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Discover it® Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back: Two Cashback Matches, One Clear Winner

Updated
Steven Porrello
By: Steven Porrello
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Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

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The Discover it® Chrome has a higher cash back rate for restaurants and gas, but not when gas or restaurants are one of the Discover it® Cash Back card's 5% rotating quarterly categories (which customers must activate, and for which quarterly spending limits apply). Both cards will match the cash back you earn within your first year, but depending on your spending, the Discover it® Cash Back's total cash back could easily surpass the Discover it® Chrome. For a full comparison of these card's perks, read on.

Discover it® Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back overview

As of Jun. 18, 2024
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Discover it® Chrome Discover it® Cash Back
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 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.
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
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.
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= Excellent
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Apply Now for Discover it® Chrome

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Rating Requirement: 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)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: 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)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

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

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

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

Rewards Program: 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

Rewards Program: 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—automatically.

1% - 5% Cashback

Intro APR:

Purchases: 0%, 6 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months

Intro APR:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular APR:

18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Regular APR:

18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$0

Highlights:

  • 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. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • 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 28.24% 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. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee.
  • Terms and conditions apply.

Highlights:

  • 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% 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—automatically.
  • 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. It's free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • No annual fee.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Apply Now for Discover it® Chrome

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Show More Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content Show Less Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content

Here's my personal experience with the Discover it® Cash Back card

The Discover it® Cash Back card has been my go-to cash back card since 2021. It's also been my most lucrative. In my first year, I earned about $1,645 in total cash back with Discover®'s cashback match. That broke down to the following categories:

  • $711 on the 5% rotating, quarterly categories (activation required; $1,500 quarterly spending cap)
  • $548 on other purchases at 1%
  • $136 on special offers
  • $250 on referrals and authorized users

In addition to the cash back rates, I really like the Discover app. Though I no longer use this card as much as I used to, it still plays a special role in my quest to earn 5% on every purchase.

Why Discover it® Cash Back might be the ideal choice

Discover it® Cash Back is perfect for those who can maximize Discover's quarterly bonus categories. Card holders earn 5% back on up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500 in each of these categories after you activate. In the past, bonus categories have included gas, restaurants, groceries, PayPal purchases, and Amazon.com. As a welcome bonus, Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.. If you were to max out each bonus category, you would earn $300 on your own and get $300 from Discover.

When Discover it® Chrome could be the better option

If gas and restaurants are your two of your biggest expenses, Discover it® Chrome might be right for you. This card earns 2% back on up to $1,000 in combined gas and restaurant spending each quarter, plus 1% back everywhere else. For its welcome bonus: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. If you were to max out your quarterly spending on gas and restaurants, you would earn $80 within a year, plus get $80 from Discover.

Discover it® Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back comparison

Both cash back cards can be lucrative, but if you're only looking for one, the Discover it® Cash Back packs a heftier punch.

Discover it® Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back annual fee

Neither card charges an annual fee, nor do they have foreign transaction fees. They also share a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*.

Winner: Tie

Discover it® Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back welcome offer

Discover's cashback match is available on both credit cards. This bonus matches all the cash back you earn within your card's first year. While the Discover it® Cash Back arguably gives you more opportunities to max out this bonus, it's good to know the Discover it® Chrome has it too, in case you want a standard gas and dining card to max out those categories.

Winner: Tie

Discover it® Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back intro APR

The Discover it® Chrome has a longer intro APR period for balance transfers: 18 months versus the 15 months on the Discover it® Cash Back card. However, the Discover it® Cash Back has a longer intro APR period for new purchases: 15 months versus just 6 months on the Discover it® Chrome. After this introductory period, both cards revert to a standard 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR.

Clearly, the intro APRs are designed for people in different circumstances. Cardholders who want to transfer a balance to pay down debt would benefit from the longer period on the Discover it® Chrome, while those who want zero interest financing for new purchases will benefit from the Discover it® Cash Back card. Those who want both are likely going to benefit from the Discover it® Cash Back card. Because the Discover it® Cash Back card offers long periods of both intro APRs, it'll take the cake for this segment, but it's a close matchup.

Winner: Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back rewards

This is when the Discover it® Cash Back card takes the lead. Its rotating, quarterly 5% bonus categories (activation required; $1,500 quarterly spending cap) makes this one of the most lucrative cash back cards you can find. Categories for 2024 so far have included restaurants and drug stores for Q1 and gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, home improvement stores, and public transit for Q2. If you can max out these categories for your card's first year, you would walk away with at least $600 in total cash back earned ($300 on your spending and $300 from Discover's cashback match).

In contrast, the Discover it® Chrome card earns 2% back on gas and restaurants for up to $1,000 in quarterly spending. Even with Discover's cashback match, this card's value is severely limited by that $1,000 quarterly cap. If you don't want to fiddle with rotating categories, this card's no-frills cash back rate might be more convenient. But for more potential, look no further than the Discover it® Cash Back.

Winner: Discover it® Cash Back

Final take

The Discover it® Chrome and Discover it® Cash Back cards share many of Discover's most impressive offerings, such as long 0% introductory APR periods for balance transfers, no annual fees, and a match on all cash back earned at the end of the first year. However, since the Discover it® Cash Back earns 5% on rotating, quarterly categories (activation required; $1,500 quarterly spending cap), its earnings cap is much higher than the 2% back on gas and restaurants (up to $1,000 each quarter) on the Discover it® Chrome.