The Chase Freedom FlexSM Credit Card (review) is an incredible no annual fee card belonging to Chase’s Freedom portfolio, which can help you maximize your points thanks to its quarterly bonus categories. I wanted to post a quick update:
- Today (March 14) is the last day to register for the Q1 2024 bonus categories, so you can maximize 5x points through the end of the month
- Chase has just revealed the Q2 2024 bonus categories, and registration will open for that tomorrow (March 15)
Note that these same bonus categories are also valid for the Chase Freedom Card, which is no longer open to new applicants.
In this post:
Why I love the Chase Freedom Flex
The Chase Freedom Flex Card is easily one of the best no annual fee cards out there, as it offers 5x points in rotating quarterly categories, for up to $1,500 of spending per quarter. Most people use this as a cashback card, meaning the 5x points really translates into 5% cashback in these categories.
The card has other bonus categories as well, as it offers 3x points (or 3% cash back) at drugstores and on dining.
The best part is that in conjunction with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review), Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review), or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review), points earned on this card can be converted into Ultimate Rewards points, and be transferred to the Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel partners, or can be redeemed at a favorable rate through the Chase Travel Portal.
Since I value one Ultimate Rewards point at significantly more than one cent, that’s my preferred use of those points.
Chase Freedom Flex Q2 2024 bonus categories
For the second quarter of 2024, the Freedom Flex Card will be offering 5x points on the first $1,500 spent with Whole Foods, hotels, and restaurants. As far as key dates go:
- You need to register between March 15 and June 14, 2024
- If you register, you can earn 5x points between April 1 and June 30, 2024
I’ll post again once registration opens for next quarter.
Chase Freedom Flex Q1 2024 bonus categories
For the first quarter of 2024, the Freedom Flex Card is offering 5x points on the first $1,500 spent with grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), fitness clubs and gym memberships, and self-care and spa services. As far as key dates go:
- You need to register between December 15, 2023, and March 14, 2024 (so this is your last chance)
- If you register, you can earn 5x points between January 1 and March 31, 2024
How to register your Chase Freedom Flex
Registration is easy — just go to the registration page and enter your last name, billing zip code, and the last four digits on your card, and you’ll be registered.
Chase Freedom Flex bonus category inclusions
Sometimes there are questions about what’s included in the Chase Freedom Flex Card 5x points bonus categories, so let’s cover Chase’s definition of each of these categories for Q1 2024.
Here’s how Chase defines the grocery stores category:
Merchants in this category include supermarkets, merchants that offer a full-service grocery line of merchandise including a deli and bakery as well as smaller grocery stores. Some merchants that sell grocery items are not included in this category; for example, larger stores that sell a wide variety of goods and groceries, such as warehouse clubs, discount stores and some smaller merchants such as drugstores, and merchants that specialize in only a few grocery items. Purchases made at gas stations from merchants who also operate grocery stores are not included in this category. Delivery service merchants will be included if they classify as a grocery store merchant.
Here’s how Chase defines the fitness clubs and gym memberships category:
Merchants in this category include health clubs, exercise, or athletic facilities requiring membership and offering access to services related to physical fitness, such as fitness clubs, fitness centers, fitness studios, gyms, aerobics, cardio fitness and other services such as yoga and cross fit training. Merchants that specialize in offering personalized or therapeutic services such as massage therapy, dietary and weight management counseling and personal training are not included in this category. In addition, some merchants that sell a wide variety of general goods, which may include fitness or athletic apparel, sporting goods, dietary food, health food or similar supplements are not included in this category. Also, certain lodging, hotel, motel, resort and central reservation services offering access to third party facilities that include fitness clubs or gyms are not included in this category unless they classify as a fitness club or gym membership merchant.
Here’s how Chase defines the self-care and spa services category:
This category includes self-care and spa services, such as massages, spa treatments, manicures, tanning, and barber and salon services, purchased at merchant locations that specialize in providing these services. These services are typically provided by licensed professionals, however, services provided by medical professionals will not qualify. Purchases of self-care and spa services at merchants that classify their location in another category, for example spa services purchased in a hotel, will not be included unless the merchant classifies the transactions in this category. Purchases of related products and services, for example hair and skincare products purchased at a salon or an overnight stay at a spa, will also not be included unless the merchant classifies the transactions in this category.
My take on Chase Freedom Flex Q1 2024 bonus categories
Everyone has different spending patterns. Personally I quite like the Q1 2024 bonus categories, mainly because I’m happy to be able to earn 5x points at grocery stores. I’ll probably spend $1,500 there over the course of the quarter without much effort, so that’s easy enough!
How to make Chase Freedom Flex points more valuable
To recap, you earn points on the Chase Freedom Flex, and each point can be redeemed for one cent cashback.
However, if you have this card in addition to one of the cards that accrues Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer these points to Ultimate Rewards. Cards that accrue Ultimate Rewards Cards include the:
So 5% cashback converts into 5x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar with one of the above cards.
Bottom line
The Chase Freedom Flex is one of the best no annual fee cards out there, thanks largely to the ability to earn 5x points in rotating quarterly categories.
This is your last chance to register for the Q1 2024 bonus categories, allowing you to earn 5x points with grocery stories, fitness clubs and gym memberships, and self-care and spa services. Then registration will shortly open for the Q2 2024 bonus categories, whereby you’ll be able to earn 5x points with Whole Foods, hotels, and restaurants.
