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Chase announces 5% cashback categories for Chase Freedom Flex℠ and a Freedom Pension Card for the second quarter of 2022.
From April 1 to June 30, Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders will be able to receive 5% cashback on purchases on Amazon.com and select streaming services (up to $1,500 combined purchases) upon activation. Activation for Q2 categories on both Freedom and Freedom Flex began on March 15 and will be open until June 14, 2022.
In addition, the Flex Card offers 5% cash back on trips booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and 3% cash back on purchases at restaurants and pharmacies. All other purchases earn 1% cashback.
At a glance
Here’s what you need to know:
- Activation for the categories of the second quarter began on March 15 and will last until June 14, 2022.
- Cardholders who activate Q2 categories can receive a 5% cash back on Amazon.com and select streaming services.
- The 5% cash back bonus (which requires activation) is capped at $1,500 on combined purchases per quarter and then 1%.
Chase 5% cashback calendar for 2022
| Winter | Spring | Summer | Holiday |
| January March
(Activation closed) |
April June
(Activation closes June 14, 2022) |
July – September
(Activation closed) |
October December
(Activation closed) |
|
to be specified | to be specified |
Chase only releases its quarterly bonus categories one quarter at a time, so we can’t predict what will be on offer for the rest of 2022 just yet. Here is a quick overview of some of the categories Chase is offering in 2021.
Chase 5% cashback calendar for 2021
| Winter | Spring | Summer | Holiday |
| January March | April June | July – September | October December |
|
|
|
What is included and excluded from the Amazon.com category?
This category includes all purchases made on Amazon.com (excluding Whole Foods purchases). For example, items purchased on Amazon.com, Amazon.com gift cards, Amazon Fresh orders made through Amazon.com, and more count towards this category.
Please note that transactions must be published on your credit card statement by the end of the second quarter of 2022 in order to participate in the program.
What is and is not included in the category of streaming services?
According to Chase, you can get bonus cashback in this category for purchases made with:
- Apple Music
- Apple TV
- Disney+
- ESPN+
- Fubo TV
- HBO Max
- Hulu
- Netflix
- Pandora
- Paramount+
- peacock
- Show time
- SiriusXM
- Sling
- Spotify
- YouTube Premium
- YouTube TV
- voodoo
Tips for maximizing 5% cashback in Q2 2022
- Try to make the most of your online shopping through Amazon.com using your Freedom or Freedom Flex card.
- If you need help reaching your spending limit, buy Amazon.com gift cards to keep for yourself or give to family and friends.
- Pay for any eligible streaming service you subscribe to with your Freedom or Freedom Flex card.
Comparison of bonus categories Chase and Discover
Chase isn’t the only card issuer to offer a 5% cash bonus. Discover also allows cardholders to earn 5% cashback up to $1,500 on combined spending in rotating categories every quarter after signup and 1% thereafter.
Chase vs. Discover cashback categories 2022
|
Chase Freedom Flex℠ |
 Discover® Cash Back |
|
| January March | eBay and grocery stores | Grocery stores, fitness clubs, gym memberships |
| April June | Amazon.com and some streaming services | Filling stations and purpose |
| July – September | to be specified | Restaurants and PayPal |
| October December | to be specified | Amazon.com and digital wallets |
Which card offers the best deal?
In the second quarter of 2022, which category will benefit the most really depends on the cardholder.
That Discover® Cash Back offers bonus cashback at gas stations and Target. Given the current exorbitant gas prices, you may be less likely to travel by car, making this category less lucrative. However, if you need to drive frequently, you can simply earn more rewards for filling up the tank than you planned. (And of course, Target’s cashback bonus can be useful if you have a store nearby or prefer to shop there.)
On the other hand, Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex offer 5% back on Amazon.com and select streaming services. Since Amazon.com is one of the largest online marketplaces and sells a huge variety of products, the Freedom categories might be easier for the average cardholder.
On the other hand, if you haven’t applied for any of the cards yet, keep in mind Discover’s Cashback Match feature. The issuer matches all the money you earned in the first year with the card. In this scenario, Discover it Cash Back offers a higher return on your spending.
We cannot predict which card will be the best for you until the end of 2022. Discover has already announced its categories for 2022, but Chase only releases bonus categories one quarter at a time. Visit our page for more information on Chase credit cards.
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