What happened
Doctor of Credit reports that Chase is already showing grocery stores and streaming as the 5x categories on Freedom and Freedom Flex for the first quarter of 2027. The lineup is appearing in activation emails earlier than cardholders usually see it.
The 5x still requires activating the categories. Grocery is also a 5x category in the final quarter of 2026, so it will run for two quarters in a row. Shoppers can buy gift cards at a grocery store to use the category, then spend those cards on gas or a Visa gift card.
Activate the Q1 2027 categories and run grocery and grocery gift-card spend on Freedom or Freedom Flex.
- Numbers
- 5x multiplier: Freedom and Freedom Flex bonus-category earn rate for Q1 2027
- Who qualifies
- Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex cardholders, via quarterly activation emails
- Takeaway
- Watch for the Q1 2027 activation email and consider putting grocery and grocery gift-card purchases on Freedom or Freedom Flex.