These offers are no longer available on our site: Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Sapphire Reserve®
For the fourth quarter of 2021, 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:
- Walmart
- Paypal
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 Dec. 14, 2021, to qualify for the 5% cash back and earn up to $75 in bonus cash back rewards.
The categories for the first quarter of 2022 have not yet been announced, but they should be available for activation before the beginning of the quarter.
- 2021 Chase Freedom® cash back calendar
- 2018, 2019 and 2020 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℠
2021 Chase Freedom® cash back calendar
| Q1: Jan.– March | Q2: April–June | Q3: July–Sept. | Q4: Oct.–Dec. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2021 |
|
|
|
|
2018, 2019 and 2020 Chase Freedom® cash back calendars
Here’s a look at bonus categories from 2018, 2019 and 2020.
| Q1: Jan.–March | Q2: April–June | Q3: July–Sept. | Q4: Oct.–Dec. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
2018 |
|
|
|
|
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 Dec. 14, 2021. 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
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) and 2% cash back on purchases made at U.S. gas stations. 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.