Discover it Student Cash Back vs. Discover it Student Chrome
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Key takeaways
- While the Discover it® Student Cash Back and Discover it® Student Chrome are very similar, they offer different rewards structures, each one appealing to different types of cardholders.
- The Discover it® Student Cash Back card offers a higher cash back rate on alternating bonus spending categories.
- The Discover it® Student Chrome card offers a lower cash back rate, but the spending categories don't change throughout the year.
If you’re looking for a student credit card with competitive rewards and no annual fee, the Discover it® Student Cash Back and Discover it® Student Chrome are likely on your radar.
While these two cards are very similar, they differ in rewards structures. The Discover it® Student Cash Back card offers a higher cash back rate on bonus spending categories that alternate every quarter. On the other hand, the Discover it® Student Chrome card offers a lower cash back rate, but the spending categories don’t change throughout the year and may be better suited for some students.
Read on to find out which student credit card will give you higher rewards based on your spending.
Main details
| Features | Discover it® Student Chrome | Discover it® Student Cash Back |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | Cash back earnings are matched by Discover at the end of your first year | Cash back earnings are matched by Discover at the end of your first year |
| Rewards |
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| Intro APR |
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| Variable APR | 18.24% to 27.24% variable | 18.24% to 27.24% variable |
Discover it® Student Chrome vs. Discover it® Student Cash Back highlights
Welcome bonus winner: Tie
Under Discover’s Cashback Match program, both cards will match the cash back you earn at the end of your first 12 months of card ownership. Technically, the rewards here are the same, and the best card for you will depend on your spending and how much cash back you’ll earn from each card in the first place. However, the Discover it® Student Cash Back card has the potential to offer much higher rewards, and the welcome bonus doubles them.
Rewards rate winner: Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers 5 percent cash back on each quarter’s activated rotating categories (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases, then 1 percent) and 1 percent back on all other purchases. Spending categories from October to December 2023 are Amazon.com and Target.
Here’s a look at Discover’s cash back calendar for 2022 and 2023 so far to give you an idea of the kind of categories to expect:
| Quarter | 2022 categories | 2023 categories |
|---|---|---|
| Q1: January through March |
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| Q2: April through June |
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| Q3: July through September |
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| Q4: October through December |
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The Discover it® Student Cash Back will allow you to earn higher rewards when you spend in the listed categories. Given that these categories are common enough, and assuming that the categories in 2024 remain similar, there’s a good chance you’ll receive more from this card’s rewards compared to the Discover it® Student Chrome — as long as some of them apply to you.
On the other hand, the Discover it® Student Chrome offers 2 percent cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, and 1 percent back on all other purchases.
Overall, the Student Cash Back offers a higher rewards rate (5 percent, compared with 2 percent) for more diverse categories than strictly gas stations and restaurants. On top of that, the Student Cash Back rewards you for up to $1,500 in spending per quarter, while the Discover it® Student Chrome is capped at $1,000.
Annual fee winner: Tie
Both the Discover it® Student Cash Back and Discover it® Student Chrome have no annual fee.
Foreign transaction fee winner: Tie
Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them both a great choice when it comes to traveling outside of the U.S. — for example, if you plan on studying abroad one semester.
Which card earns more?
The card that earns you more cash back will depend on how much you spend in particular shopping categories. The Student Cash Back offers higher rewards, but the rewards are limited to certain categories and alternate quarterly.
Discover it® Student Chrome vs. Discover it® Student Cash Back spending example
Let’s say you spend $1,500 over the course of a quarter on everyday spending, and you use your Discover card for an additional $600 in grocery purchases, $450 on gas, $450 at restaurants and $200 on miscellaneous purchases.
Now, say you opened the Discover it® Student Cash Back in the beginning of January 2023. You’d receive $30 in rewards for your grocery shopping and $11 in rewards for all of your other spending including gas and restaurants over the course of three months. Overall, that’s $41 in cash back.
On the other hand, say you instead choose to open up the Discover it® Student Chrome. You’d earn $6 on grocery purchases, $9 on gas purchases, $9 on restaurant purchases and $2 on all other purchases over the course of three months. Overall, that’s $26 in cash back.
Of course, this is just one spending example. If you can afford to spend more and max out your card’s categories for a particular quarter, this is what you can expect to earn (not including any non-category purchases earning 1 percent back):
- Discover it® Student Cash Back — $75 in cash back
- Discover it® Student Chrome —$20 in cash back
Why should you get the Discover it® Student Chrome card?
Additional benefits
Discover it® Student Chrome benefits are light, but do include an on/off switch to freeze your account at any time through the mobile app. You can activate the switch if you misplace your card or to prevent future purchases.
You’ll also be able to activate Discover Identity Alerts to be informed whenever someone pulls your credit, so you can recognize potential fraud, and if your Social Security number ever appears on the dark web. Credit monitoring like this usually comes at an extra cost. You’ll receive free overnight shipping to any U.S. street address if you need to replace your card. Further, you can view your FICO credit score for free with this card.
Redemption options
With the Discover it® Student Chrome, you can redeem your cash back rewards at any time, and you don’t need to wait for a minimum amount to redeem them. Options include receiving cash back as a direct deposit or statement credit, gift cards, paying with your rewards at Amazon.com or via PayPal and donating rewards to charity.
Recommended credit score
One of the great things about the Discover it® Student Chrome is that no credit history is needed to be eligible, making it specifically geared toward students who don’t yet have a credit score.
Why should you get the Discover it® Student Cash Back?
Additional benefits
With the Discover it® Student Cash Back, you’ll also be able to view your FICO credit score for free. Other benefits include free credit monitoring services, which will alert you if your Social Security number ever appears on the dark web and every time someone pulls your credit.
Redemption options
Just like the Discover it® Student Chrome, you can redeem your cash back rewards at any time with no minimum amount required. The same redemption options apply.
Recommended credit score
The Discover it® Student Cash Back card does not require a credit history to be eligible.
The bottom line
The Discover it® Student Cash Back and Discover it® Student Chrome are two top choices for student cards and solid for students looking for a starter card to build their credit.
They both offer competitive cash back rewards rates, access to Discover’s Cashback Match program and no annual fee. The main difference comes down to whether you want to receive a higher rewards rate on rotating cash back categories or prefer a lower, but consistent rewards rate on restaurants and gas purchases.
Before you choose a student card, look to our recommended top student credit cards to find the best fit for your budget and goals.
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