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2024 Chase Freedom bonus categories: Get 5% back on PayPal and pet purchases this quarter

Yahoo Personal Finance· Getty Images
Kendall Little
·Senior Writer, Credit Cards
8 min read

Cash-back fans who are willing to strategize their regular spending can get a big annual return from the Chase Freedom Flex®*.

In fact, using 2023’s rewards categories, we estimate that the average American can earn upwards of $400 cash back with this no-annual-fee card each year, based on consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But for that, you’ll need to take full advantage of its quarterly bonus categories.

We’re now in the fourth quarter of 2024, so current bonus categories will last through the end of the year. While it may be hard to imagine planning for the holidays already, you can use these categories to offset your regular purchases and holiday shopping throughout the season.

From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024, get 5% bonus cash back in these categories with your Chase Freedom Flex:

  • PayPal

  • Pet shops and veterinary services

  • Select charities

  • McDonald’s

In this article:

Chase Freedom Flex® Card

  • Annual fee
    $0
  • Welcome offer
    Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Rewards, Cash-back
  • Purchase APR
    20.49% - 29.49% variable
  • Introductory APR
    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
  • Rewards rate
    • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
    • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
    • 3% on dining, including takeout and drug stores
    • 1% on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • Get 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, plus select DoorDash discounts
    • Enjoy perks like extended warranty protection, trip cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, and auto rental collision damage waiver
    • Redeem your cash back rewards as a statement credit, direct deposit, gift card, on Amazon purchases, or to book travel through Chase
    • Use the introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, after which the standard APR will apply
Learn more

Each quarter, you can earn 5% back in select bonus categories with your Chase Freedom Flex.

Chase only announces new categories shortly before a new quarter starts, so it can be difficult to plan your spending throughout the year. However, we’ve included last year’s full calendar of categories to help you get an idea of what types of categories may come later in the year since they often repeat.

The current categories are in bold:

Remember: For purchases to count toward the 5% bonus category, they must post to your account by the last day of the quarter. That means purchases you make toward a Q4 category on December 31 (the last day of the quarter) may not apply since they can take up to a few days to post as a charge on your statement.

To earn 5% cash-back rewards, you must activate the categories each quarter. These are the dates to keep in mind throughout the year so you never miss an activation:

  • Q1 January - March: Activate by March 14

  • Q2 April - June: Activate by June 14

  • Q3 July - September: Activate by Sept. 14

  • Q4 October - December: Activate by Dec. 14

While you don’t have to activate until close to the end of each quarter, it’s smart to check your account at the start. You can review the eligible categories for the months ahead and activate them.

If you do wait until the activation deadline, don’t worry. Your 5% rewards will still apply retroactively to qualifying purchases you’ve already made throughout the quarter.

Activate the current bonus categories by logging into your Chase account online or through the mobile app. You can also activate in person at a Chase bank branch by calling the number on the back of your card or even while visiting a Chase ATM.

If you’re worried about forgetting quarterly deadlines, consider signing up for email reminders from Chase when it’s time to activate.

This quarter, the Chase Freedom Flex 5% categories include PayPal, pet shops and veterinary care, select charities, and McDonald’s. Here are some details about each one to help make the most of your spending.

To earn 5% cash back on purchases you make using PayPal, simply connect your Chase Freedom Flex card to the payment platform. Sign into your PayPal account, navigate to your Profile, and select Add/Edit Credit Card. After you enter the required card information, you can save it to use on any purchase.

This is an especially flexible rewards category since PayPal is an accepted payment method across thousands of sites. If you’re planning to shop online for holiday gifts, for example, you can use PayPal on sites like Etsy, eBay, Foot Locker, and Toys R Us. Beyond that, you can also rack up rewards using PayPal on plenty of sites where you may spend more regularly — Netflix, Lyft, Hello Fresh, Spotify, and more.

Just note that peer-to-peer transactions do not count toward the 5% Chase Freedom Flex category. You’ll only earn rewards for purchases you make from retailers, not money sent between friends.

Pet owners can score savings this quarter with 5% cash back at both pet shops and the vet.

Chase describes pet shops as online or in-store retailers that sell domestic pets, pet supplies and accessories, pet food, or pet services. That means you can save when you pick up surprise holiday treats for your cat or stock up on your dog’s favorite kibble.

The vet services category specifically applies to licensed practitioners who provide medical, dental, or surgical services for pets. If you’re overdue for a veterinary check-in, this could be a great time to visit.

A few related purchases that do not earn 5% rewards in this category include animal day care services, pet insurance, and grooming.

