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Chase has announced its bonus categories for the third quarter of 2024: gas stations, EV charging, select live entertainment and movie theaters.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom® are known for their rotating bonus categories, which let cardholders earn 5% (on up to $1,500) on everyday purchases throughout the year. To earn the elevated rate on the cards’ Q3 bonus categories, you’ll need to activate the categories by September 14. If you don’t, you’ll only earn the standard 1% on those purchases. It’s worth the effort, though, as you’ll earn $75 cash back for the quarter if you max out the spend cap.
The Chase Freedom® card is no longer open to new applicants as of Sept. 14, 2020.
| Quarter | Chase bonus categories | Activation deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Q1: January through March |
| March 14 |
| Q2: April through June |
| June 14 |
| Q3: July through September |
| September 14 |
| Q4: October through December | Announcing September 15 | December 14 |
What’s included in the gas stations category? This category includes fuel purchased at the pump or inside gas stations. Merchants who don’t specialize in automobile fuel — including truck stops, boat marinas and oil and propane distributors — are not included.
What’s included in the EV charging category? This category includes EV charging services that can be paid for at a charging station, with an attendant or via a mobile app or subscription. It does not include residential EV charging or EV charging equipment.
What’s included in the live entertainment category? In addition to concerts, this category includes sporting events, zoos and aquariums, theatrical productions, museums, tourist attractions and exhibits, amusem*nt parks, circuses, carnivals, bands and entertainers. Just note that purchases must be made directly with the venue — or with a ticket agency selling on behalf of the venue — to qualify.
What’s included in the movie theaters category? This category includes ticket purchases made at both traditional and drive-in movie theaters. Other in-theater purchases — like food, beverages and merchandise — may not be eligible.
Past Chase cash back calendars
Chase announces its new bonus categories every quarter, so it’s tough to predict which categories we’ll see in the remainder of 2024. However, past Chase calendars provide hints, as Chase tends to repeat categories throughout the years. For example, grocery stores, gas stations and PayPal were included in each of the past three years.
| Quarter | 2021 categories | 2022 categories | 2023 categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1: January through March | Wholesale clubs, select streaming services and internet, cable and phone services | Grocery stores and eBay | Grocery stores (excluding Walmart), Target, fitness clubs and gym memberships |
| Q2: April through June | Gas stations and home improvement stores | Amazon.com and select streaming services | Lowe’s and Amazon.com |
| Q3: July through September | Grocery stores and select streaming services | Gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters and select live entertainment | Gas stations, EV charging and select live entertainment |
| Q4: October through December | Walmart and PayPal | Walmart and PayPal | PayPal, wholesale clubs and select charities |
Which Chase cards offer rotating bonus categories?
The only Chase cards offering the 5% cash back bonus are the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom® (no longer accepting new applicants). The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sets itself apart from other rotating bonus category cards by offering tiered rewards on other purchases instead of the standard 1% flat rate.
In addition to 5% cash back on activated bonus categories, you’ll earn:
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 3% back at restaurants (including take-out and eligible deliveries) and drugstores
- 1% back on all other purchases
You’ll also get a 15-month intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, as well as the chance to earn a valuable sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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Chase Freedom Flex℠*
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Chase Freedom Flex℠*
0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months
20.49% - 29.24% variable
$0
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 Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
- Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 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 Ultimate Rewards®, 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 unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
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*The information related to the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Chase gives you several ways to activate its categories — the easiest ways are online or through the Chase mobile app. You can also set up email reminders in your Chase account, allowing you to activate with just one click.
Other activation methods include:
- Calling the number on the back of your card and activating by phone
- Visiting any Chase bank and activating with a personal banker
- Activating via an ATM while making a withdrawal
Making the most of Chase’s 5% Bonus
With these helpful tips, you can maximize your rewards and make the most of Chase’s 5% bonus:
Activate the bonus categories ASAP
While Chase gives you until the 14th of the last month of the quarter to activate, it’s best to opt in as soon as the new bonus categories are announced. That way, you won’t have to worry about remembering the deadline and can get a head start on planning out your purchases.
Pair your Chase card with another cash back card
Want to earn more than 1% on regular purchases? You can double your earnings by pairing your eligible Chase card with a 2% cash back card. For example, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card lets you earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Plus, you’ll earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Max out the $1,500 spending cap
To make the most of the 5% bonus rate, you should try to max out the $1,500 spending cap each quarter. If you do, you’ll net $300 in bonus cash back for the year. However, you should still prioritize paying off your balance each month and keeping your credit utilization ratio at or below 30%.
While it’s marketed as a cash back card, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. In addition to being more valuable than other credit card points, Chase points are also very flexible. They can be redeemed for any of the following:
- Cash deposited into your bank account
- Statement credits
- Chase Experiences
- Amazon.com and PayPal purchases
- Merchandise
- Travel
- Gift cards
- Transfer to travel partners
According to our estimates, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for cash back. However, when you transfer your points to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners, they can be worth around 2 cents each.
Chase cash back calendar vs. Discover cash back calendar
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom® aren’t the only cards offering 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories — some of the best Discover credit cards boast a similar rewards program. The Discover it® Cash Back and Discover it® Student Cash Back also let you earn bonus cash back (on up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%) on different categories each quarter (activation required).
The Discover cash back calendar for the third quarter of 2024 includes Walmart and grocery stores. For the first time ever, Walmart purchases – both in store and online – will earn 5% cash back. But as you can see in the table below, Chase and Discover tend to share similar categories throughout the year:
| Quarter | 2023 Chase categories | 2023 Discover categories |
|---|---|---|
| Q1: January through March | Grocery stores (excluding Walmart), Target, fitness clubs and gym memberships | Grocery stores, drugstores and select streaming services |
| Q2: April through June | Lowe’s and Amazon.com | Restaurants and wholesale clubs |
| Q3: July through September | Gas stations, EV charging and select live entertainment | Gas stations and digital wallets |
| Q4: October through December | PayPal, wholesale clubs and select charities | Amazon.com and Target |
The biggest difference between the two programs is that Chase’s activation is retroactive, while Discover’s is not. With Discover, you won’t earn a bonus on purchases made prior to activation. For example, if you don’t activate the first-quarter bonus categories until March 14, any eligible purchases made before that date will only earn the standard 1%.
However, Chase lets you earn the elevated rate retroactively — as long as you activate by the quarterly deadline. So as long as you activate the first-quarter categories by March 14, you’ll still earn 5% on eligible purchases you made earlier in the quarter. Just be aware that you’ll only earn 1% on those previous purchases if you activate after March 14.
How Does LendingTree Get Paid? LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Citi Custom Cash® Card*
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Citi Custom Cash® Card*
0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
$0
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025
- 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.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
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*The information related to the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
A great alternative to the Chase and Discover cards, the Citi Custom Cash® Card provides cardholders with a much simpler way to earn 5% cash back. You’ll automatically earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
Eligible 5% categories include:
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Select travel
- Select transit
- Select streaming services
- Drugstores
- Home improvement stores
- Fitness clubs
- Live entertainment
Like the Chase Freedom Flex℠, the Citi Custom Cash® Card also comes with a 15-month intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. Plus, you can 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.
The information related to the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom®, Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, Citi Custom Cash® Card and Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
