What are the 5% categories for Chase Freedom?

No, Costco is not part of the Chase grocery store list. Chase gives bonus rewards for grocery purchases made with eligible credit cards at full-service grocery store chains, smaller stores that primarily sell groceries, and grocery pickup and delivery services, if classified as a grocery store or supermarket. Wholesale clubs such as Costco and Sam’s Club do not qualify as grocery stores for Chase’s grocery store bonus category.... read full answer

The good news for Costco shoppers is that Chase Freedom Flex℠ occasionally has a bonus category for wholesale clubs. While Costco only accepts Visa cards for in-store purchases, you can use the Chase Freedom Flex card, which is on the Mastercard network, for online grocery delivery orders. Costco.com takes Mastercard, Discover, and Visa cards. Groceries and any other items you buy on Costco.com will get 5% cash back, up to $1,500 spent each quarter when the wholesale clubs bonus category is activated.

It should also be noted that Chase has not announced when Chase Freedom Flex will have wholesale clubs as a quarterly bonus category again. Costco purchases were last eligible for 5% cash back in January, February, and March 2021.

The best Chase credit card signup bonus is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s offer of 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Those bonus points are worth $750 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The initial bonus alone pays for Chase Sapphire Preferred’s $95 annual fee for more than 7 years.

Best Chase credit card signup bonus offers:

Initial Bonus: 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, worth $750 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Ongoing Rewards: 5 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Chase, 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases, 3 points per $1 on dining and online grocery purchases, 3 points per $1 on select streaming services, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $95

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus: 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, worth $900 in travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Ongoing Rewards: a total of 10 points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase, a total of 10 points per $1 spent on prepaid restaurant reservations or takeout orders made through Chase, a total of 5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased through Chase, 3 points per $1 spent on all other travel and dining purchases, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $550

Min. Credit Required: Excellent credit

Initial Bonus: $200 for spending $500 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent per quarter in bonus categories (which change every quarter and require activation), 5% cash back on travel through Chase, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $0

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus: 175,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, worth $1,225 when redeemed for hotel reservations

Ongoing Rewards: 10 points per $1 spent at IHG hotels, 5 points per $1 at gas stations, restaurants and on travel, as well as 3 points per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $99

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus: 50,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, worth $595 when redeemed for airfare

Ongoing Rewards: 2 miles per $1 spent with United, restaurants, hotels and eligible delivery services, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus: 100,000 points for spending $15,000 in the first 3 months, worth $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Ongoing Rewards: 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent per year on travel and select business expenses, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $95

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

As you can see, many of these cards have annual fees. But by taking advantage of their initial bonuses and extra benefits, you should be able to more than make up for that.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited bonus categories include a wide range of purchases, from drugstores, to dining and traveling.

Here are the Chase Freedom Unlimited Bonus Categories:

• Travel: 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Restaurants and Drugstores: 3% cash back at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and on drugstore purchases.... read full answer
• All other purchases: 1.5% cash back on any other purchase, which is about 40% more than the average cash back card will give you.

Ultimately, it is worth noting that your cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.