Both Chime and Discover Cashback Debit are strong contenders for a fee-free debit card. Discover edges out Chime with its straightforward 1% cashback, while Chime's SpotMe could be more appealing for those needing overdraft protection. Consider cashback preferences and overdraft needs when choosing.
| Attribute | Chime Debit Card | Discover Cashback Debit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | None | $0 |
| Minimum Balance Requirement | None | $0 |
| Cashback Rewards | Cashback rewards at select partner retailers | 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month (up to $30 per month or $360 per year). Rewards don't expire. Exclusions apply: ATM transactions, money orders, cash equivalents, cash over portions of point-of-sale transactions, P2P payments, and loan payments or account funding made with your debit card. Purchases using third-party payment accounts may also not be eligible. |
| Overdraft Protection/Fees | SpotMe fee-free overdraft service (requires $200+ in monthly direct deposits) | Balance+ allows overdrafts up to $200 on debit card purchases with no fees (requirements apply). Overdraft Protection covers checks, online bill payments, and ACH transfers by transferring funds from a linked Discover account. No overdraft or insufficient fund fees. |
| ATM Access/Fees | 50,000+ fee-free ATMs (MoneyPass, Allpoint, Visa Plus Alliance). $2.50 fee for out-of-network ATMs | Access to over 60,000 no-fee ATMs in the U.S. through the Allpoint and MoneyPass networks. Discover does not charge a fee, but out-of-network ATM owners may charge a fee. |
| Mobile Banking Features | Check balances, view transaction history, set up balance alerts, make transfers, deposit checks remotely. Supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay | Mobile check deposit, view account balances and activity, online bill pay, transfer funds, contact customer service, redeem rewards, find ATMs, manage alerts, Zelle integration. |
| Early Direct Deposit | Up to two days early | Early Pay allows access to funds from qualifying ACH direct deposits up to 2 days early (availability depends on when the payment initiator sends deposit information). |
| Credit Score Impact | Doesn't directly build credit; Chime Credit Builder Visa Credit Card helps build credit | Opening a Discover Cashback Debit account does not impact your credit score. |
| FDIC Insurance | Up to $250,000 through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC | Yes, Discover deposit accounts are FDIC-insured up to the maximum amount allowed by law ($250,000 per depositor, per ownership category). |
| Purchase Limits | Daily spending limit of $2,500 | Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. |
| International Transaction Fees | None | No foreign transaction fees. |
| Security Features (e.g., fraud monitoring) | Real-time transaction alerts, instant card blocking, two-factor authentication, fingerprint authentication, Visa's Zero Liability Policy | Fraud monitoring, ability to temporarily freeze your debit card, digital wallet access (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), FDIC insurance, chip technology on debit cards. |