Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card
This card rewards people who will activate and chase quarterly categories. Up to $1,500 in combined purchases earns 5% each quarter you activate, with 3% on dining and drugstores year round. New cardmembers get a $200 bonus after $500 in spend and 15 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and transfers. Category caps mean the ceiling on 5% earnings is $75 per quarter.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 5% quarterly categories: up to $75 in bonus cash back each quarter when you activate and hit the $1,500 cap
- Fixed 3% on dining and drugstores all year
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- Purchase protection for 120 days, up to $500 per item
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $1,500 per traveler and $6,000 per trip
- 6 months of complimentary DashPass plus a $10 quarterly DoorDash promo through 12/31/2027
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase APR: 0% intro for 15 months, then 18.24% - 27.74% Variable
- Balance transfer APR: 0% intro for 15 months, then 18.24% - 27.74% Variable
- Balance transfer fee: either $5 or 3% in the first 60 days, then either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater
- Cash advance APR: 28.49% Variable, fee either $10 or 5% of each transaction
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
- Rates and offers verified on the issuer's website on August 27, 2026 and may change. See the issuer's pricing and terms for current details.
- You will actually activate each quarter and steer spending into the 5% categories; that habit is worth up to $300 a year at the caps.
- Your dining and drugstore spending earns 3% here with no cap and no activation.
- You want a 15 month 0% intro window on purchases and transfers with no annual fee.
- You pair cards: Flex for categories, a flat-rate card for the rest, and a Sapphire to convert the rewards into travel.
- You should skip it if you will not manage activations. A flat 2% card beats an unactivated Flex.
Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card Review
The Freedom Flex is the category-chaser's card in the Chase lineup. Activated quarterly 5% categories sit on top of fixed 3% dining and drugstore earning, with no annual fee. This review explains the caps, the calendar and how it pairs with other Chase cards.
How You Earn
The 5% quarterly categories change on a published calendar and require activation. The Q3 2026 categories run July through September.
- 5% on rotating quarterly categories, up to $1,500 in combined purchases each activated quarter, then 1%
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 3% on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery
- 3% on drugstores
- 1% on everything else
- Q3 2026: gas stations, public transit, EV charging, select live entertainment, United Way
- Q2 2026 was Amazon, Chase Travel and Feeding America; Q4 2026 posts with activation from September 15
| Category | Earn rate |
|---|---|
| Rotating quarterly categories (activated, capped) | 5% |
| Chase Travel purchases | 5% |
| Dining and takeout | 3% |
| Drugstores | 3% |
| All other purchases | 1% |
How You Redeem
Cash back accumulates as Ultimate Rewards points with no minimum to redeem and no expiration while the account is open.
- Statement credit or direct deposit
- Gift cards, Chase Travel bookings and Amazon Shop with Points
- Pools with Sapphire cards for travel redemptions
Benefits and Protections
The protection set mirrors the Freedom Unlimited. Chase's page no longer lists cell phone protection for this card.
- Purchase protection: 120 days, up to $500 per item
- Extended warranty: one added year on warranties of three years or less
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: up to $1,500 per traveler, $6,000 per trip
- Auto rental coverage, secondary in the U.S.
- Zero liability protection and 24/7 fraud monitoring
Who This Card Is For
This card pays a premium for attention. People who activate every quarter and adjust spending capture up to $75 extra per quarter; people who do not are better served by a flat-rate card.
- Category optimizers who set a quarterly reminder
- Households whose spending matches common categories like gas, groceries and Amazon
- Chase ecosystem users pairing it with Freedom Unlimited and a Sapphire card
Comparison
| Feature | Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card | Discover it® Cash Back | Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Welcome Offer | $200 after $500 in 3 months | Cashback Match: first year earnings doubled | $100 after $500 in 3 months |
| Rewards Rate | 5% rotating capped, 3% dining and drugstores | 5% rotating quarterly capped, 1% other | 2% flat cash rewards |
| Intro APR | 0% for 15 months | 0% for 15 months | 0% for 12 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% | None | 3% |
| Best For | Categories plus fixed 3% tiers | First-year match value | No category tracking |
Issuer Comparison
| Feature | Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card | Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 | $95 |
| Welcome Offer | $200 after $500 in 3 months | $200 after $500 in 3 months | 75,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months |
| Rewards Rate | 5% rotating, 3% dining and drugstores, 1% base | 1.5% base, 3% dining and drugstores | 5x Chase Travel, 3x dining, 2x travel |
| Key Credits | DashPass 6 months, DoorDash promos | DashPass 6 months, DoorDash promos | $100 hotel, $120 Global Entry, Apple TV |
| Best For | Quarterly category chasers | Flat-rate earning | Travel points |
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Reader reports, not issuer data. Not a prediction of your result. Ranges only, reviewed before publishing.