Roundup of 5% Bonus Categories for Q3
Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex, Discover It and Citi Dividend are the three major 5% cashback credit cards with rotating bonus categories. The third quarter of 2025 is now underway so let’s take a look at the 5% bonus categories for each card and some ideas on how to maximize each one.
Discover it Q3 2025 Bonus Categories
Here’s how this bonus works for the Discover it card:
- Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases from 7/1/2025 – 9/30/2025.
- Activation Link
Discover it categories for this quarter include:
- Gas Stations
- EV Charging
- Public Transit
- Utilities
Gas stations are always a popular category as everyone needs to fill up their car (or charge it) and they also sell tons of gist cards. You can also pre-pay some of you utilities if that’s an option with your provider.
Chase Freedom & Freedom Flex Q3 2025 Bonus Categories
Here’s how this bonus works for the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards:
- Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases from 7/1/2025 – 9/30/2025.
- Activation Link
Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex categories for this quarter include:
- Gas Stations
- EV Charging
- Instacart
- Select Live Entertainment (Live in-person entertainment such as major sporting events, zoos and aquariums, concerts, theatrical productions, museums, tourist attractions and exhibits, amusement parks, circuses, carnivals, bands, and entertainers. Ticket agencies selling on behalf of the entertainment venue are included. Some merchants that sell tickets for in-person entertainment are not included in this category; for example, movie theaters, bowling alleys, horse racing tracks, casinos, and dance hall/clubs. Purchasing from a hotel/concierge is not included nor excursions or purchases as part of a travel package.)
Gas stations are always a popular category as everyone needs to fill up their car (or charge it) and they also sell tons of gist cards.
Citi Dividend Q3 2025 Bonus Categories
Here’s how this bonus works for the Citi Dividend card:
- Earn 5% cash back on eligible purchases from 7/1/2025 – 9/30/2025. Cash back is limited to $300 per year. So you can maximize it all in one quarter if you prefer.
- Activation Link
Citi Dividend categories for this quarter include:
- Gas Stations
- Home Improvement Stores
The Dividend card isn’t available to the public anymore, but many people still have it. Gas stations is an option just like the Freedom and Discover cards, but you also have Home Improvement stores which can be useful for your summer projects, and some of those stores also sell gift cards.
“Gas stations are always a popular category as everyone needs to fill up their car (or charge it)” — except for the millions of people who live in big cities and don’t own cars.