t deliver a particularly high cash back rate, despite limiting how much bonus cash back you can earn per quarter. A few credit cards offer the same reward rate on all purchase categories without limiting how much cash back you can earn.
Typically, credit cards with quarterly limits of this kind offer one or more 4% or 5% cash back categories. In some cases, they offer even higher rates. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for the Discover it® Chrome.
Another thing to consider is that Discover isn’t accepted everywhere internationally. Several countries in Europe and Asia don’t accept Discover, as well as a few countries in South America and most of Africa. Visa and Mastercard tend to have better acceptance globally, so they may be better choices if you frequently travel abroad.
There’s more to credit cards than just their cash back rate and spending caps. Another important thing to consider is what it’s actually like to be a customer — are the website and mobile app easy to use? What do other customers say? Here’s what you need to know.
Website and Mobile App
Discover’s website and mobile app are modern and easy to navigate, making it simple to find access to the information you need. Discover’s Android and iOS apps are well-liked by customers, with ratings of 4.5 and 4.9, respectively.
On both platforms, you get a modern interface that makes it easy to find the information you need. If you do your banking with Discover, you’ll also benefit from features like mobile check deposit. This lets you deposit checks via the mobile app by taking photos of your checks.
The mobile app also features modern features like biometrics, including face ID for iOS. You can use the app to check your balance and find nearby Discover ATMs quickly. This gives you access to over 415,000 ATMs, including more than 60,000 free ATMs.
Customer Service
Discover is known for having excellent customer service. It’s available 24 hours a day, and you can send a message to the U.S.-based customer support team via the website or mobile app. You can also call the toll-free number and speak to someone in English or Spanish. Discover also has frequently asked questions on its website for answers to common questions.
While Discover is known for having good customer service, some have expressed frustrations with how their issues were handled. These include trouble resolving fraud claims, sudden account closures, and issues resolving disputes with merchants.
Reviews and Opinions
As suggested in other sections, Discover often scores high marks, including high ratings for its mobile apps, as mentioned earlier. In addition, the bank has been Better Business Bureau-accredited since 1989 and has an A+ rating. However, customer ratings paint a much more bleak picture, with a 1.17/5 average rating with 345 reviews.
Trustpilot shows a similar rating, a 1.8/5, with 240 reviews. While there are some 5-star reviews there (17% of the total), the majority are 1-star reviews, with 76% of the total reviews.
However, viewing various forums, many customers say things like they are “extremely pleased” with Discover and that “Discover is great.” The main caveat here is reviewers confirm that Discover’s international acceptance is limited.
Other Cards Worth a Look
While this Discover credit card could work well for some consumers, its low reward rate and spending cap aren’t much to be excited about. Here are some of the best alternatives to the Discover it® Chrome card.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Earn 5% Cashback Bonus® at Grocery Stores and Wholesale Clubs, April 1 through June 30, 2025, on up to $1,500 in purchases, when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with your digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
You don’t need to leave Discover to find an alternative, as the Discover it® Cash Back could be a better option for some. This card earns a much higher cash back rate, and the spending cap is higher. This card includes the same unlimited, dollar-for-dollar unlimited Cashback Match. It also offers an introductory 0% intro APR, after which the regular rate applies.
The main caveat is that the bonus categories change every quarter, and you must activate them manually every quarter. However, they are usually common spending categories, such as gas, groceries, and drug stores. Again, a spending cap applies.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
The Citi Double Cash® Card’s main feature is the ability to earn cash back twice — once when you make a purchase and again when you make a payment. After making a payment, the cash back rate is similar to what you get with the Discover it® Chrome. Despite this, there are no bonus caps or categories to track.
The Citi Double Cash® Card doesn’t have a Cashback Match like you get with the Discover cards. However, it does include a traditional welcome bonus after meeting the spending requirements. This is also a Mastercard, so it may have better international acceptance than Discover cards.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of our top-rated cash back cards. It offers tiered cash back categories, but the spending cap is much higher than that of the Discover it® Chrome. And similar to Discover cards, there’s no annual fee.
