Freedom Flex's 5% categories for October through December include: McDonald's | PayPal | Pet Shops and Vet Services | Select Charities. You can find more details including a list of charities here. You must activate each quarter here.
Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
If you're new to the points and miles hobby, you might be considering this card as a starting point. While the Chase Freedom Flex provides some value with no annual fee, we recommend investing in one of the Chase Sapphire cards instead, especially for beginners. The Freedom Flex offers a modest cash back sign-up bonus, but limited additional benefits to excite you about rewards travel. Taking a chance on a Sapphire card will unlock significantly better travel opportunities, discounts, and perks.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Chase Freedom Flex offers several compelling benefits that make it worth considering:
- Attractive Sign-up Bonus: Earn a $200 sign-up bonus after spending just $500 on purchases within your first three months — an excellent 40% return with no annual fee.
- Rotating Bonus Categories: Take advantage of 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases after activation). These categories typically include popular merchants and spending categories such as grocery stores, fitness clubs, Amazon, and streaming services.
Beyond these headline features, the card provides consistent rewards on everyday spending. You'll earn 3% cash back on dining (including takeout and delivery services) and drugstore purchases, with 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The card also comes with impressive protections not typically found on no-annual-fee cards, including:
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
- Cell phone protection
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Auto rental coverage
Your cash back rewards never expire as long as your account remains open. Additionally, if you later add a Chase Sapphire card to your wallet, you can transfer your Freedom Flex rewards and convert them to Chase Ultimate Rewards points — significantly increasing their potential value for travel redemptions.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
This card might not be right for you if:
- You want to earn points specifically for free travel redemptions
- You're willing to pay an annual fee for a higher sign-up bonus and premium benefits
What to Know About Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards is our most valued point system.
- These points are the most flexible of any credit card points. You can book travel items directly through the Chase portal, including cruise, car rental, or speciality hotel. (Or transfer points to their partners).
- The quality of their transfer partners (Hyatt, United & Southwest) is unmatched. As is the value you can get when you transfer.
- You can get a “multiplier effect” (either 1.5x or 1.25x) on your Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you have either of Chase’s Sapphire cards.
- We view Ultimate Rewards as the points “savings account” to top off a partner reward system for a flight or hotel. Or to book travel items directly through the Chase travel portal.
How The Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card Fits In The Chase Ultimate Rewards Ecosystem
If you're considering the Chase Freedom Flex, you're likely at the beginning of your points and miles journey. Understanding where this card fits within Chase's ecosystem helps you make a more strategic decision:
- The Freedom Flex belongs to Chase's entry-level cash back card family, which includes:
- Freedom Rise (flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases)
- Freedom Unlimited (5% on Chase travel portal bookings, 3% on restaurants/drugstores, 1.5% on everything else)
While these no-annual-fee cards provide a starting point, they function best as complementary cards rather than your primary rewards card. The real value emerges when you pair a Freedom card with a premium Chase Sapphire product.
For beginners, we recommend starting with a Sapphire card instead of a Freedom card for these reasons:
- Sapphire cards earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points (more valuable than cash back)
- They provide access to valuable travel transfer partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest
- The Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual fee) includes benefits that offset its cost:
- $50 annual hotel credit
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel
- 25% more value when booking through the Chase portal
For those ready for premium benefits, the Sapphire Reserve delivers exceptional value despite its $550 annual fee, largely offset by its $300 travel credit and other statement benefits.
Remember that Chase's "5/24 rule" limits approvals if you've opened 5+ cards in 24 months, so prioritizing which Chase cards to get first is crucial for maximizing your rewards potential.
