Current Credit Card Bonus Categories: Discover, Chase Freedom, Citi Dividend

Several popular cards feature bonus categories that rotate every quarter. Here are their rewards calendars.

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Updated · 5 min read
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Written by Gregory Karp
Senior Writer
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Edited by Paul Soucy
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Fact Checked

Cards with rotating bonus categories come with some of the highest credit card rewards rates available.

  • Both Chase and Discover offer credit cards with 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter in bonus categories that change each quarter and 1% back on other purchases. To get the bonus cash back, you have to opt in, or "activate," the category each quarter.

  • A Citi credit card with similar terms — the Citi Dividend Card — is no longer available to new applicants. It pays 5% in rotating bonus categories that you activate and 1% on other purchases. There's no quarterly spending limit, but the total cash amount of cash back you can earn in a year is capped at $300.

Previous years are listed below the current categories, so you can see what's been offered in the past ... and what might be again?

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Current Discover bonus categories

Cards that earn bonus rewards in these categories include the Discover it® Cash Back and the Discover it® Student Cash Back.

Discover bonus rewards categories for 2024

Q1 (Jan. 1–March 31)

  • Restaurants.

  • Drugstores.

Q2 (April 1–June 30)

  • Gas stations/EV charging stations.

  • Home improvement stores.

  • Public transit.

Q3 (July 1–Sept. 30)

  • Grocery stores.

  • Walmart.

Q4 (Oct. 1–Dec. 31)

  • Amazon.

  • Target.

Discover it® Cash Back
Discover it® Cash Back
NerdWallet Rating
Apply now

on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

Rates & Fees
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Discover it® Student Cash Back
NerdWallet Rating
Apply now

on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

Rates & Fees
Chase Freedom Flex
Chase Freedom Flex®
NerdWallet Rating
Apply now

on Chase's website

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Current Chase bonus categories

These bonus categories apply to the Chase Freedom® and the Chase Freedom Flex® (introduced in September 2020).

Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex® bonus rewards categories for 2024

Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31)

  • Grocery stores.

  • Fitness clubs and gym memberships.

  • Self-care and spa services.

Q2 (April 1-June 30)

  • Select hotel bookings.*

  • Restaurants.

  • Amazon.com.

Q3 (July 1-Sept. 30)

  • Gas stations and EV charging.

  • Select live entertainment.

  • Movie theaters.

Q4 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31)

  • McDonald's.

  • PayPal.

  • Pet shops and vet services.

  • Select charities.

*Includes bookings made directly with the hotel and prepaid bookings through Chase's travel portal.

Current Citi Dividend bonus categories

Citi Dividend Card bonus rewards categories for 2024

Q1 (Jan. 1 - March 31)

• Amazon. • Select streaming services.

Q2 (April 1 - June 30)

• Grocery stores. • Drugstores.

Q3 (July 1 – Sept. 30)

• Gas stations.

Q4 (Oct. 1 – Dec. 31)

• Restaurants. • Citi Travel.

Categories from previous years

2023 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2023 bonus categories

  • Q1: Grocery stores; drugstores; select streaming services.

  • Q2: Restaurants; wholesale clubs.

  • Q3: Gas stations; digital wallets.

  • Q4: Amazon.com; Target, including Target.com and the Target app.

Chase 2023 bonus categories

  • Q1: Target; grocery stores; fitness clubs and gym memberships.

  • Q2: Amazon.com; Lowe's.

  • Q3: Gas stations and electric vehicle charging; select live entertainment.

  • Q4: PayPal; wholesale clubs; select charities.

Citi Dividend Card 2023 bonus categories

  • Q1: Amazon; select streaming services.

  • Q2: Drugstores; grocery stores.

  • Q3: Gas stations; home improvement stores.

  • Q4: Grocery stores.

2022 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2022 bonus categories

  • Q1: Grocery stores; fitness clubs and gym memberships.

  • Q2: Gas stations; Target.

  • Q3: Restaurants; PayPal.

  • Q4: Amazon.com; digital wallets.

Chase 2022 bonus categories

  • Q1: Grocery stores; eBay.

  • Q2: Amazon.com; select streaming services.

  • Q3: Gas stations; car rentals; movie theaters; select live entertainment.

  • Q4: PayPal; Walmart.

Citi Dividend Card 2022 bonus categories

  • Q1: Amazon; select streaming services.

  • Q2: Grocery stores; drugstores.

