Chase Freedom 5% Bonus Categories 2023

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These offers are no longer available on our site: Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Freedom Flex℠

For the third quarter of 2023, the Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ cards offer 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in the following bonus categories:

Gas
EV charging
Select live entertainment

After you hit the $1,500 cap, you’ll earn 1% back on purchases in these same categories.

If you’ve got a Chase Freedom® card (which is no longer available to new applicants), you’ll earn an unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases — but if you get the new Chase Freedom Flex℠ card, there are more opportunities to boost your cash back.

Either way, you’ll need to activate these bonus categories by Sept. 14, 2023, to qualify for the 5% cash back.

2023 Chase Freedom cash back calendar
2021 and 2022 Chase Freedom® cash back calendars
How to get the most out of your bonus categories
Credit cards to pair with Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠

2023 Chase Freedom cash back calendar

	Q1: Jan.– March	Q2: April–June	Q3: July–Sept.	Q4: Oct.–Dec.
2023	Grocery stores (excluding Walmart) Target Fitness clubs & gym memberships	Amazon.com Lowe’s	Gas EV charging Select live entertainment	TBD

2021 and 2022 Chase Freedom cash back calendars

	Q1: Jan.– March	Q2: April–June	Q3: July–Sept.	Q4: Oct.–Dec.
2022	Grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) EBay	Amazon.com Select streaming services	Gas stations Car rental agencies Movie theaters Select live entertainment	Walmart PayPal
2021	Wholesale clubs Internet, cable and phone services Select streaming services	Gas stations Home improvement stores	Grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) Select streaming services	Walmart PayPal

How to get the most out of your bonus categories

To really maximize your cash back earnings, you’ll have to keep track of the quarterly categories and prioritize your spending accordingly.

It’s also important to note that you won’t automatically earn the 5% cash back rate. You have to activate the bonus each quarter by the deadline specified on the Chase website. You can do this by email, phone, online or at a physical Chase branch. And if you’re a Chase checking customer, you can activate at an ATM as well.

The deadline to activate your 5% cash back for this quarter is June 14, 2023. As long as you activate by the deadline, you’ll be eligible for 5% cash back on qualifying purchases you made dating back to the beginning of the quarter. But if you fail to activate in time, you’ll miss out.

Credit cards to pair with Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠

Here are a few cards that could pair well with the Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ cards to help you maximize your rewards potential.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Get more for your points

If you’re looking to maximize your rewards, you can transfer any cash back points you earn from the Chase Freedom® or Chase Freedom Flex℠ cards to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card. This lets you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards to get 50% more value.

Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card to learn more.

Citi Double Cash® Card: Get more for all other purchases

From our partner

Annual Fee

$0
Intro Purchase APR

N/A
Intro Balance Transfer APR

0% for 18 Months
Regular Purchase APR

19.24% – 29.24%* Variable
Regular Balance Transfer APR

19.24% – 29.24%* Variable

Additional Rates and Fees

Cash Advance Rate	29.99%* Variable
Cash Advance Fee	5%, Min: $10
Late Fee	Up to $41
Penalty APR	Up to 29.99% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee	Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 min) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 min).
Foreign Transaction Fee	3%
Return Payment Fee	Up to $41

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.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Rates and fees

^*See the online provider's credit card application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button, you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the provider's website.

See details, rates & fees

With the Citi Double Cash® Card, you can earn 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% cash back for purchases and 1% when you pay off those purchases.

This is a great card for purchases outside of the Chase Freedom bonus categories, as well as after you’ve exhausted your quarterly 5% cash back earnings rate.

Read our review of the Citi Double Cash® Card to learn more.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Earn consistent high rewards for everyday purchases

With the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, you earn 3% cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1% after), 3% cash back on purchases made at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year (1% after you hit the cap), and 3% back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). You’ll also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

This is a great card to use for everyday purchases when the Chase Freedom categories don’t cover supermarkets, gas stations or department stores.

Read our review of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express to learn more.

About the author: Tim Devaney is a personal finance writer and credit card expert at Credit Karma. He’s a longtime journalist who prides himself on being a good storyteller who can explain complex information in an easily digestible wa… Read more.

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Chase Freedom® 5% cash back bonus categories: 2023 calendar

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