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Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure an...
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The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a simple card that could easily get overlooked in your wallet. But that would be a mistake because it has tremendous earning potential. Each quarter, the Freedom Flex card has bonus categories that will earn 5% cash-back (or 5x points — see below for details).
The key to this card’s power is knowing how to use the bonus categories for maximum benefit.
In this post, we’ll go over the bonus categories for Q3 2023, plus tips to get the most out of your Freedom Flex card.
New 2023 Q3 Bonus Categories Announced
The Freedom Flex Q3 bonus categories are gas stations, EV charging, and select live entertainment. Image Credit: Chase
Chase announced that the bonus categories for Q3 will be gas stations, EV charging, and select live entertainment. That means any qualifying purchases made in these categories from July 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023 (up to $1,500) will earn 5% cash-back. Any purchases made in these categories over $1,500, plus all purchases at non-bonus stores, will earn 1% cash-back.
Benefits of the Freedom Flex Card
The Freedom Flex card is a simple but powerful credit card. This no-annual-fee card offers bonus categories that rotate quarterly. Any purchases in the specified category will earn 5% cash-back (up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter). There are also additional categories that earn 3% to 5% cash-back. All other purchases will earn 1% cash-back.
Earn 5% cash-back in quarterly rotating categories (up to $1,500)
Earn 5% cash-back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
Earn 3% cash-back on dining (including food delivery services)
Earn 3% cash-back at drugstores
Earn 1% cash-back on all other purchases
In addition to these valuable bonus categories that help you earn tons of cash-back, the Freedom Flex card also has some great additional benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection, and cell phone protection.
Welcome Bonus
The Freedom Flex card is currently offering the following welcome bonus:
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months.
Hot Tip: The Freedom Flex card is not the same as the Chase Freedom® card. The Freedom Flex card has replaced the Freedom card, which is no longer available for new applicants. If you already have a Freedom card, you can still get a Freedom Flex card.
How Your 5% Cash-back Works
Each quarter, your Freedom Flex card will feature a different bonus category that will earn 5% cash-back (up to $1,500) instead of the standard 1% cash-back. Any purchases over $1,500 in the bonus category, plus all other non-bonus category purchases, will earn 1% cash-back.
If you max out your bonus, you will earn $75 cash-back (or 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points) each quarter or $300 cash-back (or 30,000 points) per year. Not a bad earning potential for a card with no annual fee!
How To Activate Your Bonus
Each quarter, you must activate your bonus categories. You will be able to activate the next quarter’s bonus categories about 2 weeks before the start of that quarter. Starting June 15, 2023, you will be able to activate your Q3 bonus for 2023.
Activating your bonus only takes a few clicks.
1. Log on to your online Chase account and select your Freedom Flex card from the selections on the left-hand side of your screen.
2. If your bonus needs to be activated, you will see Activate on the Freedom Flex card dashboard. Click the link to continue.
You need to activate your 5% cash-back categories each quarter. Image Credit: Chase
3. You will see a detailed description of the bonus categories you’re activating. Click on the big green Activate Now button to complete the activation. That’s all there is to it.
Be sure to click the “Activate Now” button each quarter. Image Credit: Chase
Each quarter has a deadline for activating your bonus. As long as you activate by the deadline, any qualifying purchases from the entire quarter will earn the bonus points.
Once your bonus categories are activated, you will be able to see that they are activated in your online dashboard for your Freedom Flex card.
How To Check Your Progress on the $1,500 Maximum
Maxing out your bonus each quarter is key to making the most of your Freedom Flex card.
To check your progress, click on the blue Details button in your online account. This button will take you to the Freedom Flex card details page where you can keep track of your progress. Unfortunately, Chase only shows you a general idea of your progress, not an exact dollar amount.
First, you’ll want to head over to your account dashboard. Image Credit: Chase
2. If you want to know how much you have spent down to the penny, you will need to use the Search feature right above the list of your transactions.
