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Rates & Fees

Discover it Cash Back vs.
Discover it Chrome

John Kiernan, Credit Card Editor

Nov 24, 2025Fact checked

THE WINNER

Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Cash Back is the winner over Discover it® Chrome in a very close call. Discover it® Cash Back has a high (5%) bonus cash back rate that applies to the first $1,500 spent in designated rotating categories that change each quarter and require activation. Discover it Chrome is more consistent but has a lower ceiling, giving you 2% bonus cash back on the first $1,000 spent per quarter in the same categories – gas and restaurants – all the time.

Discover it Cash Back and Discover it Chrome both offer 1% cash back on other purchases. Both match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of the first year as a new cardmember. Neither charges an annual fee or a foreign transaction fee. And you won’t be eligible for either without a good or excellent credit score.

You can learn more about how the two stack up against one another in various categories below.

WalletHub's credit card comparisons and ratings are completely independent and not provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any issuer. WalletHub independently collected information for

some of the cards

on this page.

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Discover it Cash Back vs. Discover it Chrome: Key Characteristics

winner

Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Chrome

Discover it Cash Back vs. Discover it Chrome: Rewards

Discover it Cash Back gives 5% cash back up to a quarterly maximum spent in rotating bonus categories that change each quarter and require activation. Discover it Chrome always gives 2% cash back on your first $1,000 spent on gas and restaurant purchases per quarter. Which is better for you comes down to if you want a high cash back rate but ever-changing categories you need to activate quarterly or a lower rate and consistency. Both cards give you 1% cash back on all purchases outside of the bonus categories. And both match the cash back you earned during your first year as a new cardmember on your account anniversary.

winner

Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Chrome

rewards Type

Cash Back

bonus offer

N/A

rewards rate

1 - 5% Cash Back

1 - 2% Cash Back

rewards details

Discover it Cash Back - Rewards Details

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.
Redeem cash back for any amount

Discover it Chrome - Rewards Details

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. You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Redeem cash back for any amount

Discover it Cash Back vs. Discover it Chrome: Interest Rates

Discover it Chrome offers a longer intro period for balance transfers (balance transfer fees apply). Discover it Cash Back however comes with a better intro APR deal on purchases. Both cards have the same Variable APR.

Purchase Interest Rates

Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Chrome

purchase intro rate

0% for 15 months

0% for 6 months

regular apr

17.74% - 26.74% Variable

Balance Transfer Interest Rates

Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Chrome

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0% for 15 months

0% for 18 months

regular apr

17.74% - 26.74% Variable

balance transfer fee

3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Discover it Cash Back vs. Discover it Chrome: Additional Info

Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Chrome

foreign transaction fee

cash advance apr

28.74% Variable

cash advance fee

Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater

grace period

See Terms

Additional Info

Discover it Cash Back - Additional Info

Apply now and you could get a decision in as little as 90 seconds. No annual fee.
Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with your virtual card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.74% to 26.74% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
Terms and conditions apply.

Discover it Chrome - Additional Info

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. You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Then 17.74% to 26.74% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
Redeem cash back for any amount
No annual fee.
Terms and conditions apply.

Discover it Cash Back vs. Discover it Chrome: Recommended Credit

Both Discover it Cash Back and Discover it Chrome are available to people with good credit, which means we recommend a score of 700+ to apply.

Category Winner: Tie

Discover it Cash Back vs. Discover it Chrome: Ratings

Discover it Cash Back receives a score of 3.9/5 from WalletHub’s editors. Discover it Chrome only gets 3.6/5. The deciding factor is the greater upside potential of Discover it Cash Back's bonus cash back categories. Both cards get an average of 4.0/5 from WalletHub’s users.

winner

Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Chrome

user reviews

(1,722)

(270)

EDITOR'S RATING

3.9 / 5

3.6 / 5

WALLETHUB RATING

3.9 / 5

WalletHub Rating

3.9

Editor’s Rating

3.9

User Reviews

3.8

Market Comparison

3.9

fees: 5.0

rewards: 3.3

cost: 3.8

APR: 3.9

4.3 / 5

WalletHub Rating

4.3

This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Lower Cost of Existing Debt." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.

Editor’s Rating

3.6

User Reviews

3.6

Market Comparison

4.5

fees: 5.0

cost: 4.5

APR: 4.4

BEST WHEN USED TO

Finance New Purchases

Lower Cost of Existing Debt

About the Author

John S Kiernan

Credit Card Editor

John Kiernan has covered the credit card industry for more than 15 years as a writer and editor for WalletHub. His work has been featured by major media outlets such as The Washington Post, Fox News and The New York Times and has been cited by industry regulators such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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Still not sure?

