Chase Unveils New 5% Spending Categories for Freedom Flex®

The Chase Freedom Flex® has a fresh set of 5% spending categories that are set to go into effect on July 1, 2024.

The popular cash back credit card rotates the spending categories in which cardholders can earn 5% cash back every three months.

That means cardholders will have a new 5% cash back opportunity every quarter: January through March, April through June, July through September and October through December.

Let’s take a look at the opportunity for Quarter 3 of 2024:

Chase Freedom Flex®: What Is the Current 5% Cash Back Category?

Beginning July 1, 2024, Freedom Flex cardholders will be able to earn 5% cash back on the following spending categories:

• Gas Stations
• EV Charging
• Select Live Entertainment
• Movie Theaters

Activate the offer via your Chase account to earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in this quarter’s bonus categories.

To enjoy these enhanced cash back rewards, which can be earned from July 1 through September 30, cardholders must opt in on their Chase account by September 14.

For a purchase to qualify for the 5% bonus cash back, the merchant must submit charges to your credit card by the last day of the relevant calendar quarter.

If you hit the $1,500 spending in those categories for the three month period, you’ll be able to earn up to an additional $75 in cash back.

Spending done in the categories after that $1,500 cap is met will only earn at regular cash back rates. That can be as low as 1% back for many purchases with the Freedom Flex.

2024 Chase Freedom Flex® Bonus Calendar

• January through March: Grocery Stores, Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships, Self-Care & Spa Services
• April through June: Amazon.com, Hotels, Restaurants
• July through September: Gas Stations, EV Charging, Select Live Entertainment, Movie Theaters
• October through December: To be announced at a later date

Is the Chase Freedom Flex® Card Worth It?

Learn More → Annual Fee: $0.00 Intro APR Period on New Purchases: 15 months Intro APR Period on Balance Transfers: 15 months Variable APR: 20.49%–29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Bonus Offer: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Rewards Program Details: Earn 5% cash back on different categories like gas stations, grocery stores (excluding Target® and Walmart®) and select online merchants on up to $1,500 in total combined purchases each quarter you activate. Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM. Earn 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. Earn 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 1% on all other purchases. Cell Phone Coverage: Yes This Is the Card for You If: You want to lock in 3% back on restaurants and dining, enjoy rotating 5% back categories and get cell phone protection by paying your wireless bill with the card. Chase Freedom Flex® Review

If you’re not already a Freedom Flex cardholder, you may be wondering if it’s worth adding to your wallet.

The rotating 5% cash back opportunities are tempting, and we keep it on our list of best rewards credit cards thanks to the 3% cash back you can earn on dining without paying an annual fee.

Throw in an easy-to-earn welcome bonus and a 15-month 0% intro APR period, and you may be tempted to sign up.

Money expert Clark Howard generally recommends that you sign up for a no-annual-fee credit card that earns at least 2% cash back on everyday purchases. That way you can lock in a 2% discount on everything you buy.

This card doesn’t do that, but it could be a great secondary card to use in addition to your everyday spender. This would allow you to exceed the 2% cash back earnings in dining (3%), drugstores (3%), on select travel with Chase (5%) and through the 5% cash back offered via the rotating spending categories.

Do you have the Chase Freedom Flex® Card? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the Clark.com community.