Use the search button to filter your transactions. Image Credit: Chase
3. Under Time Period, select Specific date range. Next, input the start date of the current quarter with the end date being the current day. Then, click on the blue Search button.
This selection will bring up a list of all transactions on your Freedom Flex card in the current quarter. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to select only the purchases in the bonus categories, so you might have to do some manual math.
Don’t forget to toggle the dates for the right quarter. Image Credit: Chase
2023 Freedom Flex Card Bonus Categories
Q1: January-March
Grocery stores (excluding Walmart)
Target
Fitness clubs & gym memberships
Q2: April-June
Amazon
Lowe’s
Q3: July-September
Gas stations
EV charging
Select live entertainment
Q4: October-December
TBD
Bottom Line:
The new bonus categories for the Freedom Flex card for 2023 Q3 are gas stations, EV charging, and select live entertainment. Purchases made in these categories (up to $1,500) from July 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023, will earn 5% cash-back.
Past Bonus Categories
If you’re on the fence about getting a Freedom Flex card, you might be interested to know some of the past bonus categories as these can be repeated.
These are the categories we have seen on the Freedom card over the past few years (the Freedom Flex card has replaced the Freedom card).
Amazon
Car rental
Department stores
Drugstores
eBay
Fitness clubs and gym memberships
Gas stations
Grocery stores
Home improvement stores
Internet, cable, and phone services
Live entertainment
Lyft
Mobile wallets: Android Pay, Apple Pay, Chase Pay, Samsung Pay
Movie theaters
PayPal
Restaurants
Select streaming services
Tolls
Walgreens
Walmart
Whole Foods
How To Maximize the Value From Your Freedom Flex Card
Max Out the Bonus Categories Each Quarter
The key to making the most of this card is to max out your bonus category each quarter. You will earn 5% cash-back on the first $1,500 in purchases in the bonus category, which results in $75 cash-back (or 7,500 points) each quarter. Here are a few tips to help you reach that $1,500 mark without buying a bunch of stuff you don’t need:
Lowe’s: You can maximize this bonus category whether you have a home improvement project or want to pick up some gift cards.
Amazon.com: This category is easy to leverage for online shopping enthusiasts who have Amazon Prime.
Gas Stations: This one might be hard to max out entirely on gas, but many gas stations sell more than just gas. You can earn 5% cash-back on basic groceries and gift cards at gas stations.
Grocery Stores: This is one of the easiest categories to maximize because most grocery stores sell gift cards to just about anywhere. If you won’t spend the full $1,500 on groceries, purchase gift cards to stores that you frequent often. Many grocery stores even sell airline and other travel gift cards.
Mobile Wallets (Chase Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay): This is another easy category to max out. Many stores are now taking these forms of payment.
PayPal: More and more websites are accepting PayPal as a form of payment now. Just be sure to link your Freedom Flex card account to your PayPal account.
Walgreens: You can purchase basic groceries, health, and beauty items, and even prescriptions at Walgreens. Check for gift cards, one of the easiest ways to get the most out of the 5% bonus category.
Can I Turn My Cash-back Into Points?
The cash-back you earn on the Freedom Flex card comes in the form of points that are each worth 1 cent. You can redeem these for cash-back or you can book travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal.
However, they can be worth more if you transfer them to a premium card.
Chase Credit Card
Value of UR Points (Booking Through Travel Portal)
Instead of taking cash-back, you can choose to transfer the points earned on your Freedom Flex card to a premium Chase Ultimate Rewards card (one that charges an annual fee). Transferring points will increase their value when you use them to book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
For example, your 7,500 points are worth $75 in travel through the Freedom Flex card. However, if you transfer them to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the Ink Business Preferred card, they would be worth $93.75. If you transfer them to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, they would be worth $112.50.
Even better, when you also hold a premium card, you’ll have the option of transferring your points to any of the Chase transfer partners. Transferring your points to Chase’s travel partners is the best way to get maximum value from your points. You could get 2, 3, or more cents per point.
