Chase is kicking off 2025 with a bang for Chase Freedom (no longer available to new applicants) and Chase Freedom Flex® cardholders. For the first quarter, we’re seeing the return of three of our favorite categories and a brand-new one.
During the first quarter of next year, cardholders can earn bonus rewards on spending at select grocery stores, on fitness club and gym memberships, on self-care and spa services, and — for the first time — on Norweigan Cruise Line purchases.
Many of us are setting goals around health and wellness for the new year, and this is a great chance to earn some extra rewards along the way. Whether you’re focused on cooking more at home, checking out a new gym, reducing stress by adding in some spa treatments or cruising the high seas, there’s a bonus category for you.
You can now activate to earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) on up to $1,500 of spending in these categories — and 1% (or 1 point per dollar) after that — between Jan. 1 and March 31.
The information for the Freedom credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex Q1 2025 categories
From Jan. 1 through March 31, Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex cardmembers can earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) on spending in the following categories:
- Select grocery stores (including Instacart)
- Fitness club and gym memberships
- Self-care and spa services
- Norwegian Cruise Line purchases (must book directly with the cruise line)
As noted above, you must activate your card to unlock the bonus-earning potential in these categories.
It’s simple to complete this process through your Chase account; just provide your last name, the last four digits of your card and your ZIP code. Registration is now open.
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Analyzing the Q1 bonus categories
The first quarter of the year is the perfect time to take inventory of your habits and set new goals for the coming year. If your 2025 goals involve meal planning, the grocery category is worth getting excited about. Even better: Most grocery delivery services (including Instacart) are covered, so you can save time while earning more.
Regardless of your fitness habits, a fitness club or gym membership can be a significant expense that doesn’t fit into many credit card bonus categories. This is why it’s especially nice to see it as a first-quarter bonus category.
Self-care and spa services are returning as a bonus category for the second time. Whether you’re treating yourself by going for a new look at the salon or booking some much-needed relaxation time at the spa, you’ll earn bonus rewards on your me-time.
You might be looking for a post-holidays reprieve and somewhere to go over a long weekend (like the ones coming up for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day) or spring break. If so, booking a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line will net you some bonus cash back or points.
Here are the bonus details:
- Grocery stores: Home chefs and meal preppers will rejoice to see the return of the grocery store category. As noted above, grocery-specific delivery services (such as Instacart) are included in this category. However, stores that sell a wide range of products — such as wholesale clubs like Costco and big-box retailers like Target — are not included.
- Fitness club and gym memberships: If you’re joining a snazzy new fitness studio, pay with your Freedom or Freedom Flex to earn bonus rewards and kick up the excitement to another level. If you’re continuing an existing membership, switch your card on file to your Freedom or Freedom Flex for the first quarter and use the extra rewards to treat yourself. Note, however, that only physical studio memberships are included; you won’t earn bonus rewards on fitness streaming subscriptions.
- Self-care and spa services: The return of this category is exciting, as the new year is a great time to invest in self-care and stress relief. Eligible beauty and recovery treatments (such as massages, spa treatments, manicures, tanning, and barber and salon services) at a spa or participating salon will earn bonus rewards this quarter. However, services provided within a different type of business, such as a spa within a hotel, are not included.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Avid cruisers — or those who have never tried one before — can take advantage of earning cash back (or points) on cruises booked directly with NCL. Purchases through third-party vendors and travel agencies — such as sightseeing activities, excursions and tourist attractions — are not included.
Remember that Chase limits the 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) to the first $1,500 spent in combined bonus categories each quarter you activate the bonus. After you reach the maximum, you’ll earn 1% back on these purchases.
FAQs about Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories
How do rotating categories work?
Each quarter, Chase announces a group of bonus categories that will earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) throughout the upcoming three-month period. Generally, these categories are announced halfway through the month before the new quarter starts to give cardmembers time to activate new categories beforehand. However, you can activate your categories until midway through the last month of the quarter.
The categories tend to repeat periodically. For instance, grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations are all common categories you’ll notice frequently pop up on the cash-back calendar. So, depending on the categories and whether you can maximize them, these two cards can offer quite a nice chunk of cash back or bonus points over the year.
Related: Chase Freedom Flex card review: Incredible earning with no annual fee
How much cash back can I earn each quarter?
Chase limits the 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) to the first $1,500 spent in combined bonus categories each quarter you activate the bonus.
While that may not sound like a lot, that cash back adds up over time. Maximizing the cash-back categories each quarter, you’ll earn $75 in cash back quarterly and up to $300 per year. For a no-annual-fee credit card, that’s a lot of value.
Alternatively, since the cash back you earn comes in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you’re looking at a potential of up to 30,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points earned each year. Suppose you also have a premium product like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. In that case, you can combine the Ultimate Rewards points you earn with your Chase Freedom or Freedom Flex card with those you earn from your more premium Ultimate Rewards-earning card, and they become fully transferable.
In that case, TPG’s December 2024 valuations peg Chase points at 2.05 cents apiece — making the 30,000 points you can earn in a year worth $615.
How do I activate my 5% categories each quarter?
You can head to Chase’s site to activate your 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) for this quarter. You can also register through your Chase mobile app, making one less credit card website you’ll need to visit regularly this year.
Here’s how to register:
1. Head to the Chase bonus activation page, or log into your Chase account.
2. Enter your last name, the last four digits of your card number, and your billing ZIP code. If you don’t have your card on hand, log in to your Chase account to retrieve these digits.
3. Click “Activate your 5%” to register.
4. If you have multiple Chase Freedom cards, make sure to register each one.
5. Save a screenshot of your activation in case of any issues later — though you should also receive a “You’re Activated!” confirmation email.
