Chase Freedom 5% Categories Calendar: The Most Generous Rewards in Rotating Categories
Updated November 27, 2024 at 6:22 pm
All information about the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by Newsweek Vault. The Chase Freedom Flex® is no longer available through Newsweek Vault.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a wallet staple of savvy consumers, as the card offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in its featured, activated bonus categories. The Chase Freedom 5% calendar is published quarterly and frequently includes usable categories like grocery stores, Amazon, big box retailers, gas stations and home improvement stores—categories that most consumers can easily maximize.
As a cardholder, you’ll need to activate your Chase Freedom bonus categories to earn 5% cash back. Chase updates the Chase Freedom calendar around the 15th of the month prior to the start of the quarter, giving you plenty of time to plan how to maximize your rewards.
Our Methodology Understanding the value of cash back is simple, but valuing airline miles or points redeemable for travel requires digging a bit deeper. At Newsweek, we’ve developed a common language to talk about the value of points and miles: our valuations.
Our valuations translate points into dollars and cents in a way that reflects reality. They are based on actual data across a balance of accessible redemption options, not just the aspirational first and business class redemptions that require a PhD in miles and points to book. The upshot is that our valuations help you understand the actual value you can easily get from your miles and points.
What Is the Chase Freedom Flex® Card?
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a no-annual-fee rotating bonus category card that offers 5% cash back on purchases in categories that change every three months (on up to $1,500 in purchases made in activated bonus categories, after which you earn 1% back). In addition to rewards on rotating categories, the Chase Freedom Flex offers additional categories for select travel purchases, dining and drugstore purchases, plus essential benefits like extended warranty and purchase protection.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 on purchases in activated, rotating bonus categories
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 5% back on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 3% back on dining, including eligible takeout and delivery services
- 3% back on drugstore purchases
- 1% back on all other purchases
Chase Freedom Flex®
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Chase Freedom Calendar 2024
| Q1 (Jan. 1 through March 31) | – Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target) – Fitness clubs and gym memberships – Self-care and spa services |
| Q2 (April 1 through June 30) | – Restaurants – Amazon.com – Hotels |
| Q3 (July 1 through Sept. 30) | – Gas stations – EV charging – Select live entertainment – Movie theaters |
| Q4 (Oct. 1 through Dec. 31) | – McDonald’s – PayPal – Pet Shops and Vet Services – Select Charities |
Past Chase Freedom Calendars
Chase Freedom Calendar From 2023
| Q1 (Jan. 1 through March 31) | – Grocery stores (excluding Walmart) – Target – Fitness clubs and gym memberships |
| Q2 (April 1 through June 30) | – Lowe’s – Amazon.com |
| Q3 (July 1 through Sept. 30) | – Gas stations – EV charging – Select live entertainment |
| Q4 (Oct. 1 through Dec. 31) | – Wholesale clubs – Select charities – PayPal |
Chase Freedom Calendar From 2022
| Q1 (Jan. 1 through March 31) | – Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target) – eBay |
| Q2 (April 1 through June 30) | – Amazon.com – Select streaming services |
| Q3 (July 1 through Sept. 30) | – Gas stations – Car rentals – Movie theaters – Select live entertainment |
| Q4 (Oct. 1 through Dec. 31) | – Walmart – PayPal |
Chase Freedom Calendar From 2021
| Q1 (Jan. 1 through March 31) | – Wholesale clubs – Select streaming services – Phone, cable and internet services |
| Q2 (April 1 through June 30) | – Gas stations – Home improvement stores |
| Q3 (July 1 through Sept. 30) | – Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target) – Select streaming services |
| Q4 (Oct. 1 through Dec. 31) | – Walmart – PayPal |
Who Is the Chase Freedom Flex Best For?
The Chase Freedom Flex is best for a person who wants to earn maximum rewards on everyday categories and is willing to swap out their everyday card based on the Chase Freedom calendar’s rotating bonus categories.
Even outside of the card’s 5% categories, the Chase Freedom Flex offers excellent rewards among credit cards with no annual fee. If you frequently dine out or order food from an eligible delivery service, you’ll enjoy 3% cash back.
Finally, the Chase Freedom Flex can be a good choice to use for purchases of durable goods like electronics, appliances and furniture. The card’s extended warranty protection extends the manufacturer’s warranty of eligible items you purchase by up to an additional year. Plus, the card’s purchase protection can protect the items you buy against damage or theft for up to 120 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Chase Freedom Flex Offer Cellphone Protection?
The Chase Freedom Flex offers cellphone protection that can cover the cost to repair or replace your phone if it is damaged or stolen. The card’s cellphone protection covers up to two claims ($800 per claim; $1,000 per year) each 12-month period. Note, each claim is subject to a $50 deductible.
When Do I Need To Activate My Chase Freedom Flex Categories?
You must activate your Chase Freedom Flex categories by the 14th day of the last month in the quarter. For example, to activate your Q4 (October through December) categories, you must activate your bonus by December 14, 2024.
Will Purchases I Make Before I Activate My Bonus Get 5% Cash Back?
You will earn 5% cash back on all bonus category purchases you make during the quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%) regardless of when you activate your cash back categories. You must activate your bonus categories by the 14th day of the last month of the quarter.
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