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Key takeaways
- The Chase Freedom Flex®* offers quarterly rotating bonus categories through which cardholders can earn 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 in the categories after activation, then 1% back).
- Categories change every three months, and cardholders have the ability to activate up until the 14th day of the third month in the quarter.
- Though Chase doesn’t release its bonus categories for the year ahead of time, you can view past years’ categories to get a good idea of what to expect.
Chase has long been a top issuer of cash back credit cards that earn cardmembers rewards on a diverse range of products and services. The no annual fee Chase Freedom Flex, in particular, earns:
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- 3% cash back on dining and drugstores.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
From January through March 2026, Freedom Flex cardholders can earn 5% cash back on dining, on purchases made at Norwegian Cruise Line and on donations made to the American Heart Association. Earnings cap at $1,500 in combined quarterly spending, then cardholders can earn 1% cash back. Dining earnings will revert to its standard 3% cash back.
Freedom Flex 2026 cash back bonus calendar
The first step to maximizing your bonus category rewards is keeping up with the Freedom Flex rewards calendar. There are new categories every quarter, and Chase announces them shortly before the quarter begins.
Here’s a look at Chase’s bonus categories for 2025 and 2026, so you can get an idea of what to expect each year:
| 2025 categories | 2026 categories | |
|---|---|---|
| Q1: January to March | – Grocery stores – Fitness clubs – Hair, nails and spa services – Norwegian Cruise Line |
– Dining – Norwegian Cruise Line – American Heart Association |
| Q2: April to June | – Amazon – Select streaming services |
TBD |
| Q3: July to September | – Gas stations – EV charging stations – Select live entertainment – Instacart |
TBD |
| Q4: October to December | – Chase Travel – Department stores – Old Navy – PayPal (for the month of December only) |
TBD |
How to activate Chase Freedom bonus categories
Bonus categories must be activated each quarter to receive 5% cash back, and you can ensure they’re activated in a number of ways. For 2026 Q1, the activation window is open through March 14, 2026.
One of the easiest activation methods is to use the Chase Mobile app. You can also activate rewards through your account hub, by phone or email or at a Chase branch. If you need a reminder to activate, try setting one in your calendar to make sure you don’t miss out on any rewards categories.
Once you’re activated, you’ll earn 5% cash back on all category purchases during the quarter — even those made before activation that quarter — up to the $1,500 quarterly purchase maximum, then 1% back.
Maximize this quarter’s bonus categories
The Q1 2026 Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories are dining, Norwegian Cruise Line and American Heart Association. Here’s how to maximize your rewards this quarter:
- Plan your summer travel in advance. Freedom Flex cardholders can earn 5% cash back on purchases made at Norwegian Cruise Line, including cruises themselves. Thinking of taking the family on a cruise this summer? This is a perfect opportunity to get ahead of summer travel planning and earn a decent amount of cash back in the process.
- Treat your inner foodie. The dining bonus category comes at a great time with popular dining-out holidays such as Valentine’s Day coming up. Although this card already earns a decent amount of cash back in this category (3%), the extra boost may be what you need to make that reservation.
- Qualify for a 2027 tax deduction. An interesting addition to the bonus categories this quarter is the American Heart Association. Donations will earn the boosted 5% cash back rate, which is great if you donate to this organization already or want to get ahead on qualifying for a tax deduction next year.
Other Chase Freedom Flex benefits
Freedom Flex cardholders have access to the following perks, among others:
- Travel insurance. With your Freedom Flex, you’ll receive both trip cancellation and interruption insurance, along with travel and emergency assistance services.
- DashPass membership. Your first six months of membership to DoorDash’s delivery service are free. If you frequently order in, the savings from $0 delivery fees can quickly add up. Note, this offer must be activated by Dec. 31, 2027.
- Lyft earnings. You can earn up to 2% cash back on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027 when you use your Freedom Flex card.
How to redeem rewards with Freedom Flex
In order to redeem rewards, your account must be open and in good standing. Rewards are technically tracked as Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and each dollar earned in cash back is equal to 100 points. Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit or direct deposit into an eligible checking or savings account. Your cash back rewards should show up immediately in your credit card account once redeemed.
When you check your statement, you’ll see bonus category rewards listed as something like “Bonus from Q1 5% category.”
Keep in mind:
As long as your account is open and in good standing, your points won’t expire.
Note that you can also redeem your points for travel via Chase Travel, for gift cards and shopping with points at Amazon.com.
If you want to truly maximize your Freedom Flex rewards, you should combine them under a premium card and then transfer your points to one of Chase’s travel partners. Doing so can make your points worth an average of 2.0 cents each, according to Bankrate’s latest valuations.
The bottom line
The Chase Freedom Flex is a stellar cash back option if you have good to excellent credit and plan to use your card to make a variety of purchases. Or, check out Bankrate’s picks for the best cash back credit cards to see whether there’s another cash back card that would be a better fit for you.
*Information about Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
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