Credit Card Quarterly Rotating Categories For 5% Cash Back Q1 2024 (Chase Freedom/Freedom Flex, Discover, Citi and Others)

Read about the quarterly categories to earn 5% cash back with the Chase Freedom, Chase Freedom Flex, Citi Dividend, Discover It, and other cash back credit cards.

We’ve listed the best cards and provided details about category selection for your reference below.

• Update 12/15/23: Q1 2024 Quaterly rotating categories announced.
• Update 9/18/23: Citi announced it’s Q4 category is groceries.
• Update 9/14/23: Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex Q3 categories are available.
• Update 9/1/23: Discover Q4 categories are revailed (Amazon & Target)
• Update 6/29/23: You can activate Q3 categories for all cards now.
• Update 6/15/23: Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex Q3 categories are available.
• Update 4/27/23: Whole Foods will be included in the Amazon category for Chase Freedom Flex.
• Update 4/3/23: Update some minor details.

READ MORE: WELCOME OFFERS FROM CHASE AND BMO.

Chase Freedom/Freedom Flex

>> ACTIVATE YOUR 5% CASH BACK CATEGORIES HERE

>> READ MORE ABOUT CHASE FREEDOM FLEX

Tip: Use this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.

Quarter 1 2024: Grocery, Fitness, Gym, Spa

Activate your Freedom and Freedom Flex cards to enjoy 5% cash back this quarter on purchases up to $1,500 at Grocery Stores, Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships, and Self-Care & Spa Services.

• Grocery Stores – This category is a perennial favorite as everyone needs to shop for groceries. Additionally, you can fully utilize this benefit by buying gift cards for other retailers.
  • 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.
• Fitness Club & Gym Memberships
  • 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.
• Self-Care & Spa Services 
  • 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.
  • Self-Care and spa 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.

Quarter 4 2023: PayPal, Wholesale Club, Select Charities

The Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards have announced their 5x categories for the fourth quarter of 2023.

These categories include PayPal, Wholesale Club, and select charities. The activation for these categories will begin on September 15th.

PayPal: You can use it to pay for things at many online stores like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. You can also use it to pay your taxes with a credit card, but there’s a small fee. Some people might pay their friends with PayPal to get more rewards.

Wholesale Club: You can earn rewards at Wholesale Clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club. Costco only accepts Visa cards in-store, but you can use Mastercard online or get Costco Cash cards. Note that buying gas at Costco won’t earn rewards; you can use Costco Cash cards for that. For Sam’s Club, you can buy gift cards and use them at Walmart or buy Walmart e-gift cards through Paypal Digital Gifts to earn rewards in the Paypal category.

Select Charities: Increased American Red Cross, Equal Justice Initiatives, Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Leadership Conference Education Fund, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Urban League, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, United Negro College Fund, UNICEF USA, United Way, World Central Kitchen
GLSEN, Out and Equal, Sage.

Quarter 3 2023: Gas Stations, EV Charging, Live Entertainment

The Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards have announced their 5x categories for the third quarter of 2023.

These categories include Gas Stations, Electric Vehicle Charging, and Select Live Entertainment. The activation for these categories will begin on June 15th.

Gas is a common category for Chase Freedom, Discover, and Citi Dividend cards during the summer driving season.

Quarter 2 2023: Amazon, Whole Foods & Lowe’s

Cardholders of the Chase Freedom Flex credit card earn a 5% cash back earning rate for a rotating set of categories. Chase announced the categories for the second quarter of 2023 will be Amazon and Lowe’s purchases.

Amazon.com: If you think each reward point is worth more than one cent, then it’s better to use the Freedom Flex card instead of the Amazon Prime 5% cashback card. You can either add $1,500 to your Amazon balance at once, or use the Freedom Flex card regularly throughout the quarter. Amazon also sells many different third-party gift cards, including Visa, which is another option for getting the most out of your rewards. Whole Foods is also included in this category.

Lowe’s: This offer will likely be popular for people who want to do home improvement projects in the spring or summer. Lowe’s stores sell various gift cards, including Visa gift cards, which some people might want to spend money on.

Quarter 1 2023: Grocery Stores, Target Stores, Gym Membership

The categories for the first quarter of 2023 are grocery stores (excluding Walmart), Target, and gym memberships. Cardholders can earn 5% on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter.

Grocery Stores: Since most cardholders make regular visits to grocery stores, it shouldn’t be hard to earn the bonus on up to $1,500 in purchases. Plus, grocery stores usually offer gift cards, so you can always get those, if necessary. Purchases made at Walmart are not eligible.

Target: Like grocery stores, this category will make it easy to earn the maximum bonus this quarter. Most people can find ways to spend at Target. And again, they also offer gift cards for purchases.