Card Information
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20,000 | $500 | 1.6 ¢ | $250 | $0 |
$578
|
| Best Value | Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Back, Ultimate Rewards: Southwest, United & Hyatt transfers. | 5X points back on quarterly rotating categories,5X on travel,3x on drug store and 3x on dining.Combine points with a Sapphire Reserve Card for more value. | 24 from Bonus , 5/24 , Chase 2/30 , Chase 4/6 |
Spend Categories
Department Stores - »
5X points
8¢ Per Dollar Spent
Entertainment and Streaming = »
5X points
8¢ Per Dollar Spent
Restaurants = »
3X points
4.8¢ Per Dollar Spent
Drug Stores + »
3X points
4.8¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
Cell Phone Protection »
your cell phone will be covered against damage or theft up to $800 — with a $50 deductible — up to $1,000 per 12-month period.(Maximum of 2 claims)
your cell phone will be covered against damage or theft up to $800 — with a $50 deductible — up to $1,000 per 12-month period.(Maximum of 2 claims)
Car Rental Insurance »
Using this card gives you secondary car rental insurance on collision and theft, up to the cost of the vehicle.
Using this card gives you secondary car rental insurance on collision and theft, up to the cost of the vehicle.
Travel Insurance »
Trip cancellation insurance up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.
Trip cancellation insurance up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.
Purchase Protection »
Your new purchases are covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Your new purchases are covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Extended Warranty »
This card extends the manufacturer's warranty by 1 additional year on warranties of 3 years or less, up to $10,000 per claim, max $50,000 per account.
This card extends the manufacturer's warranty by 1 additional year on warranties of 3 years or less, up to $10,000 per claim, max $50,000 per account.
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes
Transfer To Friends No
Travel Partner Transfers
Chase Ultimate Rewards Outside Point System
Transfers Out To
Air Canada Aeroplan
1:1 88% value retained
British Airway Executive Avios
1:1 63% value retained
Cash in Cents
1:1 63% value retained
Flying Blue and Air France
1:1 75% value retained
IHG Rewards
1:1 38% value retained
jetBlue trueBlue
1:1 75% value retained
Marriott Bonvoy
1:1 44% value retained
Singapore KrisFlyer
1:1 81% value retained
Southwest Rapid Rewards
1:1 81% value retained
United MileagePlus
1:1 81% value retained
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
1:1 88% value retained
World of Hyatt
1:1 100% value retained
Chase Freedom Flex Application Rules
If you've received a bonus from this card within the last 24 month, you are not eligible for another bonus.
Your application will be declined if 5 new cards are reported on your personal credit report in the past 24 months
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days
Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months
Ranking of Cards Offering Chase Ultimate Rewards
Breaking Points
October 1, 2024
Freedom Flex 5% Categories
March 6, 2023
Mini Points - March 2023
- JetBlue Plus Card - Limited time offer - Barclay Bank - earn 60,000 points after spending $1000 in 3 months, $99/annual fee.
- Venture One Card - Limited time offer - Capital One Bank - earn 40,000 miles after spending $1000 in 3 months, $0/annual fee.
- Alaska Airlines Business Card - Limited time offer - Bank of America - earn 70,000 miles after spending $4000 in 3 months, $70/annual fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business Card - Limited time offer - American Express - earn 125,000 points after spending $5000 in 3 months, $125/annual fee.
- Chase Freedom / Chase Freedom Flex cardholders Q2 2023 - Activation is now open - Amazon & Lowes.
- Discover It - cash back Categories are Live - April - June Restaurants & Wholesale Clubs.
December 15, 2022
Mini Points - December 2022
- Activation is now open for Chase Freedom & Chase Freedom Flex Cardholders, for Q1 running 1/01/2023 - 3/31/2023.
- Discover has released it's Cash Back calendar for quarterly categories.
- Southwest is offering an extension for expiring Companion Passes or refund flights that experienced disrupted holiday travel from 12/24/22 - 1/2/23.
June 16, 2022
5% Categories Open for Q3 on Freedom Cards
Don't forget to activate your 5% back earnings on Chases Freedom Cards. The new quarter just opened up and it's the perfect time to earn while you spend on everyday summer fun like gas, movie tickets, car rentals and more.