Here’s the Chase Freedom 5% cash-back calendar so you can plan your spending

Chase has just announced the bonus 5% cash-back categories for the second quarter of 2024. The categories for the rest of the year will be released soon.

• January to March (closed): Grocery stores**, fitness clubs and gym memberships and self-care and spa services
• April to June (activate now): Hotel stays and experiences, restaurants, qualifying Amazon purchases
• July to September: Announcing on June 15
• October to December: Announcing on September 15

In the second quarter of 2024, bonus rewards stack with the card’s regular always on cash-back rates — up to a limit. Freedom Flex cardholders can earn up to a whopping 9% on hotel stays and experiences booked through Chase Travel, up to 7% cash back at restaurants and up to 5% cash back on select Amazon purchases.

** Excludes larger stores that sell a wide variety of goods and groceries, such as warehouse clubs.

To benefit from 5% cash back, you’re required to activate bonus categories each quarter. Once you activate bonus categories, you can start earning 5% cash back. Chase allows you to save activation reminders to your calendar and set up email alerts. You can also activate the bonus categories by clicking here and entering your last name, the last four digits of your card number and your zip code.

If you want to participate in the rotating 5% categories that Chase offers, you’ll need to apply for the Chase Freedom Flex℠, as the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is no longer available for new applications. The Freedom Flex ranks as one of the best cash-back cards with no annual fee and earns cardholders 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and drugstores and 1% on all other purchases.

There are limits to how much spending qualifies for 5% cash back each quarter. After you spend a combined $1,500 in the bonus categories, the cash-back rate drops to 1%. This maximum spending requirement resets every quarter.

All other purchases made outside the bonus categories automatically earn 1% cash back. If you’re looking to optimize how many points you can earn, we suggest using an alternative cash-back or rewards credit card for spending outside the bonus categories, so you earn more than 1% cashback.

Discover offers several different no-annual-fee credit cards that allow cardholders to enroll every quarter to earn 5% cash back in various categories, up to a $1,500 quarterly maximum (then 1% cash back) throughout the year. Its most popular option is the Discover it® Cash Back and Discover will currently match all the cash back new cardholders earned at the end of their first year.

Citi also launched its own 5% cash-back card, the Citi Custom Cash® Card, which is a competing option for other 5% cards because you don’t need to activate each quarter.

Cardholders of the Custom Cash Card can get 5% cash back on purchases in their top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent (then 1%). The card also offers a welcome bonus with a pretty low spending threshold: Earn $200 in cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back).

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The Chase Freedom® is not currently available to new cardholders. Please visit our list of the best cash-back cards for alternative options.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Cash Back, click here

Information about the Chase Freedom® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.