Bottom Line: You can get the most value out of your Freedom Flex card by pairing it with a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, Chase Sapphire Preferred card, or Ink Business Preferred card.
Final Thoughts
The Freedom Flex card is a great no-annual-fee card that has enormous earning power. This card offers 5% cash-back in bonus categories that rotate quarterly. The new 2023 Q3 categories are gas stations, EV charging, and select live entertainment. Maxing out your bonus each quarter is a great way to earn tons of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Ink Business Plus® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Unlimited® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Frequently Asked Questions
From April 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023, the Freedom Flex card bonus categories are Amazon and Lowe’s. From July 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023, the bonus categories will be gas stations, EV charging, and select live entertainment.
The Freedom Flex card is advertised as a straight cash-back card. And while you can absolutely take the cash-back, you can get more value by using earned rewards as Ultimate Rewards points instead. With Ultimate Rewards points, you can book travel directly through the Chase travel portal. If you have a premium Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Ink Business Preferred card, you can transfer those points to hotel and airline partners for even more value.
While these 2 cards have similar names, they are indeed very different. The Freedom Flex card offers 5% cash-back in rotating categories every quarter. The Freedom Unlimited card offers a flat 1.5% cash-back on all purchases. Check out our detailed comparison of the Freedom Unlimited card vs. Freedom Flex card.
You can start activating each quarter’s bonus categories about 2 weeks before the start of the quarter. You can activate the bonus anytime in the specified period to earn bonus points for the entire quarter.
Q1: Activate anytime between December 15, 2022, and March 14, 2023
Q2: Activate anytime between March 15, 2023, and June 14, 2023
Q3: Activate anytime between June 15, 2023, and September 14, 2023
Q4: Activate anytime between September 15, 2023, and December 14, 2023
Yes! You can absolutely have both of these cards in your wallet, and that’s a great strategy to earn tons of Ultimate Rewards points! However, your application could be denied if you have opened too many cards recently. Chase operates by the 5/24 rule. That means if you have opened up 5 or more credit cards (from any bank, not just Chase) in the last 24 months, you will most likely be denied.
The Freedom Flex card is an updated version that has replaced the Freedom card. If you already have a Freedom card, you CAN get a Freedom Flex card since they are different (but similar) products. The Freedom card is no longer open to new applications, but the card is eligible for the same bonus categories as the Freedom Flex card.
Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure and Forbes Advisor.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
15 comments
MG
December 23, 2019
Love it!
I get the most benefits out of gas stations/grocery stores/phone/internet/drug stores!
I wish they would bring back Amazon for September-December!!
MG
Casey
September 19, 2020
I pay my rent with PayPal to my landlord. Does this qualify?
How does the Chase Freedom Flex’s first year 5% grocery bonus (max $12000 grocery purchase) work with the 3rd quarter’s 5% grocery bonus (max $1500 grocery purchase)? Do they add up to 10% during the 3rd quarter or just 5%. If just 5%, is $1500 grocery purchase considered part of the quarter’s $1500 or part of the first year’s $12000 or part of both?
I cannot say definitively as we are not Chase. But my guess would be that the 5% bonus will not stack for this quarter, and that you’ll continue to receive the 5% back from your welcome bonus.
Ryan
June 14, 2023
Hi Jarrod,
I realize this is an out of date comment, but just in case it becomes relevant again in the future, your answer is wrong. The offer does stack and SK would have received 10x points for spending at grocery stores at that time.
That is great to know! Thanks for this data point.
Gronkle
November 21, 2021
Has anyone made a single Freedom purchase of greater than $1500 in one of the rotating categories? I’m wondering if you will get 5X points on the first $1500 and 1X on and any remaining about (like you would expect), OR if for any reason the transaction only awarded 1X.
I have a large purchase that I can make through PayPal very soon and am debating using my freedom or my CFU.
