Discover it^® Student Chrome Review [2024]: Average at Best

Card basics

Who should get the Discover it Student Chrome?

The Discover it Student Chrome is a decent $0-annual-fee starter card. It allows you to earn cash back while building a credit history. You don’t need a credit score to apply, but you do need to be at least 18 years old and show proof of education.

The card offers some small perks, like a 0% intro APR offer on purchases for 6 months after account opening (then 17.49% - 26.49% Variable *Rates as of December 12, 2024). Although this isn’t a very long time, it gives you a chance to settle into your card and learn how to budget properly. Once that period ends, you’ll want to make sure you make your monthly payment in full each statement to avoid paying interest.

Discover lets you choose between several card designs so you can personalize your very first card. If your friends see your new card and want to apply, you can refer them and receive a statement credit for each friend who becomes a card member.

You’ll also receive some standard protections, like online privacy protection, Social Security number alerts, and the ability to freeze your card if it gets lost or stolen. Overall, the Discover it Student Chrome is a nice starter card, but it isn’t something you’ll write home about.

Potential rewards aren’t great

Regular rewards: Cardholders of the Discover it Student Chrome 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. This spending threshold is very low, so if you spend more than a few hundred dollars on gas and food each month, you’ll likely want to look for a different card. Even if you don’t, there are several student cards with much higher rates that are worth looking into.

Welcome offer: The most interesting part of the card is the classic welcome offer — Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn $100 cash back throughout the year, you’ll receive a $100 bonus.

Redemption methods

Cashback rewards can be redeemed at any time as a statement credit, electronic deposit into your bank account, or gift card. Rewards can also be used to pay for your Amazon purchases or for purchases via PayPal.

Potential earnings in years one and two

Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.

Year one earnings: $343

Year two earnings: $171

These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which considers cash back earned via spending and the welcome bonus. Since the card doesn’t have an annual fee, it’s easier to see your rewards immediately.

Discover it^® Student Chrome benefits are thin

The additional cardholder benefits are minimal. You’ll receive online privacy protection, which removes your personal information from select websites that could sell your information. You will be alerted if Discover finds your social security number on the dark web, and if your card gets lost or stolen, you can freeze it right away. These benefits are nice, but other cards will give you much more.

Other cards to consider

Discover it^® Student Cash Back

There are several other student credit cards that are worth looking into. For starters, the Discover it^® Student Cash Back is a better option for most students than the Discover it Student Chrome. You’ll earn an 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter, on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate. This gives you more cash back and a higher spending threshold, but you’ll have to remember to activate each quarter. You’ll receive some of the same benefits as the Discover it Student Chrome, like the fact that Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

The only real difference between the cards is in the earning structure. As long as you don’t mind keeping track of quarterly bonus categories, the Discover it Student Cash Back is the better option.

Read our full Discover it Student Cash Back Review.

Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you don’t want to worry about activating your bonus earning category each quarter, you can use the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. It earns an elevated unlimited dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®) cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®). All other purchases earn 1% cash back. If you book hotels and car rentals through Capital One Travel or tickets through Capital One Entertainment, you’ll earn even more.

The only drawback is that this card doesn’t come with an intro APR offer, so you’ll need to be prepared to pay your balance in full every month to avoid interest charges. If you can commit to on-time payments in full and your spending aligns with the bonus categories, you’ll find much more value in the Savor Student card.

Read our full Capital One Savor Rewards for Students Review.

FAQs

Bottom line

Students looking for their first credit card may want to consider the Discover it Student Chrome. If you have a limited credit history, it will help you build credit, which will be useful in the future. One of the best things you can do to set yourself up financially is establish a good credit score. However, this card leaves much to be desired, and with so many great student cards on the market, it likely won’t be your first choice.

Double Rewards on Gas and Dining

Discover it^® Student Chrome

4.55

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Discover it^® Student Chrome

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

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

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

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.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Lucrative welcome offer
• Introductory low APR offer on purchases
• No foreign transaction fees

Drawbacks

• Limited international acceptance
• Spending cap on earnings
• Limited bonus categories

Card 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! 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 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.
• 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 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
• Terms and conditions apply.