What do you make of the Q1 and Q2 2024 Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories?
Just remember freedom flex has a foreign fee if you were thinking of using it at restaurants on your foreign travel.
eh. It's not as good as it used to be. Categories used to be much more general. The amazon offer is nothing to cheer about since the Amazon credit card also offered by Chase gives 5% back on Amazon and whole foods.
Can you confirm whether it is Amazon or Whole Foods? I just saw a Chase page that said Amazon.com. I’m hoping it’s Amazon as I don’t go to Whole Paycheck very often but order from Amazon all the time. Plus, I may be making a sizable purchase in Q2.
Buy an Amazon gift card at "Whole Paycheck."
Nice bonus. I’m about to finish up my SUB on Amex Gold by end of month / early April, this I can transition smoothly into 5x restaurant bonuses. As for Whole Foods, mostly too expensive for me for regular grocery shopping but their hot food bar can be quite reasonably priced.
My Q2 strategy, valuing Chase points at $0.02
Whole Foods — CFF: 5% x $0.02 = 10% return
other grocery — AMEX Cash Preferred 6% cash back
Restaurants — CFU with points doubled SUB: 3% x 2 x $0.02 = 12%
Hotels (in US) — CFF: 5% x $0.02 = 10%
For CFF, you would get 7x UR on restaurants, since there is the normal 2x category bonus, plus the 4x quarterly bonus and 1x baseline earning. Using your 2 cents/UR valuation, that would be 14% back.
For CFF, you would get 7x UR on restaurants, since there is the normal 2x category bonus, plus the 4x quarterly bonus and 1x baseline earning. Using your 2 cents/UR valuation, that would be 14% back.
Shame all my hotel stays during this quarter are international and this card still has a foreign transaction fee
5x at hotels means that I will actually not use my World of Hyatt card for Hyatt stays in Q2
Isn't Whole Foods considered grocery? Meaning, wouldn't Whole Foods purchases be 5x spend right now (Q1), and then 5x spend in Q2?
Yes, I have been earning 5x on Whole Foods purchases all quarter
Correct, and Chase has often done Amazon/Whole Foods quarters in addition to general grocery quarters in recent years. So you end up getting 5X at Whole Foods for half a year (up to $3000 total spend)!
I haven't used Chase Freedom card for the bonus hotel category before. Does the category cover hotel stays booked on a third party travel portal?
To all commentating, I think you will earn 7x on restaurant on the Freedom Flex
1x for all spending
2x Freedom flex restaurant bonus
4x 2Q category bonus
Total: 7x
This is compared to 3x for CSR/CSP, 4x for Amex Gold, etc....
You will only earn 5x on the regular Freedom
My plan is to put all restaurant spend on Freedom Flex while putting Whole Foods (my main grocer) spend on Freedom.
Sucks that there are foreign transaction fees though. Hurts my hotel/restaurant maximization possibilities
yeah only makes sense if you are traveling for work and can expense the FTF
Does this only include Whole Foods or also Amazon.com? I know you can buy Amazon GCs at WF, but that seems like a pointless extra step.
Not really impressed with Q2 to be honest. I sparingly shop at Whole Foods, it's a small bonus on top of the Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve for restaurants, ditto with hotels (which you don't want to use the Freedom for anyways if they are overseas). Amazon yes I'm sure I can get a few things but spending habits aren't conducive to me spending that much there.
I also do wonder how the 5% on restaurant spend on Freedom flex stacks with the already 3% earn on the card.
2Q looks like honestly one of the better quarters in years for categories. Restaurants is easy for everyone to maximize, Whole Foods are plentiful, and the card could be very useful for boutique hotels (or all hotels). Will max out across two cards.
I hold on to this card because it is free and it is part of the Chase group of cards, but I often wonder why I still do so. The categories on this card have become less and less useful and increasingly specific or conflict with other cards.
My wife recently signed up for the Chase Freedom Flex. For the next 12 months, she gets 5x at Grocery Stores and Gas Stations (up to 12k spend). Do you think this is a double-dip opportunity? ie 10x at grocery stores during Q1. Thanks.
In the past categories like this have stacked. However, the math is a little different. The bonus categories are considered an extra 4x on top of the usual 1x back. So if it does stack, it would be 1x + 4x + 4x = 9x back.
For the current quarter, when you use 5x Paypal at a drugstore, which usually gets 3x on the Freedom Flex, you end up with 1x + 4x + 2x = 7x back.
Actually some nice categories. Grocery is always nice - plus, gym/fitness is great too. I usually switch my Equinox payments to Amex Platinum at the beginning of the year to get the $300 credits. Now, it looks like I will wait until 2Q to do that.
I also second the other comment - people should generally have both a Freedom and Freedom Flex. I am guessing people can apply for another chase card, like a Slate, and product change to a Freedom?
"...I’ll probably spend $1,500 there over the course of the quarter."
I'm a bit surprised you only have one Freedom card as its quite easy to have multiple. I think once you get the sign-up bonus for the Freedom unlimited, its best to convert that to a Freedom card because any non-bonus spend is better put on the Venture X or Amex BBP