Chase Freedom 5% Bonus Category Calendar 2023
Chase announced its bonus 5% cashback categories for the fourth quarter of 2023 — Purchases made with PayPal, Wholesale Clubs and Select Charities.
We’ll review the bonus cashback categories for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom®, what you need to know to earn 5% cash back and how the Chase 5% cashback calendar compares to Discover’s 5% cashback calendar.
Note, the Chase Freedom® card is no longer open to new applicants as of Sept. 14, 2020.
| Chase 5% cashback calendar 2023 | |||
| Jan – March | April – June | July – Sept | Oct – Dec |
| Grocery Stores (excluding Walmart), Target, Fitness Clubs and Gym Memberships | Lowe’s and Amazon.com | Gas Stations, EV Charging and Select Live Entertainment | PayPal, Wholesale Clubs and Select Charities |
Here’s what you need to know:
- You need to activate the bonus categories to earn 5% cash back. Chase allows you to add reminders to your calendar. Easily activate via ultimaterewards.com or chase.com/freedom or by calling the number on the back of your card.
- To take advantage of the Q4 bonus categories, you must activate the categories by December 14, 2023.
- The Q3 2023 categories are active from July 1 through September 30, 2023.
- You can earn the 5% cashback rate on the first $1,500 in combined purchases purchases in the bonus categories each quarter (upon activation), then 1% cash back in those categories.
How the 2022 calendar compares to 2023
See how Chase’s 2022 cashback calendar compares to the upcoming 2023 calendar:
| Chase 5% cashback calendar 2022 | |||
| Jan – March | April – June | July – Sept | Oct – Dec |
| Grocery stores (excludes Target and Walmart) | Amazon.com and select streaming services | Gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters and on select live entertainment | Purchases made through PayPal and at Walmart |
| Chase 5% cashback calendar 2023 | |||
| Jan – March | April – June | July – Sept | Oct – Dec |
| Grocery Stores (excluding Walmart), Target, Fitness Clubs and Gym Memberships | Lowe’s and Amazon.com | Gas Stations, EV Charging and Select Live Entertainment | PayPal, Wholesale Clubs and Select Charities |
Unfortunately, Chase has not yet brought back restaurants as a bonus category, which hasn’t appeared since 2017.
Chase cashback calendar vs. Discover cashback calendar
Discover also announces their bonus categories at the start of each quarter. With the Discover it® Cash Back, you earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum, when you activate.
Read our Discover it® Cash Back card review.
Here’s how they compare for 2023 so far:
| Chase vs. Discover 2023 cashback calendar | ||
| Chase | Discover | |
| Jan – March | Grocery Stores (excluding Walmart®), Target, Fitness Clubs and Gym Memberships | Grocery Stores, Drug Stores and Select Streaming Services |
| April – June | Lowe’s and Amazon.com | Restaurants and Wholesale Clubs |
| July – Sept | Gas Stations, EV Charging and Select Live Entertainment | Gas Stations and Digital Wallets |
| Oct – Dec | PayPal, Wholesale Clubs and Select Charities | Amazon.com and Target |
Alternative to quarterly bonus category cards
An alternative to Discover and Chase’s quarterly rotating bonus categories is the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, which provides cardholders a flexible rewards program.
If you’re an existing or new Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card holder, you’ll be able to earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice. 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The 3% cash back categories are gas, EV charging, cable, streaming, internet, phone services online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement and furnishings. Unlike other rotating bonus category cards that preselect bonus categories every quarter, cardholders can choose which one of the six categories they want to earn 3% cash back in every month.
In addition to a cashback program, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers a 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles (after that, a 18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR applies). This allows you to finance new purchases over a year without incurring interest charges.
Just know that the Chase Freedom Flex℠ also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months (after that, a 19.74% - 28.49% variable APR applies).
There is also a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months. After, the regular APR will be 19.74% - 28.49% variable. The balance transfer fee is intro fee: $5 or 3%. After 60 days: $5 or 5%.
The information related to the Chase Freedom® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.
The information related to the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom®, Discover it® Cash Back, Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, Chase Freedom Unlimited® and The Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.