Chase 5x Bonus Categories

As usual, the bonus earnings rates only apply to the first $1,500 in spending in those categories. If you max out your bonus category spending for the quarter, you’ll earn 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.

While 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points are worth $75 in cash, you can get way more value by transferring those points to any of the following cards:

Chase Sapphire Preferred – #1 travel card for beginners
Chase Sapphire Reserve – great for frequent travelers
Chase Ink Business Preferred – highest Chase sign-up bonus for business customers

Once your points have been transferred to one of the above cards, the value of those points are amplified even more! If you transfer the points to Chase’s travel partners like United Airlines, Southwest or Hyatt, you can get so much more value than the original $75. For example, 7,500 Chase UR points could be enough for a one-way flight to lots of great destinations!

For more information on Chase’s flexible points program, check out The Complete Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Key Things to Remember

You need to activate the 5x earnings rate by June 14, 2026
The promotion runs from April 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026
The promotion is valid on purchases made at Amazon.com, Chase Travel, Whole Foods Market and donations to Feeding America
The 5x earnings rate only applies to the first $1,500 in spending across all categories, after which the earnings rate is 1x

Note: As usual, there are some inclusions and exclusions to be aware of. For the Amazon category, eligible purchases include digital downloads, Amazon.com Gift Cards, Amazon Fresh orders, Prime subscriptions, and items sold by third-party merchants through Amazon.com. For Chase Travel, eligible purchases include airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, cruises, activities and tours made on chasetravel.com. Finally, for Feeding America, users should donate directly through Feeding America’s official channels including https://www.feedingamerica.org/chase. It’s always best to check the Chase Merchant List to confirm everything that’s included and excluded in each category.

How to Activate

Unfortunately Chase doesn’t automatically enroll you into the bonus category earning promotion each quarter. To activate, go to the Chase Activation website and enter your last name, zip code and the last four digits of your credit card.

Alternatively you can log into your Chase account and activate from there. Chase sprinkles links in lots of different places on their website, making it very easy to activate. In just a few minutes, I found a few different places to activate my cards for the upcoming quarter.

Option 1

Option 2

Email Reminder

You can also request to receive a reminder email from Chase prior to each quarter. Upon receipt of the email each quarter, you can activate via an easy 1-click activation button.

Discover 5% Bonus Categories

Discover also limits the bonus earnings to the first $1,500 in spending in those categories. However, unlike Chase, there’s no option to earn points instead of cash. So maxing out your bonus category spending for the quarter will earn you $75.

That money can be redeemed as a statement credit, a direct deposit to a checking account or used to purchase 3rd party gift cards. Gift cards are often available with 5% to 20% added value, depending on the merchant.

You can also donate your cash back to charity or to pay for purchases on Amazon.com or with PayPal.

Key Things to Remember

The promotion runs from April 1, 2026 (or the date on which you activate the 5%, whichever is later) through June 30, 2026
The promotion is valid on purchases made at restaurants and home improvement stores
The 5% earnings rate only applies to the first $1,500 in spending across all categories, after which the earnings rate is 1%

Note: Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Home improvement purchases include online and in store purchases at home improvement retail stores, building supply stores (e.g. lumber, paint, and hardware stores), as well as lawn, nursery, and garden supply stores. Visit the Discover Cashback Calendar page to confirm.

How to Activate

You won’t earn the 5% cash back bonus unless you activate this feature on your card each quarter. To do so, go to the Discover Online account page and click on “Log In to Activate.”

Discover also automatically emails you about 3 weeks prior to the start of the next quarter with a reminder. Upon receipt of the email, you can activate via an easy 1-click activation button.

Bottom Line

This quarter should be a strong one for both Chase Freedom Flex and Discover cardholders.

Chase made things especially easy this quarter by bringing Amazon into the bonus rotation. Since so many of us already shop there, earning extra rewards barely requires a change in routine. Just remember to set your Freedom or Freedom Flex card as the default payment method and let your normal spending do the work.

You’ll also earn 5x through Chase Travel and at Whole Foods, which adds even more ways to rack up bonus points whether you’re booking a trip or stocking up on groceries.

Discover also delivered a solid lineup with restaurants and home improvement stores. Dining includes food delivery, so whether you’re grabbing takeout or ordering through apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash, you’ll earn the full 5% bonus. Home improvement stores can be sneaky valuable too, especially if you’ve got spring projects on deck.

Pro tip: If you’re struggling to hit the quarterly maximum, don’t forget the gift card strategy. Amazon and most home improvement stores sell gift cards to hundreds of other retailers, and those purchases count toward your bonus categories. Stock up now, and you’ll lock in the rewards while giving yourself flexibility to use the gift cards at a later date.

As always, happy spending and more importantly, happy 5x earning!

Q2 2026 Rotating Bonus Categories for Chase and Discover

Chase 5x Bonus Categories

Key Things to Remember