Why I got the Chase Freedom Flex and how I'm getting max cash back this quarter
As a TPG staffer, I have a pretty solid credit card portfolio. I love using The Platinum Card® from American Express to earn bonus points on flights, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express for bonus cash-back on grocery and transit purchases and American Express® Gold Card to earn bonus points when I dine out.
However, I’m always looking for ways to make my money work harder to accomplish my goals. Recently, I decided to add the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) to my arsenal.
Here’s why I landed on that card and how I’m already working to get maximal value from its cash back categories.
Why I decided to apply for a Chase Freedom Flex card
With an upcoming move this summer, I have a few big purchases on the horizon. I’d looked at buy-now-pay-later options like Affirm but also realized these options wouldn’t give me any points or cash back on my purchases. Plus, they aren’t always interest-free.
Then, I researched cards with 0% intro APR offers.
One of TPG’s 10 commandments of credit is “Thou shalt pay thy balance in full." But, the idea of putting my big furniture purchase on a 0% interest card and leaving my money to grow in a money market was pretty attractive.
I wanted a card that I thought would be a useful and complementary addition to my other cards for some time, not just a short-term account. The Freedom Flex card checked off all the boxes on my wish list:
- 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (variable APR of 18.49% - 27.99% after that; balance transfer fee applies)
- No annual fee
- Quarterly bonus categories that would earn me 5% cash back when I activate — a value of $300 per year alone.
How Freedom Flex quarterly bonus categories work
Each quarter, Chase announces a few categories where Freedom Flex cardholders earn 5% cash back that quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases when they activate. All your purchases on the Freedom Flex earn 1%, so cardholders earn a bonus 4% to get to the quarterly 5% earnings.
For example, Amazon and Whole Foods purchases typically earn 1% cash-back, but since they're part of the Q2 bonus categories, cardholders can earn an additional 4% on these purchases for a total of 5% back.
However, I didn't realize at first that Chase is doing something new this quarter. It has added two categories to the quarterly bonus list that earn more than 1% year-round — hotels through Chase Travel℠ (typically earns 5%) and restaurants (typically earns 3%). To keep the quarterly bonus-earning rate even, Chase simply added 4% on top of these year-round bonus earnings rates.
This means that after activating, I'm earning an impressive 9% on hotels through Chase Travel and 7% on dining my Freedom. Once I realized this, I started to put together my plan to maximize these bonus categories. (Thanks to my TPG colleagues for helping me wrap my brain around them.)
Related: Freedom Flex bonus categories
7% cash back on dining
Enjoying good food is a passion of mine, whether it be learning how to make a new dish or exploring a hot restaurant.
While I have other cards with dining rewards, this quarter’s 7% back on dining means I’ll pull out the Freedom Flex when the check comes to maximize cash back.
I’ll keep an eye on my total spending, as that 7% reverts back to the 3% total after the first $1,500 bonus category spending. Then, I’ll switch back to my dining default, my American Express® Gold Card, to earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar on my purchases at restaurants worldwide (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar).
5% back at Whole Foods Market
Another of this quarter’s Freedom Flex bonus categories is Amazon; I was glad to see that Chase also includes purchases at Whole Foods Market stores in this cash back category.
If I didn’t also have an Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card, which offers 6% cash back on U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)*, the 5% back at Whole Foods Market would be enticing. But since I already have a card that earns more at Whole Foods, I'm focusing my Flex spending on restaurants.
*Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Up to 9% back on hotels
Finally, this quarter, you get up to 9% back on hotels with Freedom Flex, but you’ll have to book through Chase Travel℠ to reach that maximum level.
While 9% is pretty tempting, I usually prefer to book hotels directly. I selected travel as my quarterly bonus-earning category on my Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, so I can book directly and still earn 6% (on up to $2,500 in combined spending each quarter) for the first year using that card. After the first year the earning rate goes down to 3%.
Bottom line
Between the introductory APR offer and the chance to earn 7% cash-back on my dining purchases this quarter, adding the Freedom Flex to my wallet was a no-brainer. If I decide to get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), I'll get even more value from the rewards I earn on my Freedom Flex.
For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
Updated 5/28/25
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.