Chase Freedom Bonus Categories Q4 2026: 5% Cash Back Calendar
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Chase has announced its bonus categories for Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex from October 1 to December 31, 2026. These categories allow you to earn a 5% bonus on spending in specific categories.
The Chase Q3 Bonus Categories 2026 were Gas Stations/EV Charging, Public Transit, Select Live Entertainment, and United Way. Hopefully, you have already activated these, as September 14 was the last day to earn the elevated bonus points.
What are the new Chase Q4 Bonus Categories for 2026?
- Grocery Stores (including supermarkets and delivery service, excludes Walmart and Target)
- Dining (including restaurants, takeout and eligible delivery services)
- American Red Cross
I am so excited about the grocery stores! This is the perfect quarter for this category, especially with all the shopping, Friendsgiving, and colder weather approaching. I find myself cooking more and creating more dishes for hanging out with friends. Keep in mind, if you are like me and rely on Whole Foods delivery via Amazon, buy a gift card in person and then pay with it on Amazon to earn the 5x points.
Dining is also a great category, and if you have the Chase Freedom Flex, you can earn 7x points on dining because the card already earns 3x on dining. This also includes orders placed via Grubhub and Uber Eats. It excludes orders placed via meal kit delivery services such as HelloFresh, Blue Apron, and Factor.
Finally, if you need to make a tax-deductible donation and want points, you can donate to the Red Cross.
Tips for Maximizing Chase Q4 bonus Categories 2026
I would prioritize using these cards for dining and grocery stores.
If you order delivery through Amazon, buy a Whole Foods gift card because that counts for 1x.
Update your cards on food delivery apps so you don’t forget to check out with them.
How do I make sure I earn the 5% on the Chase Q4 Categories for 2026 with Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex?
You need to activate the bonus categories, and you can do that today! There are 6 ways to do that:
- Online: you can click here to activate
- Email: Check your email for activation
- Chase Mobile App: log in to the app to activate
- Phone: Call the number on the back of your card, and a customer service rep can activate it for you.
- Chase: You can speak to a teller to help you activate the categories.
- ATM: If you are a Chase checking customer, you can activate the categories when withdrawing money.
If you have more than one card, you need to activate the bonus categories for each card. If you have more questions, check out this Chase post. To activate the 2026 Q4 Chase bonus categories for Chase Freedom Flex, use this link.
Is there a limit to how much you can earn from the Chase Q4 Bonus Categories 2026?
Yes, you are limited to $1,500. You can track this on the website. Once you reach the limit, it goes back down to 1%.
Is there a deadline to activate the Chase Freedom Q4 2026 bonus categories?
Yes, it will most likely be around December 14, 2026. It has not been published yet, but based on the past quarter, this is my estimate. All purchases must be posted to your accounts by December 31, 2026, to receive the additional bonus points/cashback.
Chase Freedom Bonus Categories 2026 Q4
I would highly recommend activating this offer to boost your monthly earnings, even if you are currently unsure about your spending in these categories. Last quarter, when Public Transit was a benefit, I shifted my spending from my American Express card to my Chase Freedom card to earn extra points.
For this quarter, I am switching my dining spending, where I typically use my American Express Gold, to the Chase Freedom since I spend roughly $100.00 a week on eating. It feels like just leaving my house in NYC; I spend $50.
Happy points earning!
Also, a good thing to know about this card is that there is no annual fee, but you will need to transfer to the Chase Sapphire product if you want to use it for travel!
Chase Freedom Bonus Categories History
| Quarter | 5% Bonus Categories | Notes |
| Q4 2026 October – December | Dining, Groceries, American Red Cross | Activate by December 14, 2026. Grocery store gift cards are an easy way to reach this spending. Freedom Flex earns 7x on dining |
| Q3 2026 July – September | EV charging, gas stations, select live entertainment, transit, United Way | Prepay gas cards or concert tickets to use the full $1,500 |
| Q2 2026 April – June | Amazon, Chase Travel (9% for Freedom Flex), Feeding America, Whole Foods Market | Book summer travel through Chase Travel for the 9% |
| Q1 2026 January – March | American Heart Association, dining (7% for Freedom Flex), Norwegian Cruise Line | 7x dining, then move the points to a Sapphire card |
| Q4 2025 October – December | Chase Travel (9% for Freedom Flex), department stores, Old Navy, PayPal (December only) | PayPal in December works for most holiday shopping online |
| Q3 2025 July – September | Gas and EV charging, Instacart, select live entertainment | Instacart turned this into a grocery quarter |
| Q2 2025 April – June | Amazon, select streaming services, and internet, cable, and phone (June only) | Prepay a year of streaming to use the full amount |
| Q1 2025 January – March | Grocery stores, fitness clubs, hair, nails and spa services, Norwegian Cruise Line, and tax preparation and insurance (March only | Pay your gym membership upfront for the year |
If you’re looking for other credit card recommendations, check out these posts:
How to use your Delta Stays Credit
Travel Resources
| Travel Resources | Information about Resources |
| Airalo | If you need phone service while out of the country, check out Airalo to avoid all the fees. |
| Amazon | Find the perfect items for your next vacation! |
| Booking.com | If you want to book a mix of hotels and houses, check out booking.com! |
| Expedia | If you need a package that includes flight + hotel, or want to add a car? Expedia is the perfect site to book an entire vacation. |
| Priority Pass | If you do not have a credit card, you can still get lounge access by purchasing a Priority Pass Membership! |
| Ticketmaster | Heading to a concert or event, make sure to check out Ticketmaster. |
| Vrbo | Find the perfect rental house for your vacation and/or staycation. |
| Viator | The perfect place to find all your excursions and things to do in the many cities you visit. |