Gym Memberships: If you don’t spend enough in this category, the previous two are all you need to get to $1,500 in purchases.

READ MORE: GET THE BEST CREDIT CARD SIGN-UP BONUSES HERE

Citi Dividend

>> ACTIVATE YOUR 5% CASH BACK CATEGORIES HERE

Quarter 1 2024: Amazon & Select Streaming Services

• Amazon
• Select Streaming Services – Includes the following cable, satellite, and streaming providers: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Disney+, DirecTV Stream, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal.

Quarter 4 2023: Grocery

• The offer begins either within two business days of your enrollment or on October 1, 2023, whichever is later, and concludes on December 31, 2023.
• Throughout this promotion, you’ll receive an extra 4% cash back on your Grocery Store purchases.
• Your total annual cash back, for the calendar year, is capped at $300, which includes any additional cash back earned through this offer.

Quarter 3 2023: Gas & Home Improvement

• Activate your Dividend card to earn 5% cash back this quarter at Gas Stations and Home Improvement Stores.
• Citi’s Dividend card has a $6,000 annual cap, which is higher than the typical $1,500 quarterly cap found in other cards.
• You can earn 5% cash back on up to $6,000 spent during this quarter.
• You have the flexibility to save the entire cash back amount for a different quarter or use a portion of it each quarter.
• Gas Stations: The offer excludes gasoline purchases at warehouse clubs, discount stores, convenience stores, or other merchants not categorized as gas stations.
  • It might work for convenience stores like 7-Eleven.
• Home Improvement Stores: Eligible stores include Home Depot, Lowe’s, and similar establishments.
  • This category covers home supply warehouse stores, lumber and building materials stores, paint and wallpaper stores, hardware stores, nurseries (including lawn and garden supply stores), as well as paints, varnishes, and supplies stores.
  • The offer excludes florists and florists’ supply stores, nursery stock, wholesale construction stores, and glass stores.

Quarter 2 2023: Drugstores & Grocery Stores

Cardholders of the Citi Dividend can get up to $300 in cash back per year. That is, you’ll get 5% back on up to $6,000 you spend in a year, and you can use it all in one

Cardholders of the Citi Dividend credit card earn a 5% cash back rate for a rotating set of categories. Here are the categories for the second quarter of 2023:

• Drugstores: Includes purchases made at pharmacies in grocery stores, general merchandise/discount superstores, and wholesale/warehouse clubs if those merchants submit purchases made in their pharmacy with the drug store or pharmacy merchant category code.
• Grocery Stores: Includes purchases at supermarkets, meat/seafood stores, dairy stores, bakeries, and miscellaneous food/convenience stores. Excludes purchases at general merchandise/discount superstores; wholesale/warehouse clubs; candy, nut and confectionery stores. Purchases made at online supermarkets or with grocery delivery services also do not qualify if the merchant does not classify itself as a supermarket by using the supermarket merchant category code.

You can get up to $300 in cash back per year if you use the card. That is, you’ll get 5% back on up to $6,000 you spend in a year, and you can use it all in one quarter if you’d like.

Quarter 1 2023: Amazon & Select Streaming Services

Cardholders of the Citi Dividend can get up to $300 in cash back per year. That is, you’ll get 5% back on up to $6,000 you spend in a year, and you can use it all in one quarter if you’d like. Here are the categories for the first quarter of 2023:

• Amazon: Includes all purchases made at Amazon.com.
• Select Streaming Services: Includes the following cable, satellite, and streaming providers: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Disney+, DirecTV Stream, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal.

READ MORE: SEE THIS SIGN UP CHECKING BONUS OFFER FROM CHASE

Discover It

>> ACTIVATE YOUR 5% CASH BACK CATEGORIES HERE

Tip: Login, then use this link to see you how far along the $1,500 you are.

Quarter 1 2024: Restaurants & Drugstores

Activate to earn 5% Cashback Bonus at Restaurants and Drug Stores from 1/1/24 through 3/31/24, on up to $1,500 in purchases. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Drug Store purchases include those made at stand-alone drug stores, pharmacies, online pharmacies, and some pharmacies located inside of retail stores.

Quarter 4 2023: Amazon & Target

Discover’s Q4 2023 5% cashback categories include Amazon.com and Target, with a maximum earning cap of $1,500 in purchases. Amazon.com covers a wide range of purchases, and Target’s inclusion is still beneficial for buying Target gift cards. Activate this offer starting on 10/1/23 or when you activate 5%, whichever is later, and enjoy cashback until 12/31/23. Please note that certain Target purchases may not qualify, so review the terms for eligibility.

Quarter 3 2023: Gas Stations & Digital Wallets

The Q3 2023 rotating categories earning 5% cash back on Discover credit cards have been leaked. They will be gas stations and digital wallets.

