If you have the Chase Freedom Flex® — or the original Chase Freedom® (no longer open to new applicants) — you probably know one of its best perks is the quarterly rotating 5% cash-back categories.
Each quarter, Chase selects a few spending categories where you can earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases (then 1% after that). That’s up to $75 in bonus rewards every quarter, or $300 per year if you max it out.
Let’s take a look at the official 2025 calendar so far — and what you can do to make the most of it.
2025 Chase Freedom 5% Calendar
Here are Chase Freedom’s 2025 cash-back categories so far 👇
Q1: January – March 2025
Grocery stores
Fitness clubs and gym memberships
Hair, nails, and spa services
Norwegian Cruise Line
Activation deadline: March 14
Q2: April – June 2025
Amazon
Select streaming services
Activation deadline: June 14 (activate now!)
Q3: July – September 2025
TBA — Announcing on June 15
Activation deadline: September 14
Q4: October – December 2025
TBA — Announcing on September 15
Activation deadline: December 14
💡 Pro Tip: Chase usually reveals new categories around two weeks before the quarter starts, so keep an eye out mid-March, June, September, and December.
How to Activate Chase’s 5% Bonus Categories
Here’s the thing: You must activate your bonus categories every quarter to start earning that 5% — it's not automatic.
Here’s how to activate:
Log in to your Chase account online or via the mobile app
Navigate to your Freedom card
Click “Activate 5%” or check your dashboard for a category reminder
It takes 10 seconds — seriously. Set a recurring calendar reminder or sign up for Chase’s email alerts so you never miss out.
Which Cards Earn 5% Bonus Cash Back?
Chase’s 5% rotating cash-back categories apply to:
Chase Freedom® (not accepting new applications)
If you’re rocking the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you won’t get the rotating categories… but you do get a flat 1.5% back on everything (plus the same 5% on travel through Chase Travel℠, and 3% on dining and drugstores).
So yes, both “Freedom” cards sound similar, but they play a different rewards game. See our side-by-side comparison to find out which Freedom card is right for you.
How to Maximize Chase’s 5% Bonus Categories
The key to crushing these bonus categories is pretty simple:
Know the calendar: Keep track of the new categories and activation deadlines
Plan ahead: Time your grocery runs, Amazon hauls, or travel bookings accordingly
Use the right card: Only eligible purchases with your Freedom card will earn 5%
Let’s talk about your best strategy moving forward.
Turning 5% Cash Back Into Travel Rewards
While the Freedom cards technically earn cash back, that cash back comes in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. The beauty is that if you also have a Chase travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can combine your points and convert that cash back into transferrable points.
Why does that matter? Because full-fledged Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to travel partners like World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, and Air Canada Aeroplan, giving you way more value than a flat 1 cent per point.
A $75 grocery haul during Q1 could help you earn 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points, which could potentially redeem a free night at a Hyatt property or a solid flight redemption.
Here’s how it breaks down:
If you only have a Freedom card: You’re earning 5% cash back (aka five points per dollar), but you can only redeem at a fixed rate — one cent per point for things like statement credits, gift cards, or travel through Chase.
If you pair your Freedom card with a Sapphire Preferred or Ink Preferred: Your 5% back turns into five fully transferrable Ultimate Rewards points per dollar with redemptions often worth 1.25 to 2+ cents per point when used right.
Other Cards Worth a Look
Simply put, Chase doesn’t have a monopoly on 5% cash-back cards. Here are two other options that’ll help you stack some rewards:
Discover it® Cash Back: Also offers rotating 5% categories (and no activation required in some cases). Plus, Discover matches all cash back earned in your first year, which can really make a difference.
Citi Custom Cash® Card: This one auto-adjusts to your top eligible spending category each billing cycle and gives you 5% back on up to $500 per month and is very, very simple.
FAQs
When does Chase announce the Freedom bonus categories?
Chase typically announces the new quarter’s categories about two weeks before the quarter starts, so look for updates in mid-March, June, September, and December.
Does Chase cash back expire?
Nope! Your cash back (and Ultimate Rewards points) never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.
How much can I earn with the Freedom bonus categories?
You’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter. That’s a max of $75 per quarter or $300 per year in bonus earnings.
Do I lose rewards if I don’t activate on time?
If you don’t activate the bonus categories during the quarter, you won’t earn the 5% bonus on those purchases.
What is the Chase 5/24 rule?
Chase’s 5/24 rule is an unofficial (but very real) Chase rule. If you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards across any bank in the last 24 months, you’ll likely be denied for a new Chase card, even if you have solid credit.
Bottom Line
The rotating 5% categories on the Chase Freedom Flex® are one of the easiest ways to boost your rewards on everyday spending.
When paired with a Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred, you can turn that cash back into powerful travel points — potentially unlocking hundreds of dollars in value from purchases you were already planning to make.
So activate your categories, time your spending, and start earning like a pro. Your next trip might just be hiding in your grocery bill.