If you want to earn rewards on your end-of-year giving, take note of the select charities eligible for 5% cash back on donations. They include:

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

Chase specifies that you should donate directly through the parent organization sites to make sure your donation is eligible; because rewards are based on transaction processing and merchant codes, local chapter donations may not qualify.

McDonald’s lovers can earn a ton of value on their fast food favorites this quarter. This 5% rewards category is stackable with the Chase Freedom Flex’s ongoing 3% dining rewards for a total of 7% cash back on McDonald’s spending.

The total equals 7% because both bonus categories build upon the card’s 1% standard rewards rate. So you’ll earn the 1% base rewards rate + additional 4% for the quarterly bonus category + additional 2% for dining purchases.

Read more: Best credit cards for restaurants

While Chase Freedom Flex is a cash-back credit card, you can also use your rewards for travel redemptions through Chase’s rewards program. Even better, you can combine points with other top Chase credit cards under your same account to further supercharge your redemptions with the card issuer.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • Annual fee
    $95
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (that's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠)
  • Card type(s)
    Travel
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    21.49% - 28.49% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel
    • 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
    • 2x points on all other travel purchases
    • 1x points on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel
    • Earn up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
    • On every account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year
Learn more

Though it does have some overlapping rewards categories, the Chase Sapphire Preferred makes a great pair with the Freedom Flex because of its 25% redemption boost.

When you redeem your Chase Freedom Flex rewards for travel through Chase, you’ll get 1 cent per point. But Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards are worth 1.25 cents per point when you redeem them through Chase Travel. With both cards in your wallet, you can maximize spending in eligible bonus categories, then pool your points and redeem them using your Sapphire Preferred for maximum redemption value.

There’s another travel perk to combining these cards, too. Sapphire Preferred cardholders have the option to transfer points to Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners. If you want to transfer your Chase rewards to your United MileagePlus or Marriott Bonvoy account, for example, these cards can make a powerful pair.

Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred review

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

  • Annual fee
    $550
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (that's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠)
  • Card type(s)
    Travel
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    22.49% - 29.49% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 10x points on hotels and rental cars purchased through Chase Travel*
    • 5x points on flights purchased through Chase Travel*
    • 3x points on dining and other travel purchases
    • 1x points on all other purchases
    • *After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
  • Benefits
    • Points are worth 50% more when you redeem through Chase Travel
    • Earn up to $300 in annual statement credits for travel purchases
    • Receive up to a $100 statement credit every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
Learn more

There are many benefits to combining a premium rewards credit card like Chase Sapphire Reserve with the Freedom Flex. But with a high annual fee, this option is likely best for frequent travelers looking to boost their travel rewards with cash-back earnings.

Sapphire Reserve points get a 50% boost when you redeem through Chase Travel — when you pool your Freedom Flex rewards under your Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can get up to 1.5 cents per point for travel. You can also transfer Sapphire Reserve points to Chase’s travel partners.

With the extra travel benefits, combining these two cards can be a great way to ensure you get maximum travel value from your spending while still keeping the flexibility of rotating bonus categories.

Read more: Chase Sapphire Reserve review

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  • Annual fee
    $0
  • Welcome offer
    Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back
  • Card type(s)
    Cash-Back
  • Introductory Purchases APR
    0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    20.49% - 29.24% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
    • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (includes takeout and eligible delivery service)
    • 1.5% on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts
    • Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more
    • 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers (20.49% - 29.24% variable APR after that).
Learn more

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a no-annual-fee cash-back card that’s similar to the Freedom Flex. It earns the same 5% cash back on Chase Travel, plus 3% back on dining and at drugstores. But instead of 5% back in rotating quarterly categories, the Freedom Unlimited earns a flat 1.5% cash back on all other spending.

Both Freedom cards earn rewards that can be redeemed as points through Chase Travel, so you can pool your points for a bigger redemption. Unlike the Sapphire cards, though, you won’t get any boost on your rewards; they’re worth a standard 1 cent per point. You also can’t access Chase’s transfer partners with the Freedom Flex or Freedom Unlimited.

With the overlap in rewards categories and lack of added boost for redemptions, there are probably fewer benefits to combining the two Freedom cards compared to a Freedom and Sapphire card pair. But if you like earning cash back and want to maximize quarterly categories while still earning a minimum 1.5% back, this could make a solid combination.

Read more:
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Freedom Flex
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Sapphire Preferred

This article was edited by Alicia Hahn

*All information about Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by Yahoo Finance. Chase Freedom Flex is no longer available through Yahoo Finance.

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.