Discover it® Student Chrome Review (2024)

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The Discover it^® Student Chrome is a great credit card for students – especially those commuting to campus – who are just beginning their credit journey. In addition to cash back on every purchase, the card offers benefits, such as free access to your FICO® Credit Score – all for a $0 annual fee.

Cash back can be redeemed for gift cards, instant eCertificates, charitable donations, credits to your card account, electronic deposits into any account you designate and merchandise.

We break down the pros and cons of the Discover it^® Student Chrome, and show how it compares to the Discover it^® Student Chrome, which also offers cash back on every purchase.

• Rewards rate

  The Discover it^® Student Chrome lets you 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. If you max out the $1,000 spend cap each quarter, you can earn $20 cash back on gas station and restaurant purchases alone.

• Sign-up bonus

  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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.

  So, for example, if you earn $20 cash back on gas and restaurant purchases each quarter, you’ll receive $80 cash back at the end of the year. Once you factor in the cashback match – that amount jumps to $160 for the first year of card membership.

  Just keep in mind that the cashback match only applies to the first year of card membership.

• Introductory purchase APR

  If you need to finance a large purchase, such as a laptop or textbooks, you can do so interest free for half a year with the Discover it^® Student Chrome. The card offers a 0% Intro APR for 6 months. After that, an ongoing 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR applies.

• Annual fee

  The Discover it^® Student Chrome comes with a $0 annual fee.

• Quarterly maximum on higher rewards rate

  With the Discover it^® Student Chrome, you can only earn the elevated cashback rate on gas station and restaurant purchases on the first $1,000 each quarter. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

• No 0% intro APR on balance transfers

  If you need to transfer a balance from a higher-interest credit card, you won’t be able to do so interest free with the Discover it^® Student Chrome. That said, the card does offer a slightly lower introductory APR on balance transfers: 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months, then an ongoing 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR applies.

• Balance transfer fee

  Keep in mind that if you do transfer a balance, you will be subject to a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*.

Compare it to the Discover it^® Student Cash Back

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Discover it^® Student Cash Back

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Discover it^® Student Cash Back

Intro Purchase APR 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases

Regular Purchase APR 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR

Annual Fee $0

Rewards Rate Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically

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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
• 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.
• No credit score required to apply.
• 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 and build your credit with responsible use.
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Recommended Credit

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Limited / Fair

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If you’re a student who wants the opportunity to earn a higher cashback rate in popular spending categories, you may want to look at the Discover it® Student Cash Back. The card lets you earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.

The Discover it^® Student Cash Back also offers 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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.

Beyond the rewards programs, the Discover it^® Student Chrome and Discover it^® Student Cash Back are virtually identical. Both cards offer Cashback Match bonuses, $0 annual fees and intro APRs on purchases and balance transfers. The cards also offer the same benefits, including free access to your FICO® Score.

However, with the Discover it^® Student Cash Back, you stand to earn quite a bit more cash back each quarter if you max out the card’s bonus spending cap. For example, if you spend $1,500 per quarter in activated bonus categories with the Discover it^® Student Cash Back, you can earn $300 cash back on those purchases at the end of the year. And with the first-year Cashback Match offer, that amount will double to $600.

By contrast, if you max out the Discover it^® Student Chrome ’s $1,000 spend cap each quarter, you’ll only earn $80 cash back on gas station and restaurant purchases at the end of the year.

If you eat out frequently, commute to campus or have an upcoming road trip planned to visit family, the Discover it^® Student Chrome can provide a great opportunity to earn a generous amount of rewards, thanks to its solid cashback rate on restaurant and gas station purchases and sign-up bonus. But if you want the ability to earn a higher amount of cash back in a wider range of categories that rotate quarterly, such as Restaurants and Wholesale Clubs, the Discover it^® Student Cash Back may be a better choice.