Chase Freedom® quarterly rewards categories for Q4 2026

Another quarter, another chance for Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom® cardholders to rack up 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in bonus categories. If you have either of these cards in your wallet, don’t miss out on the opportunity to earn up to $75 in additional cash back.

Note: Chase Freedom® is no longer accepting new applications, but existing cardholders are still eligible to earn in the bonus categories. Information about Chase Freedom® has been collected by CardRatings and has not been provided or approved by the issuer of the card.

is_active has_review

Chase Freedom Flex

discontinued_disclaimer

auto-apply-btn

displayname

See Rates and Fees

Welcome Offer

bonus_miles_full

Rewards

points_per_dollar

Annual Fee

annual_fees

Credit Needed

credit_score_needed

Full review

What are the Chase quarterly rewards categories for the fourth quarter of 2026?

From October through December 2026, Chase will award 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in total purchases made in three categories:

• Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target)
• Dining
• American Red Cross®

Within each category, there are certain inclusions and exclusions according to Chase.

Grocery stores

Merchants in this category include supermarkets, merchants that offer a full-service grocery line of merchandise including a deli and bakery, as well as smaller grocery stores. Delivery service merchants will be included if they classify as a grocery store merchant. Some merchants that sell grocery items are not included in this category; for example, larger stores that sell a wide variety of goods and groceries, such as Walmart and Target, wholesale clubs, warehouse clubs, discount stores and some smaller merchants such as drugstores, and merchants that specialize in only a few grocery items. Purchases made at gas stations from merchants who also operate grocery stores are not included in this category.

Dining

This category’s merchants’ primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining, including fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments. Delivery and takeout services will be included if they classify as a restaurant merchant. Merchants that sell food and drinks located within facilities such as sports stadiums, hotels and casinos, theme parks, grocery and department stores will not be included in this category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in a restaurant category. Bakeries, caterers, meal kit delivery services, and gift card merchants are not included in the category.

American Red Cross®

To ensure your charitable donation is eligible, be sure to donate directly through American Red Cross official channels using this link.

Chase 5% cash back calendar

The full Chase 5% cash back calendar for 2026 is shown below, alongside previous years’ categories for comparison.

• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

How to activate Chase Freedom cash-back categories

To earn 5% cash back on each quarter’s bonus categories, you’ll need to activate the offer. Doing so is easy, though. Chase offers numerous ways to activate the bonus categories:

• Through your online account or the Chase bonus activation page
• In the Chase mobile app
• Via an email sent by Chase before the start of each new quarter
• By calling the number on the back of your card
• At any Chase Bank location
• When making a cash withdrawal at an ATM

The deadline for activating the Q4 2026 categories is Dec. 14, 2026. Once you have activated the offer, all eligible purchases from the quarter will receive the bonus cash back.

While you are activating your Chase categories, don’t forget to also do so in your Discover account if you have an eligible card. Discover also has quarterly bonus categories that must be activated.

How to redeem Chase credit card rewards

Once you have earned cash back – whether from the quarterly bonus categories or regular spending – you have several options for redemption:

• Cash: Use your cash back as a statement credit or have it deposited into your bank account.
• Shopping: Cash back can be used to make purchases at Amazon.com.
• Gift cards: Choose from gift cards for a variety of merchants.
• Travel: Cash back can be used to pay for travel booked through Chase Travel℠.

Chase Freedom offers the ability to combine rewards

One extra perk of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is the ability to combine rewards with other Chase cards. That’s because Chase Freedom Flex℠ rewards accumulate as Chase Travel℠ points, the same points that cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Ink family of small business cards earn.

That means the points you earn with the Chase Freedom account could be worth more if you redeem them under your Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve account. For more info about making these points work for you, check out our Chase Ultimate Rewards® points guide.