Chase Freedom Q2 2026 Categories: Earn 5x on Amazon, Chase Travel & Feeding America
The Chase Freedom Q2 2026 categories have been announced, and this quarter includes several useful options for everyday spending.
From April 1 through June 30, 2026, Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex cardholders can earn 5% cash back or 5x Ultimate Rewards points on Amazon purchases, travel booked through Chase Travel, and donations to Feeding America after activating the quarterly bonus categories.
As usual, the 5% bonus applies to up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter, allowing cardholders to earn up to $75 in cash back (or 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points) before the earning rate drops back to the standard 1%.
Amazon alone makes it easy for many people to maximize the quarter, but the addition of travel bookings and charitable donations gives the lineup some extra flexibility depending on your spending plans.
Here’s a closer look at the Q2 2026 Chase Freedom categories and how to maximize them to earn points for travel.
Chase Freedom Q2 2026 Categories at a Glance
Valid: April 1 – June 30, 2026
Earn 5% cash back (5x Ultimate Rewards points) on:
- Amazon
- Chase Travel purchases
- Feeding America donations
The bonus applies to up to $1,500 in combined spending per quarter after activation.
That means you can earn up to $75 in cash back or 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points.
What Are the Chase Freedom Q2 2026 Categories?
The Chase Freedom Q2 2026 categories are:
- Amazon
- Chase Travel purchases
- Feeding America donations
Cardholders can earn 5% cash back (or 5x Ultimate Rewards points) on up to $1,500 in combined purchases from April 1 through June 30, 2026, after activating the quarterly categories.
How Chase Freedom Rotating Categories Work
The Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex cards offer rotating quarterly categories that earn 5% cash back.
Each quarter:
- Chase announces several bonus categories
- Cardholders must activate the categories
- Purchases earn 5% cash back (5x points)
- The bonus applies to the first $1,500 spent each quarter
Once you reach the $1,500 limit, purchases in those categories revert to the standard 1% earning rate.
If you maximize the category each quarter, you could earn:
- $75 per quarter (7,500 Ultimate Rewards points)
- $300 per year in bonus rewards (30,000 Ultimate Rewards points)
For a card with no annual fee, that’s a strong return.
If you prefer a card that earns consistent rewards instead of rotating categories, you may want to check out my Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
Don’t Forget to Activate the Categories
Before you can earn the 5x bonus, you’ll need to activate the categories each quarter.
Activation can be done through:
- Your Chase online account
- The Chase mobile app
- The activation link Chase sends via email
Once activated, purchases made during the quarter will qualify for the bonus.
If you happen to have both the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Flex, you’ll need to activate the categories on each card separately. Activating the bonus on one card does not automatically activate it on the other.
Amazon: The Easiest Category to Maximize
For many cardholders, Amazon will likely be the easiest way to maximize the Q2 categories.
Because Amazon sells just about everything—from household items to electronics—it’s usually not difficult to rack up spending quickly.
At 5% back, spending the full $1,500 cap would generate:
- $75 in cash back
- or 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points
Strategy: Using Gift Cards to Maximize the Quarter
One strategy many Freedom cardholders use during Amazon quarters is purchasing gift cards while the 5x category is active. Personally, we don’t spend $1,500 at Amazon in any given quarter. And considering both P2 and I each have the Freedom and Freedom Flex cards, that’s four opportunities to earn the 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points.
Instead of only buying things you need immediately, you could purchase gift cards from Amazon for retailers you already shop at regularly and use them later. This is the strategy we plan to use to get the maximum amount of points for future travel.
Examples might include:
- Grocery stores
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
- Streaming services
- Home improvement stores
Another option is to buy Amazon gift cards and load them into your Amazon account balance for the full 7,500 points.
This allows you to lock in the 5x Ultimate Rewards points during the quarter and then use the balance later for purchases in future months.
Of course, this strategy only makes sense if you’re buying things you would have purchased anyway. It doesn’t make sense to spend money you wouldn’t otherwise spend just to earn points.
But if you know you’ll eventually use those gift cards, I’d recommend earning 5x rather than the 1 or 2x you may normally get.
Chase Travel: Bonus Rewards on Travel Bookings
The second category this quarter is travel booked through Chase Travel.
The portal allows you to book:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Rental cars
- Activities and tours
If you already planned to book travel through the portal, earning 5% back can be a nice bonus. We don’t typically book through the portal because the majority of the time, it is more effective to use your points directly with one of the transfer partners. There may be instances where it’s less expensive to book through the portal, so if you want to research to earn the 5x, compare your options.
Just remember that the $1,500 spending cap applies across all three categories combined.
Feeding America: A Charitable Bonus Category
The third category this quarter is donations to Feeding America.
Feeding America operates one of the largest hunger relief networks in the United States, supporting hundreds of food banks across the country.
During Q2 2026, donations made to the organization qualify for the 5x bonus category.
If charitable giving to this organization is already part of your routine, this can be a nice opportunity to earn rewards while supporting a good cause.
Pairing Freedom Cards with Other Chase Cards
One of the best ways to maximize the Chase Freedom cards is by pairing them with another card that earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points.
Cards like the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve allow you to transfer points to partners such as:
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways
- Hyatt
- Marriott
In some cases, those 7,500 points from a maxed-out quarter could be worth more than the standard $75 cash back when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal or transferred to a travel partner.
Chase Freedom Categories History
Chase rotates the Freedom and Freedom Flex bonus categories every quarter.
While the categories change each year, certain themes or retailers—like Amazon, grocery stores, gas stations, and PayPal—tend to reappear.
2026
- Q2 2026: Amazon, Chase Travel, Feeding America
- Q1 2026: Dining, American Heart Association, Norwegian Cruises
2025
- Q4 2025: Chase Travel, Department Stores, Old Navy, PayPal (December only)
- Q3 2025: Gas Stations, EV Charging Stations, Live Entertainment, Instacart
- Q2 2025: Amazon, Select Streaming Services
- Q1 2025: Norwegian Cruises, Gyms/Fitness Memberships, Salon & Spa Services, Grocery Stores
Is the Chase Freedom Worth It?
If you want a no-annual-fee credit card that can earn strong rewards with a little planning, the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards remain one of the best options available.
When the rotating categories align with your spending—like Amazon this quarter—it’s relatively easy to earn a lot of points for travel on purchases you were already planning to make.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the 5x Chase Freedom Q2 2026 categories are solid and easy to use.
Amazon alone makes it simple for many households to maximize the quarterly spending cap, while Chase Travel bookings and charitable donations add some extra flexibility.
If you hold a Freedom card, the most important step is simply remembering to activate the categories before the quarter begins (usually available on the 15th of the final month of the previous quarter).
From there, you can focus on using the card strategically throughout the quarter to earn up to 7,500 in Chase Ultimate Rewards points. For a card with no annual fee, that’s a pretty good return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to activate the Chase Freedom categories?
Yes. You must activate the quarterly categories before earning the 5% bonus.
What is the Chase Freedom quarterly spending limit?
The 5% bonus applies to up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter.
What happens after I spend $1,500?
Once you reach the cap, purchases in those categories earn the standard 1% cash back.
Can I earn 5% on both Freedom cards?
Yes. If you have both the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex, you can earn the bonus on both cards, but you must activate the categories on each card separately.