This quarter’s rotating 5% categories for Chase Freedom Flex / Freedom and Discover it Cash Back, with the cap, the activation deadline and the cards that earn them. Calendar last updated October 7, 2026.
Ranked by math · Compensation never changes the order · Methodology
Rotating-category cards pay 5% on a short list of spending types that changes every quarter, up to a spending cap, and only after you activate. Used well, they beat any flat-rate card on those purchases; skipped activations are the most common way people miss out. Below is what applies right now, straight from our calendar table, followed by every past quarter we have on record so you can see how often a category comes back.
October 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
October 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
Only quarters that have already started are shown.
| Quarter | 5% categories |
|---|---|
| Q4 2026 (now) | American Red Cross · Grocery stores (excluding Walmart & Target) · Dining |
| Q3 2026 | Select live entertainment · United Way · Public transit · Gas stations & EV charging |
| Q2 2026 | Chase Travel · Feeding America · Amazon |
| Q1 2026 | American Heart Association · Norwegian Cruise Line · Dining |
| Q4 2025 | Chase Travel · Department stores · Old Navy · PayPal |
| Q3 2025 | Gas stations & EV charging · Instacart · Select live entertainment |
| Q2 2025 | Amazon · Select streaming services · Internet, cable & phone services |
| Q1 2025 | Fitness clubs & gym memberships · Grocery stores (excluding Walmart & Target) · Hair, nails & spa services · Norwegian Cruise Line · Insurance payments & tax preparation services |
| Q4 2024 | McDonald's · PayPal · Pet shops & vet services · Select charities |
| Q3 2024 | Gas stations & EV charging · Movie theaters · Select live entertainment |
| Q2 2024 | Hotels · Restaurants · Amazon & Whole Foods Market |
| Q1 2024 | Fitness clubs & gym memberships · Grocery stores (excluding Walmart & Target) · Self-care & spa services |
| Q4 2023 | PayPal · Select charities · Wholesale clubs |
| Q3 2023 | Gas stations & EV charging · Select live entertainment |
| Q2 2023 | Amazon.com · Lowe's |
| Q1 2023 | Fitness clubs & gym memberships · Grocery stores (excluding Walmart) · Target |
| Quarter | 5% categories |
|---|---|
| Q4 2026 (now) | Entertainment · Restaurants · Utilities |
| Q3 2026 | Drug stores · Gas stations & EV charging · Transportation |
| Q2 2026 | Home improvement stores · Restaurants |
| Q1 2026 | Grocery stores · Select streaming services · Wholesale clubs |
| Q4 2025 | Amazon.com · Drug stores |
| Q3 2025 | Gas stations & EV charging · Public transit · Utilities |
| Q2 2025 | Grocery stores · Wholesale clubs |
| Q1 2025 | Home improvement stores · Restaurants · Select streaming services |
| Q4 2024 | Amazon.com · Target |
| Q3 2024 | Grocery stores · Walmart |
| Q2 2024 | Gas stations & EV charging stations · Home improvement stores · Public transit |
| Q1 2024 | Drug stores · Restaurants |
| Q4 2023 | Amazon.com · Target |
| Q3 2023 | Digital wallets · Gas stations |
| Q2 2023 | Restaurants · Wholesale clubs |
| Q1 2023 | Drug stores · Grocery stores · Select streaming services |
Categories, dates, caps and activation rules come from our rotating-category calendar, checked against each issuer’s announcement. The current quarter is whatever quarter today’s date falls in; future quarters are never shown. The cards are listed by program, not ranked. Partner (affiliate) links never change what is listed.
Card details come from our database, which is verified against each issuer’s own website; see our methodology, editorial policy and corrections policy.
Dining, Grocery stores (excluding Walmart & Target) and American Red Cross, from October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Cards on this program in our database: Chase Freedom Flex℠.
Utilities, Restaurants and Entertainment, from October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Cards on this program in our database: Discover it® Balance Transfer and Discover it® Cash Back.
Chase Freedom Flex / Freedom: yes, by December 14, 2026; Discover it Cash Back: yes. Purchases made before activation may not earn the bonus.
Chase Freedom Flex / Freedom: $1,500 in combined category purchases per quarter; Discover it Cash Back: $1,500 in combined category purchases per quarter. Spending above the cap earns the card’s base rate.
No. Issuers announce each quarter shortly before it starts, so this page shows the current quarter and past quarters only — nothing is guessed in advance.