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One of the highlights of the Chase Freedom Flex® is its quarterly bonus categories. By staying up to date on the Chase Freedom cash back calendar, you'll know where to shop to earn bonus cash back.
By activating your card's quarterly bonus categories, you earn 5% back on up to $1,500 of combined purchases in those categories. These rotating bonus categories are also available if you have the Chase Freedom, although that card isn't open to new applicants anymore.
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
20.49%-29.24% Variable
Rewards 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
5% cash back offer
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
$200 bonus
This Chase card is one of our favorites, and with good reason. You earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, alongside other standout perks (and at least 1% on all purchases). Plus, this one comes without an annual fee and with a generous welcome bonus.
Here's the Chase Freedom cash back calendar for 2023:
Quarter | Bonus categories | Activation deadline |
---|---|---|
January through March | Grocery stores (excluding Walmart), Target, and fitness club and gym memberships | March 14, 2023 |
April through June | Amazon.com and Lowe's | June 14, 2023 |
July through September | Select live entertainment, gas stations, and EV charging stations | Sept. 14, 2023 |
October through December | Wholesale clubs, select charities, and PayPal | Dec. 14, 2023 |
There are several ways to activate rotating bonus categories with Chase. You can do so online through your Chase account, by email, by phone, through the Chase mobile app, at a Chase bank, or at a Chase ATM (if you're a Chase checking customer). You can also do so online by visiting Chase Bonus and entering:
As long as you activate by the deadline, all your eligible purchases for the quarter will earn the 5% cash back rate. That's competitive with the best credit card offers. If you have multiple Chase Freedom credit cards with rotating bonus categories, you must go through the activation process with each one.
Since 5% is a high rewards rate, try to make the most of it. If you spend $500 per month in those bonus categories, you'll reach the $1,500 spending cap for the quarter and maximize your credit card rewards. That would be worth $75 cash back per quarter. If you can do that every quarter, that's $300 in bonus cash back per year.
Here are a few pointers to help you take full advantage of these rotating credit card rewards:
LEARN MORE: Definitive Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
The Chase Freedom Flex® is known for its rotating bonus categories. One of the advantages it has over its predecessor, the discontinued Chase Freedom, is that it also has several fixed bonus categories:
If rotating bonus categories aren't your thing, it's worth mentioning that Chase offers a great alternative in the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. It has the same fixed bonus categories. Instead of rotating bonus categories, it offers a cash back rate of 1.5% on non-bonus purchases, higher than the Chase Freedom Flex® rate of 1% on those purchases.
SEE MORE TOP PICKS: Best Chase Credit Cards
Here are some other questions we've answered:
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
20,000 ThankYou® Points Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Up to 2% cash back 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
The quarterly Chase Freedom bonus categories for 2023 are:
The Chase Freedom was discontinued on Sept. 15, 2020, but there are two credit cards currently available in the Chase Freedom line:
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