5% Quarterly Categories - Q3 2026

Quarterly 5% categories have been confirmed for Q3 of 2026.

​The Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card categories will be:​

• Gas Stations & EV Charging

• Public Transport

• Select Live Entertainment

• United Way

​Public transport includes trains, buses, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.

​Taxis, limos, rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft, and merchants that provide transportation (airlines, hotels, car rentals) are not included.

​Select live entertainment includes major sporting events, zoos, aquariums, concerts, theatrical productions, museums, and amusement parks.

​Movie theaters, bowling alleys, horse racing tracks, and casinos are not included.

​5% cash back categories are active for the first $1,500 of combined spending from July through September.

​With this card, it's advertised as cash back - but if you read the fine print, earnings are actually received as Ultimate Rewards Points.

​So that means you could potentially earn up to 7,500 points in the 3rd quarter if maximized up to the full $1,500 of combined spending in these rotating categories.

​​For the Discover it® Cash Back card, the Q3 categories will be:​

• Gas Stations

• Transportation

• Drug Stores

​These categories will also earn 5% back for up to $1,500 of combined spending in the 3rd quarter.

​It's a bit disappointing to see a lot of overlap because that usually has not been an issue in the past - but for us, we prefer to earn more valuable Chase UR Points.

​Both of these cards have no annual fee and you must activate the categories each quarter by logging into each account.

​​But these cards are excellent options to take advantage of when new categories become effective as of July 1 - so be sure to adjust your wallet accordingly!