The quarterly categories for Q3 2023 have recently been revealed ahead of schedule. Starting from July 1 and lasting until September 30, cardholders can enjoy 5% cashback on purchases made at Gas Stations and Digital Wallets.

Activation is required beforehand to take advantage of these rewards.

Quarter 2 2023: Restaurants & Wholesale Clubs

Discover has announced the rotating categories on the Discover It Cash Back card for the second quarter of 2023. The categories earning 5% cash back for Q2 2023 are Restaurants & Wholesale Clubs.

Cardholders of the Discover It Cash Back credit card earn a 5% cash back earning rate for a rotating set of categories. With Q1 2023 ending, Discover announced the categories for the second quarter of 2023 will be Restaurants & Wholesale Clubs. Cardholders can earn 5% on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter.

Restaurant: Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. 

Wholesale Clubs: Check with your Wholesale Clubs to make sure your Discover card is accepted. Purchases of affiliated Wholesale Club services, such as delivery services, travel, and cell phone purchases, may not be eligible in this category. Individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical Wholesale club locations, or online, may not be eligible in this category.

Since cardholders are capped at $1,500 in combined purchases, the maximum amount to earn with these rotating categories is $75. Discover offers an alternative card that offers unlimited 1.5% miles back. 

Quarter 1 2023: Grocery Stores, Drugstores & Select Streaming Services

Cardholders of the Discover It Cash Back can earn 5% on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter. Here are the categories for Q1 2023:

Grocery Stores: Since most cardholders make regular visits to grocery stores, it shouldn’t be hard to earn the bonus on up to $1,500 in purchases. Grocery Store purchases include those made at supermarkets, meat lockers, bakeries, smaller grocery stores, and grocery delivery services. All purchases made at Walmart, Target, convenience stores, wholesale clubs, discount stores, and supercenters are not eligible.

Drug Stores: Like with grocery stores, this category will make it easy to earn the maximum bonus this quarter. Drug Store purchases include those made at stand-alone drug stores, pharmacies, pharmacies located inside of retail stores, and from online pharmacies.

Streaming Services: There are a lot of options to choose from. They include Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video, AMC+, Apple Music, Apple TV, Audible, DirecTV Stream, FUBO, Google Play, HBO Max, iHeartRadio, MLB.TV, Pandora, Paramount Plus, Peacock, Showtime, SiriusXM, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, Vudu, YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV. Other popular streaming services may be included. If your subscription is bundled with another product or service, billed by a third party (such as a digital platform, a cable or satellite provider, telecommunications, internet provider or a car manufacturer), the purchase may not be eligible in this category. Add-ons associated with Select Streaming Services may not qualify for this promotion if they are not listed, billed in a bundle, separately or through a third party. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program.

Bank of America Cash Rewards: Your Choice

>> READ ABOUT THE BANK OF AMERICA CASH REWARDS CARD HERE

>> FOR BUSINESSES, READ ABOUT THE BANK OF AMERICA BUSINESS ADVANTAGE CUSTOMIZED CASH REWARDS CARD HERE

The Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card offers 3% on one selected category, up to $2,500 per quarter. If you’re a Preferred Rewards client, you can up 5.25% back on one of these categories at the higher relationship level.

In addition to your selected category, the card also offers 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. For both the 3% and 2% categories, you can only earn up to $2,500 per quarter. After that, you will earn 1% back on everything else.

Here are the categories you can choose. If you don’t choose one, your default category will be gasoline purchases.

• Gas
• Online Shopping
• Dining
• Travel
• Drug Stores
• Home Improvement/Furnishings

READ MORE: SEE THIS SIGN UP BONUS FOR A NEW CHECKING ACCOUNT WITH BANK OF AMERICA

U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card: Your Choice

>> ACTIVATE YOUR 5% CASH BACK CATEGORIES HERE (MERCHANTS LIST)

>> READ ABOUT THE U.S. BANK CASH+ VISA HERE

Tip: Login here, then scroll down and click on the red “View Your Cash+ History” button.

Earn rewards on your own terms with the Cash+ card. Instead of set bonus categories, you get to pick the ones that suit your spending every quarter.

You choose 2 categories each quarter where you’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in combined purchases. For unlimited 2% cash back, you’ll choose one everyday spending category. All other purchases will earn 1% cash back.

Your options include the following:

• TV, Internet, and Streaming Services
• Home Utilities
• Select clothing stores
• Cell phone providers
• Electronic Stores
• Gyms/Fitness
• Fast food
• Ground Transportation
• Sporting goods
• Department Stores
• Furniture Stores
• Movie theaters

READ MORE: SEE THE BEST BANK BONUSES HERE AND THE BEST INVESTING BONUSES HERE.