The Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card (review) is a useful no annual fee card belonging to Chase’s Freedom portfolio, which can help you maximize your points, thanks to its quarterly bonus categories. With a new quarter being around the corner, Chase has just opened registration for its Q3 2026 bonus categories, so this is a great time to register.
For Q3, you can earn 5x points on the first $1,500 spent on gas stations, public transit, EV charging, select live entertainment, and donations to United Way. Register here between June 15 and September 14, 2026.
Note that these same bonus categories are also valid for the Chase Freedom Card, which is no longer open to new applicants.
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Why I love the Chase Freedom Flex Card
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 cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review), Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review), or Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (review), rewards earned on this card can be converted into premium Ultimate Rewards points, and be transferred to the Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel partners.
Since I value one Ultimate Rewards point at significantly more than one cent, that’s my preferred use of those points.
Chase Freedom Flex Q3 2026 bonus categories
For the third quarter of 2026, the Freedom Flex Card is offering 5x points on the first $1,500 spent on gas stations, public transit, EV charging, select live entertainment, and donations to United Way. As far as key dates go:
- You need to register between June 15 and September 14, 2026
- If you register, you can earn 5x points between July 1 and September 30, 2026
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.
What’s included for Q3 2026 bonus categories
It’s always worth understanding how the 5x points bonus categories on the Chase Freedom Flex are defined, since there are terms and exclusions, so let’s cover those details.
Gas purchases includes the following:
Merchants in this category sell automotive gasoline that can be paid for either at the pump or inside the station and may or may not sell other goods or services at their location. Merchants that do not specialize in selling automotive gasoline are not included in this category; for example, truck stops, boat marinas, oil and propane distributors, and home heating companies.
EV charging includes the following:
Merchants in this category sell electric vehicle charging services that can be paid at the charging station, via mobile app, account/subscription or an attendant, and the merchants may or may not sell other goods or services at their location. Merchants must use the electric vehicle charging MCC for transaction to be rewarded against. If electric vehicle charging services are offered for free by a merchant or are included in their services, but other services/goods require payment, the transactions will not be rewarded against. In the event, parking facility merchants, such as valet parking, airport parking, and parking garages, charge to the MCC that results in the highest sales volume, the transaction will not be rewarded against. Residential electric vehicle charging is not included in this category. Electric vehicle charging equipment purchases and servicing for any use, including residential or commercial, are not included in this category.
Public transit includes the following:
Merchants in this category include operators of passenger trains, buses, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages. Merchants that provide transportation and related services are not included in this category, for example, airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, vacation clubs, tour operators, bike or scooter rentals and car sharing. Taxis, Limousines, and rideshares such as Lyft or Uber are not included in this category.
Select live entertainment includes the following:
Merchants in this category sell tickets for live in-person entertainment such as major sporting events, zoos and aquariums, concerts, theatrical productions, museums, tourist attractions and exhibits, amusement parks, circuses, carnivals, bands, and entertainers. Ticket agencies selling on behalf of the entertainment venue are included. Some merchants that sell tickets for in-person entertainment are not included in this category; for example, movie theaters, bowling alleys, horse racing tracks, casinos, and dance hall/clubs. Purchasing from a hotel/concierge is not included nor excursions or purchases as part of a travel package.
United Way donations include the following:
To ensure your charitable donation is eligible for the 5% Cash Back reward, be sure to donate directly through United Way’s official channels. Find your local United Way using the link provided here: www.Unitedway.org. Certain local United Ways may not be eligible due to transaction processing procedures.
My take on Q3 2026 5x points categories
Everyone has different spending patterns, so will have different takes on the quarterly bonus categories. For my own purposes, I’d consider these to be moderately useful bonus categories, but not the most useful. In other words, I’ll get some value out of this, but I don’t think I’ll be maxing out points in Q3.
For me, gas stations and public transit are the two bonus categories that will be useful there. However, those are both things I don’t spend that much on, and for that matter, a majority of my public transit spending is abroad, where the card has foreign transaction fees. So I suspect I’ll get some value out of this, but won’t reach the $1,500 cap.
Lastly, while making a donation to United Way sounds nice, I don’t typically choose where to make a donation based on the number of points I can earn.
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. With a new quarter being around the corner, Chase has just opened registration for its Q3 2026 bonus categories, so be sure to register.
Between July 1 and September 30, it’s possible to earn 5x points on gas stations, public transit, EV charging, select live entertainment, and donations to United Way. These are some pretty well rounded bonus categories, and it should be possible to get some value here. However, personally those aren’t categories I spend $1,500+ in per quarter, so they’re not the most useful for me, personally.
What do you make of the Q3 2026 Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories?
I wonder if purchasing Olympic tickets would count towards the Live Entertainment category. When I purchased some LA Olympics tickets back in April, I used my Citi Double Cash card and it was categorized as 'Entertainment - Commercial Sports, Pro Sports Clubs.'
I'll hopefully get another opportunity to purchase tickets in August for the 2nd drop, and would love to use my Freedom card if the bonus applies.
Actually a really good category, especially for summer road trips, or if you live in a city, like NYC, with relatively affordable, pretty reliable, nearly 24/7, (even if not always 'clean'), public transit system.
Does Costco gas typically count as "gas" for Chase? This is my first time having a costco membership during a gas category.
Costco gas does code as "gas" but Costco only takes Visa, not MC, and the current Freedom Flex card is MC. You'd need the old Freedom card which is Visa.
In my experience, yes. But you'll need the old Chase Freedom Visa (not the Freedom Flex) to be able to take advantage, since the latter is a Mastercard.