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. With it now being the fourth quarter, Chase has just launched its Q4 2024 bonus categories, so I’d highly recommend registering ASAP.
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 Q4 2024 bonus categories
For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Freedom Flex Card is offering 5x points on the first $1,500 spent on McDonald’s, PayPal, pet shops, vet services, and select charities. As far as key dates go:
- You need to register between September 15 and December 14, 2024
- If you register, you can earn 5x points between October 1 and December 31, 2024
How to register your Chase Freedom Flex for 5x points
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.
5x points categories definitions & inclusions
It’s always worth clarifying what exactly is and isn’t included with each of the bonus categories, so let me briefly go over that.
The McDonald’s category includes the following:
Purchases in the McDonald’s category include purchases at McDonald’s stores, including locations within third-party vendors, and on the McDonald’s mobile app.
The PayPal category includes the following:
Purchases made using PayPal at merchants in the current 5% quarterly categories will be awarded a total of 5% Cash Back rewards. Payments made through the Xoom transfer service are not eligible for 5%. Must have/open a PayPal account. Please note, Person-to-Person (P2P) transactions made with your Chase Freedom card on PayPal may not be eligible for 5%.
The pet shops and vet services category includes the following:
Merchants in this category provide products and/or services for pet care. Pet shops, including online pet shops, sell domestic pets, pet supplies, accessories, pet food, and/or services for the upkeep of pets. Vet Services include licensed practitioners who provide veterinary medicine, dentistry or surgery for pets, livestock and other animals. Purchases of prescription and over-the-counter medications, supplements, and other health-related items for pets purchased through pet shops, veterinary service providers, or pharmacies that specialize in medication for pets will qualify in this category; however purchases of these items through other merchants, such as drugstores, grocery stores, and traditional pharmacies, will not qualify. Other merchants that provide pet-related services are not included in this category; for example, boarders, groomers, walkers, sitters, trainers, daycare operators and sellers of pet insurance.
The select charities category includes the following:
This category includes the charities listed below:
- American Red Cross
- Equal Justice Initiatives
- Feeding America
- Habitat for Humanity
- International Medical Corps
- International Rescue Committee
- Leadership Conference Education Fund
- NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
- National Urban League
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund
- United Negro College Fund
- UNICEF USA
- United Way
- World Central Kitchen
- GLSEN
- Out and Equal
- Sage
To ensure your charitable donation is eligible for the 5% Cash Back reward, be sure to donate directly to the charity’s parent organization using the links provided here or on the Merchant List page. Local chapters may not be eligible due to transaction processing procedures.
My take on Q4 2024 5x points categories
Everyone has different spending patterns, so won’t like these bonus categories equally. Personally I quite like the Q4 2024 bonus categories, and what stands out to me most is PayPal, as that’s easy enough to maximize, given all the online purchases that can be made through the company. That should allow me to easily reach the spending cap.
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. The Q4 2024 bonus categories have just launched, and between October 1 and December 31, 2024, those who register are able to earn 5x points with McDonald’s, PayPal, pet shops, vet services, and select charities.
What do you make of the Q4 2024 Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories?
Fourth quarter 5x options are terrible. Worst ever. McDonald’s? Is this a joke?
Putting the card away until next year I suppose.
McDonald’s? McDonald’s! Oh GTFO! What a joke.
No Amazon shopping? No Wholesale Store shopping? Perfect choice of McDonalds for the holiday buying season
The categories have become more specific and less relevant over time. It used to be general such as mobile phone or restaurants but now it’s down to specific retailers or methods of payment. Also categories conflict with other cards that give the same or equal return.
These categories suck!
PayPal is widely accepted for online shopping.
Totally agree. Pay pal sucks as an organization- for example don't ever make a foreign transaction, whether in a foreign currency or USD, you will get hit with MASSIVE fees even on a no fx card.
As a result these categories are a big nothing burger (pun intended).