Can I have both the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Flex to double my earning potential?
Yes, you can have both cards. So, if you already have the Chase Freedom and want to add the Chase Freedom Flex to your wallet, you’re free to do so.
Remember that the original Freedom card is no longer open to new applicants. If you’d rather only have one, though, the Freedom Flex is available as a product change.
Of course, you’ll also want to ensure you’re eligible for a new Chase card.
How do I maximize my Freedom and Freedom Flex cards?
The most important thing is to activate your card to earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) each quarter in the specific categories and then use your card for purchases in those categories.
You can set up a recurring reminder in your calendar, or sign up for the TPG newsletter. (We send out a reminder when it’s time to activate every quarter, plus tips and tricks for how to maximize your card strategy and score some excellent award redemptions.)
Better yet, when paired with a Chase credit card that earns fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the Chase Freedom Flex’s 5% cash back effectively becomes 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar. You can learn all about this in our guide detailing the “Chase Trifecta.”
In that case, you can transfer the points earned with the Freedom Flex to Ultimate Rewards points, as well as to travel partners like Southwest Airlines, Hyatt and United Airlines.
What are common bonus categories for the Freedom and the Freedom Flex?
Of course, you’ll also want to make sure that you’ll potentially be able to maximize other bonus categories throughout the year. For reference, here are the previous Chase Freedom quarterly categories back to 2012 so you can decide if common categories make sense for your spending patterns:
| Year/Quarter | Bonus Categories |
|---|---|
| 2025 — Q1 | Select grocery stores, fitness club and gym memberships, self-care and spa services, and Norweigan Cruise Line purchases |
| 2024 — Q4 | McDonald’s (elevated 7% cash back for Freedom Flex cardholders), PayPal, pet shops and veterinarian services, and select charities |
| 2024 — Q3 | Gas and electric vehicle charging stations, movie theaters, and select live entertainment |
| 2024 — Q2 | Hotels booked through Chase Travel℠, dining and Amazon (different earning rates depending on the card, i.e., 9%, 7% and 5%, respectively, for the Freedom Flex; 5% for all three categories for the Freedom) |
| 2024 — Q1 | Select grocery stores, fitness club and gym memberships, and self-care and spa services |
| 2023 — Q4 | PayPal, select charities and wholesale clubs |
| 2023 — Q3 | Gas stations, EV charging and select live entertainment |
| 2023 — Q2 | Amazon and Lowe’s |
| 2023 — Q1 | Grocery stores, gym memberships and fitness clubs, and Target |
| 2022 — Q4 | PayPal and Walmart |
| 2022 — Q3 | Gas stations, rental cars, movie theaters and select live entertainment |
| 2022 — Q2 | Amazon and select streaming services |
| 2022 — Q1 | Grocery stores and eBay |
| 2021 — Q4 | PayPal and Walmart |
| 2021 — Q3 | Grocery stores and select streaming services |
| 2021 — Q2 | Gas stations and home improvement stores |
| 2021 — Q1 | Wholesale clubs, select streaming services and internet, cable and phone services |
| 2020 — Q4 | PayPal and Walmart |
| 2020 — Q3 | Amazon and Whole Foods Market |
| 2020 — Q2 | Grocery stores, gym memberships and fitness clubs, and select streaming services |
| 2020 — Q1 | Gas stations; internet, cable and phone services; and select streaming services |
| 2019 — Q4 | Chase Pay, PayPal and department stores |
| 2019 — Q3 | Gas stations and streaming services |
| 2019 — Q2 | Grocery stores and home improvement |
| 2019 — Q1 | Gas stations, drugstores and tolls |
| 2018 — Q4 | Wholesale clubs, department stores and Chase Pay |
| 2018 — Q3 | Lyft, Walgreens and gas stations |
| 2018 — Q2 | Groceries, PayPal and Chase Pay |
| 2018 — Q1 | Mobile wallets, gas stations and internet, cable and phone service merchants |
| 2017 — Q4 | Walmart and department stores |
| 2017 — Q3 | Restaurants and movie theaters |
| 2017 — Q2 | Grocery stores and drugstores |
| 2017 — Q1 | Gas stations and local commuter transportation |
| 2016 — Q4 | Wholesale clubs, drugstores and department stores |
| 2016 — Q3 | Restaurants and wholesale clubs |
| 2016 — Q2 | Grocery stores and wholesale clubs |
| 2016 — Q1 | Gas stations and local commuter transportation |
| 2015 — Q4 | Amazon, Zappos, Audible and Diapers.com |
| 2015 — Q3 | Gas stations and Kohl’s |
| 2015 — Q2 | Restaurants, Bed Bath & Beyond, H&M and Overstock |
| 2015 — Q1 | Grocery stores, movie theaters and Starbucks |
| 2014 — Q4 | Amazon, Zappos and department stores |
| 2014 — Q3 | Gas stations and Kohl’s |
| 2014 — Q2 | Restaurants and Lowe’s |
| 2014 — Q1 | Gas stations, movie theaters and Starbucks |
| 2013 — Q4 | Department stores and Amazon |
| 2012 — Q3 | Gas stations, theme parks and Kohl’s |
| 2012 — Q2 | Restaurants and movie theaters |
| 2012 — Q1 | Gas stations, drugstores and Starbucks |
Bottom line
If you’re a Chase Freedom or Freedom Flex cardholder, activate to earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) on grocery, fitness club and gym membership, self-care and spa, and Norwegian Cruise Line purchases during the first quarter of 2025.
In addition to the rotating bonus categories, the Freedom Flex accrues 5% cash back on all other travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, 3% cash back on dining (including eligible delivery services), and 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex with a sign-up bonus of $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
