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 a new year, Chase has launched its Q1 2024 bonus categories, which many may find to be lucrative. Let’s go over all the details — I’d highly recommend registering ASAP, so that you don’t forget to do so in the future.
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 Q1 2024 bonus categories
For the first quarter of 2024, the Freedom Flex Card is offering 5x points on the first $1,500 spent with grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), fitness clubs and gym memberships, and self-care and spa services. As far as key dates go:
- You need to register between December 15, 2023, and February 15, 2024
- If you register, you can earn 5x points between January 1 and March 31, 2024
How to register your Chase Freedom Flex
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.
Chase Freedom Flex bonus category inclusions
Sometimes there are questions about what’s included in the Chase Freedom Flex Card 5x points bonus categories, so let’s cover Chase’s definition of each of these categories.
Here’s how Chase defines the grocery stores category:
Merchants in this category include supermarkets, merchants that offer a full-service grocery line of merchandise including a deli and bakery as well as smaller grocery stores. Some merchants that sell grocery items are not included in this category; for example, larger stores that sell a wide variety of goods and groceries, such as warehouse clubs, discount stores and some smaller merchants such as drugstores, and merchants that specialize in only a few grocery items. Purchases made at gas stations from merchants who also operate grocery stores are not included in this category. Delivery service merchants will be included if they classify as a grocery store merchant.
Here’s how Chase defines the fitness clubs and gym memberships category:
Merchants in this category include health clubs, exercise, or athletic facilities requiring membership and offering access to services related to physical fitness, such as fitness clubs, fitness centers, fitness studios, gyms, aerobics, cardio fitness and other services such as yoga and cross fit training. Merchants that specialize in offering personalized or therapeutic services such as massage therapy, dietary and weight management counseling and personal training are not included in this category. In addition, some merchants that sell a wide variety of general goods, which may include fitness or athletic apparel, sporting goods, dietary food, health food or similar supplements are not included in this category. Also, certain lodging, hotel, motel, resort and central reservation services offering access to third party facilities that include fitness clubs or gyms are not included in this category unless they classify as a fitness club or gym membership merchant.
Here’s how Chase defines the self-care and spa services category:
This category includes self-care and spa services, such as massages, spa treatments, manicures, tanning, and barber and salon services, purchased at merchant locations that specialize in providing these services. These services are typically provided by licensed professionals, however, services provided by medical professionals will not qualify. Purchases of self-care and spa services at merchants that classify their location in another category, for example spa services purchased in a hotel, will not be included unless the merchant classifies the transactions in this category. Purchases of related products and services, for example hair and skincare products purchased at a salon or an overnight stay at a spa, will also not be included unless the merchant classifies the transactions in this category.
My take on Chase Freedom Flex Q1 2024 bonus categories
Everyone has different spending patterns. Personally I quite like the Q1 2024 bonus categories, mainly because I’m happy to be able to earn 5x points at grocery stores. I’ll probably spend $1,500 there over the course of the quarter without much effort, so that’s easy enough!
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.
Chase has just launched its Q1 2024 bonus categories. Those who register are able to earn 5x points with grocery stories, fitness clubs and gym memberships, and self-care and spa services, in the first quarter of 2024. This is a great way to maximize points, so be sure to register and start adjusting your spending accordingly.
What do you make of the first quarter 2024 Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories?
I hold on to this card because it is free and it is part of the Chase group of cards, but I often wonder why I still do so. The categories on this card have become less and less useful and increasingly specific or conflict with other cards.
My wife recently signed up for the Chase Freedom Flex. For the next 12 months, she gets 5x at Grocery Stores and Gas Stations (up to 12k spend). Do you think this is a double-dip opportunity? ie 10x at grocery stores during Q1. Thanks.
In the past categories like this have stacked. However, the math is a little different. The bonus categories are considered an extra 4x on top of the usual 1x back. So if it does stack, it would be 1x + 4x + 4x = 9x back.
For the current quarter, when you use 5x Paypal at a drugstore, which usually gets 3x on the Freedom Flex, you end up with 1x + 4x + 2x = 7x back.
Actually some nice categories. Grocery is always nice - plus, gym/fitness is great too. I usually switch my Equinox payments to Amex Platinum at the beginning of the year to get the $300 credits. Now, it looks like I will wait until 2Q to do that.
I also second the other comment - people should generally have both a Freedom and Freedom Flex. I am guessing people can apply for another chase card, like a Slate, and product change to a Freedom?
"...I’ll probably spend $1,500 there over the course of the quarter."
I'm a bit surprised you only have one Freedom card as its quite easy to have multiple. I think once you get the sign-up bonus for the Freedom unlimited, its best to convert that to a Freedom card because any non-bonus spend is better put on the Venture X or Amex BBP