If your purchase is larger than $1,500 you’ll receive 5x for the first $1,500 in spend, and 1x for every $1 over that. In other words, if the purchase is $2,000, you’ll earn 8,000 points (7,500 + 500).
WillY
September 19, 2022
If I pay Federal taxes or property tax with PayPal, does it count for the 5% bonus?
I do not believe that would qualify, but I’d love to be proven wrong!
Joe
July 06, 2023
Hi!
If I by a Chicago City Pass form their website, would that be considered live entertainment?
The City Pass covers museums and aquariums for example, or do i need to buy those tickets individually for the 5% to kick in?
Thanks!
Keri Stooksbury
July 07, 2023
Hi Joe – Chase’s announcement indicates that “live entertainment” includes music artists or sporting events and excludes third-party vendor purchases. I would think that neither City Pass nor the museums or aquariums directly would be covered. This year’s definintion is more specific than live entertainment as a category in 2022 which likely would have included these attractions.
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
15 comments
MG
December 23, 2019
Love it!
I get the most benefits out of gas stations/grocery stores/phone/internet/drug stores!
I wish they would bring back Amazon for September-December!!
MG
Casey
September 19, 2020
I pay my rent with PayPal to my landlord. Does this qualify?
Jarrod West
September 21, 2020
Hi Casey,
Yes, this would qualify!
SK
June 24, 2021
How does the Chase Freedom Flex’s first year 5% grocery bonus (max $12000 grocery purchase) work with the 3rd quarter’s 5% grocery bonus (max $1500 grocery purchase)? Do they add up to 10% during the 3rd quarter or just 5%. If just 5%, is $1500 grocery purchase considered part of the quarter’s $1500 or part of the first year’s $12000 or part of both?
Jarrod West
June 25, 2021
Hi SK,
I cannot say definitively as we are not Chase. But my guess would be that the 5% bonus will not stack for this quarter, and that you’ll continue to receive the 5% back from your welcome bonus.
Ryan
June 14, 2023
Hi Jarrod,
I realize this is an out of date comment, but just in case it becomes relevant again in the future, your answer is wrong. The offer does stack and SK would have received 10x points for spending at grocery stores at that time.
Source: Personal experience.
Jarrod West
June 14, 2023
Hi Ryan,
That is great to know! Thanks for this data point.
Gronkle
November 21, 2021
Has anyone made a single Freedom purchase of greater than $1500 in one of the rotating categories? I’m wondering if you will get 5X points on the first $1500 and 1X on and any remaining about (like you would expect), OR if for any reason the transaction only awarded 1X.
I have a large purchase that I can make through PayPal very soon and am debating using my freedom or my CFU.
Jarrod West
November 22, 2021
Hi Gronkle,
If your purchase is larger than $1,500 you’ll receive 5x for the first $1,500 in spend, and 1x for every $1 over that. In other words, if the purchase is $2,000, you’ll earn 8,000 points (7,500 + 500).
WillY
September 19, 2022
If I pay Federal taxes or property tax with PayPal, does it count for the 5% bonus?
Christine Krzyszton
September 20, 2022
Hi WillY. Yes, any taxing entity that takes PayPal should work.
robert becker
June 21, 2023
If I buy gas gift cards on line from arco, do I get the 5% bonus?
Jarrod West
June 21, 2023
Hi Robert,
I do not believe that would qualify, but I’d love to be proven wrong!
Joe
July 06, 2023
Hi!
If I by a Chicago City Pass form their website, would that be considered live entertainment?
The City Pass covers museums and aquariums for example, or do i need to buy those tickets individually for the 5% to kick in?
Thanks!
Keri Stooksbury
July 07, 2023
Hi Joe – Chase’s announcement indicates that “live entertainment” includes music artists or sporting events and excludes third-party vendor purchases. I would think that neither City Pass nor the museums or aquariums directly would be covered. This year’s definintion is more specific than live entertainment as a category in 2022 which likely would have included these attractions.
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
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