The card also includes a higher reward rate on travel purchased through Chase Travel. To top it all off, you also get a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, and the APR is competitive.
FAQs: Is the Discover it® Chrome a Good Credit Card?
The Discover it® Chrome offers some good benefits, including a bonus cash back rate on gas and restaurants, which undeniably benefits most consumers in the US. The problem is that there is a low spending limit on the bonus rate, and other cards offer higher reward rates with higher spending caps.
While this card has some attractive features, several options do the same things better.
Can You Use the Discover it® Chrome Anywhere?
You can use your card throughout North America and much of Europe and Asia. However, several European and Asian countries don’t accept this card, as well as a few countries in South America. The card isn’t accepted in most of Africa, though there are some exceptions — South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco, to name a few.
What is the Card’s Credit Limit?
The typical starting credit limit for Discover cards is around $3,000. However, depending on your creditworthiness, your limit may be much higher or lower. For instance, these cards can sometimes have limits of above $10,000, while student cards may have much lower initial limits.
However, your actual credit limit may vary based on factors such as your credit score, income, and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. A higher income and credit score may result in a higher credit limit, while a higher DTI may lead to a lower credit limit.
If you aren’t happy with your credit limit, one of the best things you can do is consistently pay your bills on time. Using credit responsibly shows the card issuer you can manage your credit, which may lead to the credit card issuer automatically increasing your credit limit in some cases.
Discover also says that if you want to increase your credit limit, you can ask your card issuer for an increase. While this won’t guarantee an increase, paying your bills on time can help your chances.
How Does It Compare to the Discover it® Cash Back?
The Discover it® Chrome and the Discover it® Cash Back cards share a few features, including a first-year Cashback Match, 0% intro APRs (after which the regular APR applies), and no foreign transaction fees. However, the similarities end there, as these cards typically reward you in different ways for different purchases.
The Discover it® Chrome focuses on gas and restaurant purchases, offering flat-rate cash back with a quarterly cap that doesn’t require activation. Conversely, the Discover it® Cash Back offers a higher cash-back rate and higher quarterly limit, but the categories change every quarter. In addition, you must manually activate your bonus categories every quarter.
The Discover it® Cash Back is potentially the better card, allowing you to earn more cash back. However, since you must manually activate it every quarter, the Discover it® Chrome could still be better if you prefer simplicity and predictability since its bonus categories stay the same year-round.
What Is the Best Card to Pair with the Discover it® Chrome?
The best card to pair with this card is one with benefits this card lacks, like a travel credit card, grocery card, or one with unlimited cash rewards. For instance, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns a high cash back rate on groceries, streaming services, and transit — none of which you get with the Discover it® Chrome.
Another choice is the Citi Double Cash® Card mentioned earlier. This card gives you a high cash back rate on every purchase with no caps.
This Card May Be For You If…
This card may be the right choice if you want a simple cash back card that rewards you for gas and restaurant purchases. It may also be a good choice if you intend to put a lot on the card in the first year, as the Cashback Match allows you to double your cash back.
However, remember that there is a quarterly limit on your bonus cash back rate, and the cap is on the low side. Some credit cards let you earn higher cash back rates or have a similar rate with much higher caps (or no cap at all). Also, Discover cards can have somewhat limited acceptance internationally.
You don’t have to look far to find a credit card that lets you earn more cash back, whether you spend your money at gas stations, restaurants, or elsewhere.
About the Author
Bob Haegele
Finance Expert
Bob Haegele is a personal finance writer who specializes in topics like credit cards, banking, and investing. After repaying his student loans and taking control of his finances, he’s made it his mission to help people get out of debt, save, and invest for a better future. His practical approach helps people simplify their finances and stop overspending. He’s been quoted or featured in media outlets such as Business Insider, Forbes Advisor, MarketWatch, TIME, and many others.
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