The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a must-have credit card. Are you still on the fence about whether or not you should get it?
The Chase Freedom card was a must, simply because of its quarterly 5% bonus categories (which we’ll discuss in a minute.) The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also boasts that perk and several more bonus categories we’ll discuss in a minute.
Here are 9 reasons why we think it belongs in your wallet.
No Annual Fee
“No annual fee” is relatively self-explanatory. There’s no worry about whether or not it “pays for itself.” Most importantly, this card packs a lot of punch for a card that doesn’t carry an annual fee.
Plus, it saves you the pain of yearly retention calls.
5% Quarterly Bonus Cashback Categories
Each quarter, Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders are eligible to receive 5% bonus cash back (or 5X points) from select spending categories.
The benefit maxes out at $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter. So the most you get back each quarter is $75 (or $300 each year).
That’s pretty decent for a no-annual-fee card.
Categories are announced each quarter, and cardholders must manually activate the benefit.
In 2020, they were:
- Q1: January – March
- Select streaming services
- Gas stations
- Phone, cable, and Internet services
- Q2: April – June
- Grocery stores
- Select streaming services
- Gym memberships
- Fitness clubs
- Q3: July – September
- Amazon
- Whole Foods
- Q4: October – December
- PayPal
- Walmart
In 2021, we enjoyed:
- Q1: January – March
- Select streaming services
- Wholesale clubs
- Phone, cable, and Internet services
- Q2: April – June
- Gas stations
- Home improvement stores
- Q3: July – September
- Grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart)
- Select streaming services
- Q4: October – December
- PayPal
- Walmart
Here’s how 2022 is shaping up:
- Q1: January – March
- Grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart)
- eBay
- Q2: April – June
- Amazon purchases
- Select streaming services
- Q3: July – September
- Gas stations
- Rental car agencies
- Movie theaters
- Select live entertainment
If you don’t like a quarter’s categories, simply don’t use them. But we generally blog a few ideas on how to maximize your earnings whenever the quarterly bonuses are announced.
3% on Dining at Restaurants and Food Delivery Services
You earn 3% back when using your Chase Freedom Flex℠ to pay at restaurants or select food delivery services.
Earns Ultimate Rewards
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points — which you can then convert to statement credit or to cash. Either method carries a value of one cent per point. For example, $100 spent in a 5% category earns 500 Ultimate Rewards points. You can then apply that as $5 in statement credit, transfer it to your bank account, or have Chase send you a check.
Or use it to book award travel or transfer to a Chase travel partner. Chase has plenty of partnerships with great airline and hotel programs. (If you like Hyatt, Marriott, or IHG hotels, Chase Ultimate Rewards® cards are definitely worth your attention.)
Keep in mind you can also transfer points between Chase Ultimate Rewards® accounts — which is a big plus for Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® members can redeem their points for travel — but with an automatic 50% bonus. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders, meanwhile, get a 25% bonus when redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for travel booked through Chase.
RELATED: Why and How Delta Flyers Can Benefit from Chase Ultimate Rewards®
5% Back on Travel Booked Through Chase’s Travel Program
Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders receive 5% cashback (5X Ultimate Rewards points) when using their Flex card to purchase airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals, activities, and cruises through the Chase travel site. Think of it as, essentially, a 5% discount (in the long run) on travel.
Easy $200 Cashback Welcome Offer
Some cards require you spend thousands of dollars to earn their welcome bonuses. (In many cases, it’s worth it.)
But don’t worry about that with the Chase Freedom Flex℠. The current welcome offer gives new cardholders a $200 bonus (paid as 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points) after spending just $500 on purchases within three months of being approved.
3% Back at Drugstores
Here’s an interesting category! Chase offers Chase Freedom Flex℠ (and Chase Freedom Unlimited®) cardholders 3% cashback (3X URs) on eligible purchases at drugstores.
(Thinking outside of the box: this saves some money on liquor and other treats at those Las Vegas Strip CVS and Wallgreens locations! ;-). )
Mastercard Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection Program
If you pay your monthly cell phone service bill with your Chase Freedom Flex℠ card, you’re eligible for Mastercard’s Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection Program. This reimburses you for damage to or theft of your phone.
Final Approach
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a no-brainer, simply because of the 5% quarterly bonus category. And considering there’s no annual fee and its host of points-earnings opportunities, it’s a great card to hold.
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There are 4 quarters in the year. Shouldn’t it be a total maximum of $300 a year instead of the $225? ($75 x 4)
Thank you!
Some notes on Chase and US Bank travel awards. You get a percentage bonus when booking through their systems, but in my experience:
1) Not all flights are available. I recently tried to book some Delta flights to Europe. Some flights which were available directly on Delta were not listed on either site.
2) If you have to change your flight in the Chase system and incur an additional cost, the bonus does not apply to the increased cost. You pay dollar for dollar.