Personal Finance
Advertiser Disclosure

Discover It Student Cash Back vs. Discover It Student Chrome

Discover It Student Cash Back Vs Discover It Student Chrome
iStock

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partnersโ€™ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIMEโ€™s direction and produced in accordance with TIMEโ€™s editorial guidelines and overseen by TIMEโ€™s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

updated: August 14, 2024
edited by Erik Haagensen

Discover is a popular credit card issuer that has a number of cards designed for different audiences. One of the companyโ€™s target markets is people still in school, and it offers two student credit card options. Both are solid choices, but itโ€™s important to compare the two to decide which is the better fit for you.

How the cards stack up

Both Discover it Student Cash Back and Discover it Student Chrome are rewards cards that are also intended to help students build their credit. While similar, they take a slightly different approach to how they offer rewards.

FeatureDiscover it Student Cash BackDiscover it Student Chrome
Welcome Bonus
Unlimited cash back match, doubling your cash back earnings at the end of your first year
Unlimited cash back match, doubling your cash back earnings at the end of your first year
Rewards
5% cash back on everyday purchases in categories that rotate quarterly, up to $1,500 in spending each quarter

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

1% cash back on all other purchases
Annual Fee
None
None
APR
18.24% to 27.24%
18.24% to 27.24%
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Other Benefits
Redeem for cash back or when shopping at Amazon.com or with PayPal

0% APR for six months

Free Social Security number alerts
Redeem for cash back or when shopping at Amazon.com or with PayPal

0% APR for six months

Free Social Security number alerts

Welcome Bonus Winner: Tie

Both cards offer the same welcome bonus: a doubling of your cash back in the first year that you have the card. Because your bonus is entirely dependent on how much you earn from the cardโ€™s typical rewards, thereโ€™s no clear winner.

Rewards Winner: Discover it Student Cash Back

Both cards offer a similar rewards structure, 1% cash back on most purchases, and an elevated rewards rate on a specific type of purchases. The difference is that Discover it Student Cash Back offers 5% on its bonus category, which rotates quarterly. Student Chrome offers just 2% cash back on its bonus category and the category never changes. Both cards cap the amount of spending that earns the higher rate, with Student Cash Back offering the higher cap at $1,500 per quarter.

Assuming you max out the bonus categories, the Discover it Student Cash Back card is the much better choice, offering $300 in cash back from bonus category spending to just $80 offered by Student Chrome.

Annual Fee Winner: Tie

There is no winner in the annual fee category because neither card charges an annual fee.

APR Winner: Tie

Both cards offer the same annual percentage rate (APR): 18.24% to 27.24%, with your rate depending on your creditworthiness. They also both have a 0% introductory APR promotion for six months. Itโ€™s a tie.

Foreign Transaction Fee Winner: Tie

None of Discoverโ€™s credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee, meaning that you can use them to make purchases while traveling abroad without incurring a penalty for doing so.

Additional Perks: Tie

Both Discover cards offer the same perks, including multiple ways to redeem your rewards and free Social Security number monitoring and alerts.

Which card earns the most?

Both cards offer the same 1% cash back on most purchases, so the differentiator between them is in their bonus categories. Which card provides more rewards depends on how well you can take advantage of them.

The Discover it Student Cash Back is likely to offer more rewards to most people. It gives 5% cash back on its bonus categories, compared with Student Chromeโ€™s 2%. It also lets you spend an extra $500 per quarter before maxing out the bonus rewards, capping at $1,500 in quarterly spending. Student Chrome has a $1,000 cap.

If you always max out the bonus rewards, Student Cash Back will give you $220 more than Student Chrome. For Student Chrome to offer more rewards, youโ€™d have to max out its bonus categories and spend less than $1,600 in Student Cash Backโ€™s bonus categories over the course of a year, which is unlikely.

Why we recommend Discover it Student Cash Back

The Discover it Student Cash Back card is the better choice for most people, offering greater earning potential unless you struggle to use the card in its bonus categories. With typical spending habits youโ€™ll likely come out ahead, even without maxing out its 5% categories.

Why you would still opt for Discover Student Chrome

Student Chrome is a solid card, and it may be appealing if you donโ€™t want to deal with rotating bonus categories. Its 2% rewards categoryโ€”restaurants and gas stationsโ€”rewards you at common places to spend money, If you value predictability with the rewards you earn, Student Chrome may be the right choice.

TIME Stamp: Two good cards with little to differentiate them

Both the Discover it Student Cash Back and Student Chrome cards are solid choices. The difference between them is in how they handle reward bonus categories. Though most people will earn slightly more with Student Cash Backโ€™s rotating categories, itโ€™s hard to go wrong with either.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is Discover it Student Cash Back the same as Discover it Student Chrome?

No. Student Cash Back offers 5% cash back on rotating purchase categories, while Discover Student Chrome gives 2% cash back on gas and restaurant purchases only.

Which is better: Discover Student Cash Back or Student Chrome?

Cardholders can earn slightly more with the Discover it Student Cash Back card because of its reward structure, which is different from that of the Student Chrome card. However, this only happens if you maximize all rewards possibilities. Some people may not want to worry about doing that. As otherwise the cards are the same, neither can really be considered better than the other.

What is the difference between Discover it Student and Discover it Secured?

The Discover it Student and Discover it Secured cards are very different. The Student cards are, per their name, for students, who usually have a limited credit history and need a card for beginners. They donโ€™t require any collateral to open them. The secured card is aimed at anyone who has a limited credit history or poor credit, not just students, and you must put down a cash security deposit to open one.

The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.

Featured Articles

best chase credit cards

Best Chase Credit Cards in December 2024

Chase offers numerous credit cards to meet the needs of consumers and small business owners. The cards offer valuable features, rewards, welcome bonuses, APR offers, and more based on your spending habits, goals, and budget.

credit cards

Best Credit Cards for December 2024

The best credit cards offer superior rewards and perks with reasonable fees or no fees at all. Find out which cards we recommend in 2024 and why.

best sign up bonus credit cards

Best Credit Card Sign-up Bonuses for December 2024

The best credit card sign-up bonuses can be worth $1,000 or more. Find out which cards offer them and how to qualify.

best credit cards for restaurants

Best Credit Cards for Restaurants and Dining in December 2024

If you want to earn rewards for dining, youโ€™ll need the right card. These are our recommendations for the best credit cards for restaurants.

1.3804.0+2.11.4