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Chase Freedom Reveals 5% Bonus Categories for Q3 2025
Chase has unveiled its third quarter 2025 5% bonus category selections.
About the Chase 5% Bonus Categories for Q3 2025:
From July 1st through September 30th, Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex customers can earn up to 5% back in four categories: Gas Stations, EV Charging, Select Live Entertainment, and Instacart.
First, the Gas Stations category includes automotive gasoline paid for either at the pump or inside the station. However, merchants that don’t specialize in gasoline sales, such as truck stops, boat marinas, oil and propane distributors, and home heating companies may be excluded. Meanwhile, the EV Charging category features charging services paid for at a charging station, via a mobile app, an account/subscription, or an attendant. Specifically, these merchants must use the “electric vehicle charging” merchant category code. As a result, parking facilities that offer EV charging as part of their services may not qualify. Residential electric vehicle charging as well as charging equipment purchases are also excluded.
Next, according to Chase’s site, Select Live Entertainment includes merchants that sell tickets for live in-person entertainment such as major sporting events, zoos, aquariums, concerts, theatrical productions, museums, tourist attractions, exhibits, amusement parks, circuses, carnivals, bands, and entertainers. Similarly, ticket agencies selling tickets for entertainment venues do qualify as well. As for excluded purchases, other entertainment venues, such as movie theaters, bowling alleys, horse racing tracks, casinos, and clubs are not eligible. Additionally, tickets purchased from a concierge or as part of a travel package won’t qualify.
Lastly, as Chase continued to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its Freedom brand, they’re adding Instacart as a bonus category for Q3. This category includes purchases made directly with Instacart. However, gift cards purchased at third-party merchants will not earn this bonus rate.
To earn this 5% bonus, cardholders will need to activate the Q3 offer on ChaseBonus.com by September 14th. Note that the 5% rate is capped at a total of $1,500 in combined bonus category spending for the quarter. In other words, if maxed out, this offer will earn cardholders $75 in cashback.
My Thoughts:
Since I’ve been tracking Discover and Chase 5% bonus categories, I don’t think there’s been a single quarter where the two have had overlap in their selections. Yet, that’s what’s happening in Q3 as both companies have included Gas Stations and EV Charging in their bonuses. That makes a ton of sense given the summer road trip season, but it’s notable nonetheless.
Something else to note is that Chase is highlighting the Instacart selection as its bonus pick for the quarter. I’m unclear on whether that means we should still expect a late addition to the mix as we’ve seen during the first two quarters of the year. Considering that Q1 featured a Norwegian Cruise Line category but still added Tax Preparation and Insurance as a surprise category for the last month of the quarter, I am leaning toward a similar situation here — meaning that Freedom and Freedom Flex customers should probably keep an eye out for another announcement before August 1st.
In the meantime, though, cardholders should be sure to activate this deal on ChaseBonus.com