Groceries and dining anchor the Chase Freedom lineup for the final quarter of the year. From October 1 through December 31, 2026, the Freedom and Freedom Flex earn 5% back, or 5x points on the Flex, at grocery stores, on dining, and on donations to the American Red Cross.
The rate covers $1,500 in combined spend across all three, not $1,500 each, and everything past that ceiling earns the base 1% or 1x. Two things trip people up: Walmart and Target do not count as grocery stores, and you have to activate before you spend. Activation opened September 15, and the last day to turn the categories on is December 14, 2026. Miss that window and the whole quarter earns 1x.
On their own, Freedom points are cash back. The move that changes the math is holding a Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or an Ink Business card alongside it. That lets you shift your Freedom points onto the premium card and transfer them to Chase's airline and hotel partners, where points tend to stretch further than a straight statement credit. Freedom by itself cannot make that transfer.
The Red Cross category is the quiet one. A year end donation you were already planning earns 5x, one of the rare times a card rewards a charitable gift.
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More on Chase Ultimate Rewards
Review all Chase Ultimate Rewards tips and tricks →Cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points
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Chase Sapphire Reserve
$795 annual fee · Our review
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Chase Sapphire Preferred
$95 annual fee · Our review
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- Start Date
- October 1, 2026
- End Date
- December 31, 2026
- Action
- Monitor This Deal
- Published
- September 18, 2026