If you have the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) or legacy Chase Freedom®* in your wallet, the three rotating categories for Q4 have been announced.
From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, you’ll earn up to 7% cash back (or up to 7 points per dollar spent) on dining, grocery stores and American Red Cross donations.
You must activate your categories by Dec. 14 to earn at these rates (on up to $1,500 in combined spending across these categories; then 1% back or 1 point per dollar spent).
Here’s what you need to know about this quarter’s categories.
Last chance: Activate your Chase Freedom fourth-quarter categories
*This card is no longer available to new applicants. The information for the Chase Freedom has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Chase Freedom Q4 2026 categories
From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders will earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar spent) across these bonus categories (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases; then 1% back or 1 point per dollar spent):
Dining (Freedom Flex cardholders will earn an elevated 7% cash back on these purchases for Q4)
Grocery stores
American Red Cross donations
THE POINTS GUY
Dining already appeared as a bonus category earlier this year, so those who dine out often or order a lot of food delivery will appreciate a second chance to earn up to 7% cash back.
Grocery stores are one of the most common quarterly bonus categories on the Freedom cards, while this is the first time we’re seeing American Red Cross donations as a standalone category.
And extra good news for Freedom Flex cardholders: the card will stop charging foreign transaction fees from Sept. 20, making it an excellent choice for dining and grocery purchases both in the U.S. and abroad in Q4. (We’re unsure if legacy Freedom cardholders will enjoy the same privilege; check your Freedom card benefits guide in your online account after Sept. 20.)
Activate this quarter’s categories now to unlock their bonus-earning potential. You must activate by Dec. 14, but keep in mind that these categories will not go live until Oct. 1.
It’s simple to complete this process through your Chase account; just provide your last name, the last four digits of your card and your ZIP code.
Analyzing the Q4 bonus categories
The fourth quarter is a time when many people rack up plenty of charges from restaurants and grocery stores, between the holidays, end-of-year travel and gatherings with loved ones. Since dining and groceries are likely two of the highest spending categories for many Freedom cardholders, it’s nice to see them offered as bonus categories at the same time.
If you’re feeling in a charitable mood this holiday season, consider using your eligible Freedom card to donate to the American Red Cross.
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Here are the details:
Dining: If you’re a Freedom Flex cardholder, Chase has confirmed that you’ll be eligible for a boosted 7% cash back on dining purchases, including eligible takeout and delivery; legacy Freedom cardholders (no longer open to applicants) will earn 5% cash back. 7% cash back is among the highest rates available for dining purchases, so Freedom Flex cardholders should make a point to charge those purchases — both in the U.S. and internationally — to that card in Q4.
Grocery stores: Whether you’re buying weekly groceries, preparing for winter storms or gearing up for holiday meals, you’ll be able to get 5% cash back on your grocery purchases with your eligible Freedom card. (Note that Walmart, Target, wholesale clubs, discount stores and some drugstores are not eligible for the quarterly bonus.)
American Red Cross donations: If you decide to donate to the American Red Cross in Q4, you’ll earn 5% cash back on your donation. While some cards offer bonus rewards on charitable donations, it isn’t too common. That makes your eligible Freedom card a great pick for any donations to this particular charity. Make sure to make your donation directly through the Red Cross, otherwise your purchase may not code correctly for the 5% bonus cash back.
Remember that Chase limits the 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar spent) you can earn to the first $1,500 spent in combined bonus categories each quarter. After you reach the maximum, you’ll earn 1% back (or 1 point per dollar spent) on these purchases.
Chase Freedom rotating categories history
Year
Quarter
Bonus categories
2026
Q4
Dining (elevated 7% cash back for Freedom Flex cardholders), grocery stores and American Red Cross donations
Q3
EV charging, gas stations, select live entertainment, transit and United Way
Q2
Amazon, Chase Travel℠ (elevated 9% cash back for Freedom Flex cardholders), Feeding America and Whole Foods Market
Q1
American Heart Association, dining (elevated 7% cash back for Freedom Flex cardholders) and Norwegian Cruise Line
2025
Q4
<ul>
<li>Chase Travel (elevated 9% cash back for Freedom Flex cardholders), department stores and Old Navy</li>
<li>PayPal (December only)</li>
</ul>
Q3
Gas and EV charging stations, Instacart and select live entertainment
Q2
<ul>
<li>Amazon and select streaming services</li>
<li>Internet, cable and phone services (June only)</li>
</ul>
Q1
<ul>
<li>Select grocery stores, fitness club and gym memberships, self-care and spa services, and Norwegian Cruise Line purchases</li>
<li>Tax preparation and insurance (March only)</li>
</ul>
2024
Q4
McDonald’s (elevated 7% cash back for Freedom Flex cardholders), PayPal, pet shops and veterinarian services, and select charities
Q3
Gas and EV charging stations, movie theaters and select live entertainment
Q2
Hotels booked through Chase Travel, dining and Amazon (different earning rates depending on the card, i.e., 9%, 7% and 5%, respectively, for the Freedom Flex; 5% for all three categories for the Freedom)
Q1
Select grocery stores, fitness club and gym memberships, and self-care and spa services
2023
Q4
PayPal, select charities and wholesale clubs
Q3
Gas and EV charging stations, and select live entertainment
Q2
Amazon and Lowe’s
Q1
Grocery stores, gym memberships and fitness clubs, and Target
2022
Q4
PayPal and Walmart
Q3
Gas stations, rental cars, movie theaters and select live entertainment
Q2
Amazon and select streaming services
Q1
Grocery stores and eBay
2021
Q4
PayPal and Walmart
Q3
