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Discover it® Chrome Review: Simple Rewards + 0% Intro APR Combo

Review Updated
Jake FitzGerald
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

Cards usually fall into two camps: they either help you pay down debt or reward your spending. The Discover it® Chrome does both. With its balance of debt flexibility and everyday cash back, it's a rare combo that makes it an especially good deal.

You'll earn cash back on common purchases like gas and dining, and Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. On top of that, the intro APR offer gives you time to pay down balances or cover a larger expense without interest getting in the way.

Here's my honest Discover it® Chrome review, with what I like best and who this card makes the most sense for.

4.70/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.70/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: 0%, 6 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months

Regular APR

17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically

1% - 2% Cashback

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. 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.

Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

  • The main draw of this Discover card is the balance transfer offer, which is one of the best we've come across. Unlike many balance transfer cards, it combines that with cash back rewards. But the cash back program doesn't measure up to what other cards offer.

    • Welcome bonus offer
    • Gas and restaurants rewards
    • 0% intro APR
    • No annual fee
    • No foreign transaction fee
    • Low cash back rates
    • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. 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. You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
    • Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
    • Redeem cash back for any amount
    • No annual fee.
    • Terms and conditions apply.

At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.

We score cards within four primary categories:

  • 0% intro APR cards for paying down balances or financing purchases
  • Travel cards for maximizing points, miles, and perks on the road
  • Cash back and rewards cards for everyday spending value
  • Business cards designed to fit company expenses and growth

Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.

We score cards within four primary categories:

  • 0% intro APR cards for paying down balances or financing purchases
  • Travel cards for maximizing points, miles, and perks on the road
  • Cash back and rewards cards for everyday spending value
  • Business cards designed to fit company expenses and growth

Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

Who should consider the Discover it® Chrome card?

If you answer "yes" to either of the below questions, the Discover it® Chrome credit card could be a strong pick for your wallet:

  1. Are you trying to pay off credit card debt?
  2. Do you spend a lot on your credit card each month?

If you're focused on tackling debt, this card's 18 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers could be just what you need. (The go-to 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR applies at the end of the intro period.) This means you can transfer existing debt from another card and enjoy no interest for a year and a half. That's an unusually long time to chip away at your balance without the added weight of interest charges.

I'm also a big fan of the welcome bonus on this card: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. The more you spend, the more you get back. It's one of the best credit card welcome bonuses for high spenders.

What I like about the Discover it® Chrome card

Unique welcome bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match

Discover's Cashback Match is one of the most straightforward and rewarding welcome bonuses available. Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

So if you earned $500 in cash back, Discover will give you an extra $500, bringing your total to $1,000.

Since most credit card welcome bonuses require bigger spending in the first few months, this one allows you to capture bigger upside across your entire first year.

For comparison, here's a glance at all our favorite credit card welcome bonuses currently.

Impressive intro APR offer for balance transfers

With the Discover it® Chrome, you'll get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Then a 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.

This gives you a super long window to pay down existing debt without interest and make a real dent in high-interest balances.

You also get a shorter 0% intro APR for 6 months on new purchases, which adds some flexibility if you're covering a planned expense while working through debt. After the intro period ends, a 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.

Just note there is a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*. This is pretty standard across balance transfer cards, and usually the fee is worth it compared to the overall interest saved.

No annual fee

There's no annual fee on the Discover it® Chrome, which means you keep 100% of the value.

You can use the intro APR offer to pay down debt, earn cash back along the way, and not worry about a yearly cost eating into your rewards.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. 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. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR

5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for long 0% intro APR
N/A N/A

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% Variable APR

4.70/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases
25,000 points (worth $250) Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5-3 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.49% - 27.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable)

Downsides you should consider

Low cash back rates

While the Discover it® Chrome card shines in its first year, the regular cash back rates leave much to be desired. After the first year's cashback match ends, you'll earn:

  • 2% cash back on gas stations and restaurants, up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

Compare that to cards that offer flat 2% cash back on all purchases, or even higher rates in specific categories, and this card may feel underwhelming after your first year.

Plenty of cards offer higher cash back rates. Many of my favorites are featured on our list: Best Cash Back Credit Cards

How to apply for the Discover it® Chrome card

Applying for this card is simple and quick. Just visit Discover's website and fill out the application. You'll need to provide some personal details like your name, address, Social Security number or ITIN, and income.

In many cases, you'll get instant approval. If not, you might have to wait a few days for a final decision. Once approved, your new card should arrive in the mail within two weeks.

Final thoughts

The Discover it® Chrome card shines with its first-year perks and balance transfer offer, making it a great pick for those looking to save money or maximize rewards during their first year.

If you're ready to apply, click here to apply on Discover's website (see rates and fees)

FAQs

  • No. Discover doesn't allow balance transfers between its own cards (most issuers don't). If you are transferring a balance from Discover you'll want to choose a balance transfer card from a different issuer.

  • Approval typically requires good to excellent credit. If you have a solid payment history and manageable balances, this card is generally within reach.

  • No. All Discover cards have no foreign transaction fees, which is a nice perk if you travel or make purchases with international merchants online.