- 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.
Current Discover bonus categories
| Discover bonus rewards categories for 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31) |
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| Q2 (April 1–June 30) |
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| Q3 (July 1–Sept. 30) |
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| Q4 (Oct. 1–Dec. 31) | TBD. (In 2025: Amazon.com; drugstores.) | |
Learn more
Current Chase bonus categories
| Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex® bonus rewards categories for 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31) |
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| Q2 (April 1-June 30) |
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| Q3 (July 1-Sept. 30) | TBD. (In 2025: Gas/EV charging; live entertainment; Instacart.) | |
| Q4 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31) | TBD. (In 2025: Chase Travel℠; department stores; Old Navy. December only: PayPal.) | |
Current Citi Dividend bonus categories
| Citi Dividend Card bonus rewards categories for 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Jan. 1 - March 31) |
| |
| Q2 (April 1 - June 30) |
| |
| Q3 (July 1 – Sept. 30) | TBD. (In 2025: Gas stations; home improvement stores.) | |
| Q4 (Oct. 1 – Dec. 31) | TBD. (In 2025: Restaurants; purchases through Citi's travel portal.) | |
Categories from previous years
2025 credit card bonus categories
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- Q1: Restaurants; home improvement stores; select streaming services.
- Q2: Grocery stores; wholesale clubs.
- Q3: Gas stations/EV charging; public transit; utilities.
- Q4: Amazon.com; drugstores.
- Q1: Grocery stores; fitness clubs; hair, nails and spa services; Norwegian Cruise Line. March only: Tax preparation and insurance.
- Q2: Amazon; select streaming services. June only: Eligible internet, cable and phone services.
- Q3: Gas/EV charging; live entertainment; Instacart.
- Q4: Chase Travel℠; department stores; Old Navy. December only: PayPal.
- Q1: Amazon; select streaming services.
- Q2: Grocery stores; purchases through Citi's travel portal.
- Q3: Gas stations; home improvement stores.
- Q4: Restaurants; purchases through Citi's travel portal.
2024 credit card bonus categories
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- Q1: Restaurants; drugstores.
- Q2: Gas stations/EV charging stations; home improvement stores; public transit.
- Q3: Grocery stores; Walmart.
- Q4: Amazon; Target.
- Q1: Grocery stores; fitness clubs and gym memberships; self-care and spa services.
- Q2: Select hotel bookings (directly with hotel or prepaid through Chase); restaurants; Amazon.com.
- Q3: Gas stations and EV charging; select live entertainment; movie theaters.
- Q4: McDonald's; PayPal; Pet shops and vet services; select charities.
- Q1: Amazon; select streaming services.
- Q2: Grocery stores; drugstores.
- Q3: Gas stations.
- Q4: Restaurants; purchases through Citi's travel portal.
2023 credit card bonus categories
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- 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.
- 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.
- Q1: Amazon; select streaming services.
- Q2: Drugstores; grocery stores.
- Q3: Gas stations; home improvement stores.
- Q4: Grocery stores.
2022 credit card bonus categories
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- Q1: Grocery stores; fitness clubs and gym memberships.
- Q2: Gas stations; Target.
- Q3: Restaurants; PayPal.
- Q4: Amazon.com; digital wallets.
- Q1: Grocery stores; eBay.
- Q2: Amazon.com; select streaming services.
- Q3: Gas stations; car rentals; movie theaters; select live entertainment.
- Q4: PayPal; Walmart.
- Q1: Amazon; select streaming services.
- Q2: Grocery stores; drugstores.
- Q3: Gas stations; home improvement stores.
- Q4: Restaurants; select travel.
2021 credit card bonus categories
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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.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.