Grocery stores and select streaming services
Q2
Gas stations and home improvement stores
Q1
Wholesale clubs, select streaming services and internet, cable and phone services
2020
Q4
PayPal and Walmart
Q3
Amazon and Whole Foods Market
Q2
Grocery stores, gym memberships and fitness clubs, and select streaming services
Q1
Gas stations, internet, cable and phone services, and select streaming services
2019
Q4
Chase Pay, PayPal and department stores
Q3
Gas stations and select streaming services
Q2
Grocery stores and home improvement
Q1
Gas stations, drugstores and tolls
2018
Q4
Wholesale clubs, department stores and Chase Pay
Q3
Lyft, Walgreens and gas stations
Q2
Groceries, PayPal and Chase Pay
Q1
Mobile wallets, gas stations and internet, cable and phone service merchants
2017
Q4
Walmart and department stores
Q3
Restaurants and movie theaters
Q2
Grocery stores and drugstores
Q1
Gas stations and local commuter transportation
2016
Q4
Wholesale clubs, drugstores and department stores
Q3
Restaurants and wholesale clubs
Q2
Grocery stores and wholesale clubs
Q1
Gas stations and local commuter transportation
2015
Q4
Amazon, Zappos, Audible and Diapers.com
Q3
Gas stations and Kohl’s
Q2
Restaurants, Bed Bath & Beyond, H&M and Overstock
Q1
Grocery stores, movie theaters and Starbucks
2014
Q4
Amazon, Zappos and department stores
Q3
Gas stations and Kohl’s
Q2
Restaurants and Lowe’s
Q1
Gas stations, movie theaters and Starbucks
Chase Freedom bonus categories FAQs
How do rotating categories work?
Each quarter, Chase announces a set of bonus categories that earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) for the next three months (on up to $1,500 in combined spending).
Generally, these categories are announced halfway through the month before the new quarter starts, giving cardholders time to activate new categories. However, you can activate your categories until midway through the last month of the quarter.
The categories tend to repeat periodically. For instance, grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations are all common categories you’ll notice frequently pop up on the bonus calendar. So, depending on the categories and whether you can maximize them, these two cards can offer quite a nice chunk of cash back or bonus points over the year.
How much cash back can I earn each quarter?
Chase limits the 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) to the first $1,500 spent in combined bonus categories each quarter you activate the bonus.
While that may not sound like a lot, that cash back adds up over time. Maximizing the cash-back categories each quarter, you’ll earn $75 in cash back quarterly and up to $300 per year. For a no-annual-fee credit card, that’s a lot of value.
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Alternatively, suppose you have a card that earns transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees). In that case, you can combine the rewards from your Chase Freedom or Freedom Flex card with those you earn from your more premium Ultimate Rewards-earning card. By doing this, your rewards become fully transferable.
If you combine rewards this way, your $300 in bonus cash back would be worth 30,000 Ultimate Rewards points. TPG’s September 2026 valuations peg Chase points at 2.05 cents apiece, making the 30,000 points you can earn in a year worth $615.
How do I activate my 5% categories each quarter?
You can head to Chase’s site to activate your 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) categories for this quarter. You can also register through the Chase mobile app.
Here’s how to register:
Head to the Chase bonus activation page, or log in to your Chase account.
Enter your last name, the last four digits of your card number and your billing ZIP code. If you don’t have your card on hand, log in to your Chase account to retrieve these digits.
Click “Activate your 5%” to register.
If you have multiple Chase Freedom cards, make sure to register each one.
Save a screenshot of your activation in case of any issues later, though you should also receive a “You’re Activated!” confirmation email.
Can I have both the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Flex to double my earning potential?
Yes, you can have both cards. So, if you already have the Chase Freedom and want to add the Chase Freedom Flex to your wallet, you’re free to do so.
Remember that the original Freedom card is no longer open to new applicants. If you’d rather only have one, though, the Freedom Flex is available as a product change.
Of course, you’ll also want to ensure you’re eligible for a new Chase card.
How do I maximize my Freedom and Freedom Flex cards?
The most important thing is to activate your card to earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) each quarter in the specific categories and then use it for purchases in those categories.
You can set up a recurring reminder in your calendar or sign up for the TPG newsletter. (We send out a reminder when it’s time to activate every quarter, plus tips and tricks for how to maximize your card strategy and score some excellent award redemptions.)
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In addition to the rotating bonus categories, the Freedom Flex accrues 5% cash back on all other travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, 3% cash back on dining (including eligible delivery services) and 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.
Better yet, when paired with a Chase credit card that earns fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Freedom Flex’s 5% cash back effectively becomes 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar. You can learn all about this in our guide detailing the Chase Trifecta.
Bottom line
If you’re a Chase Freedom or Freedom Flex cardholder, your Q4 categories include dining, grocery stores and American Red Cross donations.
Most of these purchases will earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar spent) from October through December. The exception is dining purchases on the Freedom Flex, which will earn an elevated 7% cash back (or 7 points per dollar spent).
Activate these categories now so you don’t miss out on any bonus rewards when these categories go live. And remember that Chase limits your quarterly bonus category earnings to the first $1,500 of combined spending each quarter.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