  • Q3: Gas stations; home improvement stores.

  • Q4: Restaurants; select travel.

2021 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2021 bonus categories

  • Q1: Grocery stores (including Walmart Grocery Pickup & Delivery); CVS and Walgreens.

  • Q2: Gas stations; wholesale clubs; select streaming services.

  • Q3: Restaurants; PayPal.

  • Q4: Amazon.com; Target.com; Walmart.com.

Chase 2021 bonus categories

  • Q1: Wholesale clubs; select streaming services; internet, cable and phone services.

  • Q2: Gas stations; home improvement stores.

  • Q3: Grocery stores; select streaming services.

  • Q4: Walmart; PayPal.

Also in Q4 of 2021, holders of the Chase Freedom Flex® (but not the original Freedom card) could earn an additional 5% cash back in the eligible category where they spent the most money, on up to $1,500 in spending. Those categories: Travel (including transit); dining; home improvement stores; grocery stores (not including Target and Walmart purchases); drugstores; das stations; select live entertainment; select streaming services; fitness club. This came on top of the 5% earned on Walmart and PayPal purchases, meaning Flex cardholders could earn 5% on up to $3,000 in spending that quarter.

Citi Dividend Card 2021 bonus categories

  • Q1: Amazon; select streaming services.

  • Q2: Supermarkets; drugstores.

  • Q3: Gas stations; home improvement stores.

  • Q4: Restaurants; Best Buy.

ABOC cards 2021 bonus categories

  • Q1: Groceries; drugstores; health and wellness (fitness clubs, beauty and health spas, hospitals/medical providers); veterinary services.

  • Q2: Home improvement (including gardening stores and home furnishings); warehouse clubs; Costco.com; Walmart.com; Target.com.

  • Q3: Dining (including restaurants and fast food); travel (airlines, rental cars, hotels, timeshares, cruises and travel agencies); transportation (gas, tolls, mass transit, taxis and ridesharing services); entertainment (including movie theaters, tourist attractions and theme parks).

  • Q4: Dining (including restaurants and fast food); food delivery services (including DoorDash and Grubhub); groceries; liquor stores; Amazon.com.

2020 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2020 bonus categories

  • Q1: Grocery stores; CVS and Walgreens.

  • Q2: Gas stations; Uber and Lyft; wholesale clubs; Home Depot (June only).

  • Q3: Restaurants; PayPal.

  • Q4: Amazon.com; Target.com; Walmart.com; Best Buy (Nov. 25 to Dec. 31 only).

Chase 2020 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas stations; select streaming services; internet, cable and phone services.

  • Q2: Grocery stores; gym memberships and fitness clubs; select streaming services.

  • Q3: Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market.

  • Q4: Walmart; PayPal.

Citi Dividend Card 2020 bonus categories

  • Q1: Fitness clubs; supermarkets.

  • Q2: Drugstores; Amazon.com.

  • Q3: Home improvement stores; streaming services.

  • Q4: Best Buy; online purchases from warehouse clubs.

ABOC cards 2020 bonus categories

  • Q1: Recurring payments (including utilities, insurance, phone/cable/internet, streaming, subscription services).

  • Q2: Dining; groceries; gas, rideshare and transit.

  • Q3: Dining; entertainment; travel (airfare, cruises, car rentals, hotels, travel agencies); gas, rideshare and transit.

  • Q4: Holiday shopping (including superstores, department stores, electronics stores, Costco.com and Amazon.com).

2019 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2019 bonus categories

  • Q1: Grocery stores.

  • Q2: Gas stations; Uber and Lyft.

  • Q3: Restaurants; PayPal.

  • Q4: Amazon.com; Target (in-store and online); Walmart.com.

Chase Freedom® 2019 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas stations; tolls; drugstores.

  • Q2: Home improvement stores; grocery stores.

  • Q3: Gas stations; select streaming services.

  • Q4: Department stores; PayPal and Chase Pay.

Citi Dividend Card 2019 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas stations; Home Depot.

  • Q2: Drugstores; fitness clubs.

  • Q3: Airlines and car rentals.

  • Q4: Best Buy and department stores.

ABOC cards 2019 bonus categories

  • Q1: Dining; groceries; pharmacy.

  • Q2: Home improvement (including warehouse and wholesale clubs).

  • Q3: Travel purchases (airfare, cruises, car rentals, hotels, travel agencies).

