Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories

Last reviewed: September 22, 2026. Freedom Flex quarterly bonus categories, activation dates, merchant eligibility and spending limits may change. Check Chase's current quarterly calendar before planning purchases around a bonus category.

The Chase Freedom Flex® offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases across selected bonus categories each quarter after activation.

The categories change throughout the year, so understanding activation dates, spending limits and merchant exclusions is important when estimating the rewards a purchase may earn.

How the quarterly 5% bonus works

Freedom Flex cardholders must activate the quarterly bonus offer to earn the accelerated rate.

The 5% rate applies to up to $1,500 in combined eligible purchases across that quarter's bonus categories. The bonus structure consists of the standard 1% base reward plus an additional 4% quarterly bonus.

Transactions must also be classified by the merchant under an eligible category. A store that sells products associated with a category may not qualify if its merchant code is different.

2026 Freedom Flex quarterly categories

January through March 2026

• Norwegian Cruise Line;
• Dining;
• American Heart Association.

April through June 2026

• Amazon;
• Chase Travel;
• Feeding America.

July through September 2026

• Gas stations;
• Public transit;
• EV charging;
• Select live entertainment;
• United Way.

As of this review, the July–September earning period runs through September 30, 2026, but Chase lists its activation period as closed.

October through December 2026

• Grocery stores, excluding Walmart and Target;
• Dining;
• Eligible American Red Cross donations.

These Q4 categories apply from October 1 through December 31, 2026 after activation. Chase currently states that cardholders have until December 14, 2026 to activate the offer.

Dining can earn up to 7% during Q4 2026

Dining is already a permanent 3% Freedom Flex category, and it is also one of the activated Q4 2026 quarterly categories.

Chase specifically states that the two offers can apply simultaneously during Q4 after activation.

The calculation is 1% base cash back, plus 4% from the quarterly category, plus an additional 2% from the standard dining benefit. This produces up to 7% total cash back on eligible dining purchases while the applicable quarterly spending limit remains available.

Q4 grocery exclusions

For Q4 2026, Walmart and Target are specifically excluded from the grocery store category.

Wholesale clubs, warehouse clubs, discount stores, drugstores and certain specialty food merchants may also not qualify as grocery stores depending on their merchant classification.

Some eligible grocery delivery services may qualify when the merchant processes the transaction under a grocery store merchant category.

American Red Cross donations

Eligible donations made directly through qualifying American Red Cross channels are included in the Q4 2026 5% category after activation.

Consumers should verify the approved donation method through Chase before assuming that a payment made through a third-party platform will qualify for the bonus.

Preview: Q1 2027 categories

Chase has already announced the first Freedom Flex categories for January through March 2027:

• Grocery stores, excluding Walmart and Target;
• Top streaming services.

Chase currently states that activation for the Q1 2027 categories begins December 15, 2026.

Do not assume categories follow the same pattern every year

Past Freedom categories can provide historical context, but they do not guarantee which categories Chase will select in a future quarter.

For example, grocery stores, gas stations, travel merchants or online retailers may appear in some years or quarters and not in others.

The current Chase calendar should therefore be used instead of planning future spending based on historical category patterns.

Keep the $1,500 quarterly limit in mind

The activated 5% rate currently applies to up to $1,500 in combined eligible purchases across all of the quarter's bonus categories.

That is a combined quarterly limit rather than a separate $1,500 limit for each category.

Cardholders can monitor progress through their Chase account instead of increasing purchases simply to reach the maximum.

Frequently asked questions

Do Freedom Flex quarterly categories require activation?

Yes. Cardholders must activate the quarterly offer to receive the 5% bonus on qualifying purchases.

What is the quarterly spending limit?

The current 5% quarterly rate applies to up to $1,500 in combined eligible purchases across the activated bonus categories.

What are the Q4 2026 categories?

Chase has announced grocery stores excluding Walmart and Target, dining and eligible American Red Cross donations for October through December 2026.

How much can dining earn in Q4 2026?

After activation, eligible Q4 2026 dining purchases can currently earn up to 7% total cash back because the quarterly bonus and standard dining bonus can apply together, subject to the applicable spending limits and terms.

Final considerations

The Freedom Flex quarterly program can provide higher cash-back rates when the announced categories overlap with normal spending.

The important factors are activation, merchant eligibility and the combined $1,500 quarterly spending limit.

For the latest quarterly calendar, review the official Chase Freedom Flex information.

This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Bonus categories, activation periods, merchant eligibility and rewards rates may change.