Editorial image; product art from the issuer. Offers and eligibility are subject to application terms.- $200 welcome bonus：Earn 20,000 points after $500 in purchases within three months.
- Q3 2026 at 5%：Gas stations, public transit, EV charging, select live entertainment and United Way, on up to $1,500 after activation.
- No-fee UR companion：Use it as cash back alone or combine points with an eligible Sapphire or Ink Preferred account.
Spend $500 within three months. The 20,000-point bonus can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Highlights
- Welcome bonus：Earn 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $500 in purchases within three months, worth $200 as cash back.
- Quarterly 5%：Activate each quarter and earn 5% on up to $1,500 in combined bonus-category purchases. Q3 2026 includes gas stations, public transit, EV charging, select live entertainment and United Way.
- Ongoing rewards：Earn 5% through Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on other eligible purchases.
- No annual fee：$0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR：15 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a variable APR; balance-transfer fees apply.
- Ultimate Rewards pairing：Rewards are tracked as points. Redeem at one cent each for cash, or combine with an eligible Sapphire or Ink Preferred account for that card's travel and transfer options.
- DoorDash and Lyft：Activate by Dec. 31, 2027 for six complimentary months of DashPass before paid renewal, plus one quarterly non-restaurant discount of up to $10 while enrolled. Eligible Lyft purchases earn 2% through Sept. 30, 2027.
- Protections：Includes purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation/interruption coverage and secondary domestic rental-car collision coverage, subject to the benefits guide.
- September 2026 changes：Cardmember notices indicate the foreign transaction fee will be removed and cell-phone protection will end Sept. 20, 2026. Check your account notice before relying on either change.
Using the quarterly 5% categories
Activation is required. The $1,500 cap applies across all quarterly categories, and purchases need to post within the quarter. Maxing the category produces $75 total cash back, or $60 more than the base 1% rate.
Q3 2026 is unusually travel-friendly, with gas, public transit, EV charging and select live entertainment.
Why pair it with Sapphire?
Freedom Flex rewards are Ultimate Rewards points. On its own, 20,000 points redeem for $200 cash. Moving points to an eligible Sapphire or Ink Preferred account can unlock the travel-redemption and transfer-partner rules attached to that account.
What to know before applying
- The offer is generally unavailable if you currently hold Freedom Flex or received its bonus within 24 months.
- The card is commonly subject to Chase's unpublished 5/24 underwriting practice.
- Quarterly activation is required and the $1,500 cap is combined across that quarter's categories.
- If you need overseas use or cell-phone protection, review the changes scheduled for Sept. 20, 2026.
Drawbacks
- Quarterly maintenance：You must activate and track categories, with 5% limited to $1,500 per quarter.
- Only 1% elsewhere：It is not the best catch-all card for uncategorized spending.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current bonus?
20,000 points after $500 in purchases within three months, worth $200 as cash back.
What are the Q3 2026 categories?
Gas stations, public transit, EV charging, select live entertainment and United Way, after activation and up to $1,500 combined.
Does Freedom Flex have an annual fee?
No.
Are rewards cash or Ultimate Rewards points?
They are tracked as Ultimate Rewards points and can be redeemed for cash or combined with eligible Chase accounts.
When is the foreign transaction fee expected to end?
Cardmember notices indicate Sept. 20, 2026, when cell-phone protection is also scheduled to end. Check your account notice.
Summary
Freedom Flex is a strong no-fee card for users who will activate quarterly categories. The low-spend welcome bonus, 5% rotations and 3% dining and drugstores make it easy to keep, especially inside an Ultimate Rewards card strategy.
Confirm the final offer, fees and eligibility before submitting.