  • Q4: Automotive purchases (including services, repairs and parts).

2018 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2018 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas stations and wholesale clubs.

  • Q2: Grocery stores.

  • Q3: Restaurants.

  • Q4: Amazon.com and wholesale clubs.

Chase Freedom® 2018 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas stations; internet, cable and phone service; and purchases via Chase Pay, Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay.

  • Q2: Grocery stores, PayPal, Chase Pay.

  • Q3: Gas stations, Lyft, Walgreens.

  • Q4: Department stores, wholesale clubs, Chase Pay.

Citi Dividend Card 2018 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas stations, car rentals.

  • Q2: Home Depot, home furniture stores.

  • Q3: Airlines, movies.

  • Q4: Best Buy, department stores.

2017 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2017 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas stations, ground transportation, wholesale clubs.

  • Q2: Home improvement stores, wholesale clubs.

  • Q3: Restaurants.

  • Q4: Amazon.com, Target.

Chase Freedom® 2017 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas stations, local commuter transportation.

  • Q2: Grocery stores, drugstores.

  • Q3: Restaurants, movie theaters.

  • Q4: Walmart, department stores.

Citi Dividend Card 2017 bonus categories

  • Q1: Home Depot, home furniture stores.

  • Q2: Drugstores, fitness clubs.

  • Q3: Airlines, Hilton hotels.

  • Q4: Best Buy, department stores.

2016 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2016 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas, ground transportation.

  • Q2: Restaurants, movies.

  • Q3: Home improvement stores, Amazon.com.

  • Q4: Amazon.com, department stores, Sam's Club.

Chase Freedom® 2016 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas stations, local commuter transportation.

  • Q2: Grocery stores, wholesale clubs.

  • Q3: Restaurants, wholesale clubs.

  • Q4: Department stores, wholesale clubs.

Citi Dividend Card 2016 bonus categories

  • Q1: Home Depot, home furniture stores.

  • Q2: Drugstores, fitness clubs.

  • Q3: Car rentals, Hilton hotels.

  • Q4: Best Buy, department stores.

2015 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2015 bonus categories

  • Q1: Gas, ground transportation.

  • Q2: Restaurants, movies.

  • Q3: Home improvement stores, department stores, Amazon.com.

  • Q4: Amazon.com, department stores, clothing stores.

Chase Freedom® 2015 bonus categories

  • Q1: Grocery stores, movie theaters, Starbucks.

  • Q2: Restaurants, Bed Bath & Beyond, H&M, Overstock.com.

  • Q3: Gas stations, Kohl's.

  • Q4: Amazon.com, Audible.com, Diapers.com, Zappos.com. (Note: In a special promotion offered in 2015 only, the $1,500 quarterly limit on spending eligible for bonus rewards was reset on Nov. 23, meaning that Chase Freedom® cardholders got a "fresh" $1,500 to spend for bonus cash back. Further, from Nov. 23 to Dec. 31 of that year, Amazon.com spending earned 10% cash back, rather than 5%.)

Citi Dividend Card 2015 bonus categories

  • Q1: Macy's, home furniture stores.

  • Q2: Home Depot, home and garden stores.

  • Q3: Airlines, Hilton hotels.

  • Q4: Best Buy, department stores.

2014 credit card bonus categories

Discover cards 2014 bonus categories

  • Q1: Restaurants, movies.

  • Q2: Home improvement stores, furniture stores, Bed Bath & Beyond.

  • Q3: Gas stations.

  • Q4: Online shopping, department stores.

Chase Freedom® 2014 bonus categories

  • Q1: Grocery stores, movie theaters, Starbucks.

  • Q2: Restaurants, Lowe's.

  • Q3: Gas stations, Kohl's.

  • Q4: Amazon.com, Zappos.com, select department stores.

Citi Dividend Card 2014 bonus categories

  • Q1: Macy's, drugstores, fitness clubs.

  • Q2: Home Depot, home furniture stores, home and garden.

  • Q3: Car rentals, Hilton hotels, theme parks, movie theaters.

  • Q4: Best Buy, department stores, toy stores.

Cash Back Cards from Our Partners
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

on Wells Fargo's website

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

2%

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Cashback

Intro offer

$200

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1.5%-5%

Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Cashback

Intro offer

Up to $300

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Capital One® SavorOneSM Cash Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1%-8%

Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Terms apply.

Cashback

Intro offer

$200

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

See more Cash Back cards

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