Check out other popular cards from our partners related to Discover it® Cash Back and Discover it® Chrome.

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4.4WalletHub Rating

WalletHub Rating

4.4

This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Lower Cost of Existing Debt." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.

Editor’s Rating

5.0

User Reviews

3.4

Market Comparison

4.4

fees: 5.0

cost: 4.3

APR: 4.4

Purchase Intro APRNot Offered

Transfer Intro APR0% for 18 months|Transfer Fee: 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, after that 5% ($5 min) for each transfer

Regular APR17.74% - 27.74% (V)

Purchase Intro APR

Not Offered

Transfer Intro APR

0% for 18 months|Transfer Fee: 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, after that 5% ($5 min) for each transfer

Regular APR

17.74% - 27.74% (V)

annual fee

rewards rate

2 - 5% Cash Back

Bonus Offer

$200

Bonus Offer

$200

credit score

Excellent Credit, Good Credit

Pros

Offers 2% cash back on all purchases
$0 annual fee
$200 initial rewards bonus
Low intro APR on balance transfers

Cons

3% foreign transaction fee
High regular APR

Rewards Details

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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.

Additional Info

Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.74% - 27.74%, 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).

Pros, Cons, & Details

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

3.65 out of 5 rating873 Reviews

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4.2WalletHub Rating

WalletHub Rating

4.2

This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Earn Rewards." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.

Editor’s Rating

5.0

User Reviews

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Market Comparison

4.2

fees: 3.8

rewards: 4.3

cost: 4.6

Other Features: 0.0

Purchase Intro APR0% for 15 months

Transfer Intro APR0% for 15 months|Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days (5%, min $5 after)

Regular APR18.74% - 28.24% (V)

Purchase Intro APR

0% for 15 months

Transfer Intro APR

0% for 15 months|Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days (5%, min $5 after)

Regular APR

18.74% - 28.24% (V)

annual fee

rewards rate

1.5 - 5% Cash Back

Bonus Offer

$200

Bonus Offer

$200

credit score

Excellent Credit, Good Credit

Pros

$200 initial bonus
Earn rate: 1.5 - 5% cash back
0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
$0 annual fee

Cons

Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee
Potential for a high regular APR

Rewards Details

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!

Additional Info

Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.74% - 28.24%.
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.
Member FDIC

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Discover it Cash Back vs. Discover it Chrome FAQ

Comparing credit cards can be tough. But you’ve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. We encourage everyone to share their knowledge while respecting our content guidelines. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not the financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered. WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.

Upvotes

What are the best unsecured Discover credit cards?

Stephanie Vann

The best unsecured Discover credit card is the Discover it® Miles card because it has a $0 annual fee and offers solid rewards. The card gives 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all purchases.

In addition, it will match all the miles you earn the first year, as an account anniversary bonus. There are also intro APRs of 0% for 15 months on purchases and 0% for 15 months on balance transfers, followed by a regular APR of 17.74% - 26.74% Variable.

Unfortunately, there are no unsecured Discover credit cards for bad credit. The unsecured Discover cards with the lowest credit score requirements are their student cards. They accept students with limited credit.

Non-students with limited or bad credit should consider putting a deposit down for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. It will help you build credit just as well as any unsecured card.

Upvotes

How many types of Discover cards are there?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

There are several types of Discover cards spanning a wide range of categories; cash back, travel, low interest, student, bad credit, and more. All Discover cards have $0 annual fees and 0% foreign transaction fees. Plus, Discover matches all rewards earned during the first year for all their cards.

Discover is a card network, yet it also issues its own credit cards. All Discover cards offer a minimum of 1% back in rewards on...

Upvotes

What are the Discover Card benefits?

Richard Rader

The Discover card benefits include no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees on any card, along with the ability to freeze your account on demand. Discover will also match all the rewards you earn in your first year. Plus, there's a “Cash at Checkout” feature that allows cardholders to withdraw cash when making a purchase with a Discover card at specific retailers. Withdrawals are limited to $120 every 24 hours. They are charged at...

View more answers

More Resources

Just because these are two popular Discover cards that doesn't necessarily mean either one is right for you. So if you're still on the fence about which credit card to apply for, checking out these additional resources may be helpful:

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