Chase has officially announced the fourth-quarter rotating bonus categories for holders of the Chase Freedom Flex and the legacy Chase Freedom card. Running from October 1 through December 31, the upcoming quarter features high-demand spending categories that align closely with the holiday season, offering cardholders a lucrative opportunity to maximize their cash back or Ultimate Rewards points.
For the final quarter of the year, cardholders will earn elevated rewards on dining, grocery stores, and American Red Cross donations. While standard Chase Freedom cardholders will earn up to 5% cash back on combined spending across these categories, Chase Freedom Flex cardholders receive an added perk: an elevated 7% cash back on dining purchases.
To take advantage of these enhanced earnings, cardholders must activate the categories by December 14. The 5% or 7% rewards rate applies to the first $1,500 in combined spending across the designated categories during the three-month period. Once a cardholder surpasses this $1,500 spending threshold, purchases will revert to the standard earning rate of 1% cash back, or 1 point per dollar spent.
The inclusion of dining as a Q4 bonus category is expected to be a welcome repeat for many consumers, especially given that it appeared earlier in the year. With the holiday season bringing a heavier calendar of restaurant outings, social gatherings, and food delivery orders, the category provides an ideal avenue to rack up rewards. Grocery stores, meanwhile, remain a fixture of the quarterly calendar, representing one of the most frequently featured spending sectors for the Freedom card lineup.
Significantly, American Red Cross donations make their debut as a standalone quarterly bonus category. This addition offers cardholders a timely way to earn rewards while engaging in year-end charitable giving during a season traditionally associated with philanthropy.
Beyond domestic spending, cardholders enjoying these Q4 categories can also leverage the cards abroad. Thanks to the elimination of foreign transaction fees on both the legacy Freedom and the Freedom Flex, the cards serve as strong financial tools for dining and grocery purchases whether cardholders are staying home or traveling internationally.
Activating the quarterly bonus structure is a straightforward process that can be completed directly through a user’s online Chase account or via the official mobile banking application. Cardholders simply need to provide basic identifying information, including their last name, the final four digits of their card, and their ZIP code. While activation remains open until December 14, the activated categories do not officially go live until the start of the quarter on October 1.
Looking ahead to the beginning of next year, Chase has also offered an early preview of the Q1 bonus categories as part of recent updates to the Freedom Flex program. Although activation for the first quarter of 2027 will not open until December 15, Chase has confirmed that grocery stores will return for a consecutive quarter, marking a historic first for the program by featuring the category back-to-back. Streaming services will also return to the bonus lineup for the first time since mid-2025.
The quarterly bonus system has long been a core feature of the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards, driving engagement with cardholders through shifting everyday spending incentives. Over the years, categories have ranged from traditional retail giants like Amazon and Walmart to everyday essentials like gas stations, transit networks, and wholesale clubs, alongside occasional philanthropic partnerships with organizations such as United Way, Feeding America, and the American Heart Association.
For no-annual-fee products, the quarterly rotation allows proactive consumers to net up to $75 in cash back each quarter, translating to an annual total of $300 if the $1,500 spending cap is fully maximized every three months. For cardholders who also maintain a premium Chase card that earns fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points—such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve—the cash back earned from the Freedom line can be pooled and converted into valuable travel points. Under current point valuations, maximizing these quarterly rewards and transferring them to airline or hotel partners can significantly amplify their redemption value.
Cardholders interested in securing their rewards for the upcoming quarter are encouraged to complete their registration early to avoid missing out on the earning window before the December activation deadline.
