The Chase Freedom Flex is a no-fee card that earns 5% on rotating quarterly categories you activate, 5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. Since September 21, 2026 it charges no foreign transaction fees. It earns Chase points that transfer when paired with a Sapphire or Ink card. Figures are as of 2026; confirm current terms and welcome offers at the issuer.
What the Chase Freedom Flex earns
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Rotating quarterly categories (activate) | 5% back, up to the quarterly cap |
| Chase Travel | 5% back |
| Dining and drugstores | 3% back |
| Everything else | 1% back |
| Foreign transaction fee | None since September 21, 2026 |
The perks and details
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The Freedom Flex earns Chase Ultimate Rewards and rotates 5% categories every quarter that you must activate, up to a spending cap. Like the Freedom Unlimited, its points become transferable when you also hold a Sapphire or Ink card. It has no annual fee and adds some purchase and travel protections. Since September 21, 2026 it charges no foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad or from international online merchants, and Points Boost makes Freedom points worth up to 10% more on select hotels booked through Chase Travel. Chase now shows the 5% categories a quarter ahead in its app: grocery stores are a 5% category in both Q4 2026 and Q1 2027, and Q1 2027 adds top streaming services (Chase, September 21, 2026).
The fee math
With a $0 fee, the Flex is a strong no-fee category card if you activate each quarter and spend in the bonus categories. It works best alongside a Sapphire or Ink card so the 5% categories turn into transferable points. Confirm current categories and caps at the issuer.
Chase Freedom Flex
Earn rates, the fee and the foreign transaction change were checked against Chase on October 5, 2026. Confirm the current welcome offer at the issuer before you apply.
Original Freedom holders. Chase is moving some holders of the original Chase Freedom, the card that came before the Flex, to the Freedom Unlimited by November 20, 2026. The account number stays the same, rewards carry over, and the 5% rotating categories end; Doctor of Credit reported the notices on October 8, 2026 and says holders can call to move to the Freedom Flex instead.
Who it fits and who it does not
The Freedom Flex fits people who will track and activate rotating categories and want a no-fee card in a Chase points setup. It does not fit someone who wants simple flat-rate earning without quarterly activation.
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FAQ
Does the Chase Freedom Flex have an annual fee?
No. The Freedom Flex has no annual fee. Its 5% rotating categories require quarterly activation and are capped, so confirm the current categories and cap at Chase.
How do the Freedom Flex rotating categories work?
Each quarter Chase publishes 5% bonus categories that you activate, up to a spending cap, after which those purchases earn 1%. Confirm the current quarter categories at Chase.
Does the Freedom Flex count toward Chase 5/24?
Yes. The Freedom Flex is a Chase card and counts toward your 5/24 total.
Does the Chase Freedom Flex charge foreign transaction fees?
No, not since September 21, 2026, when Chase removed the fee on purchases abroad and from international online merchants. Older reviews written before that date may still list a fee.
Last reviewed October 2026. We verify every rule, ratio, and figure against issuer terms and current reporting, and date each one. See our editorial standards for how we research and correct guides.
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