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.

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

Updated · 5 min read
Profile photo of Gregory Karp
Written by Gregory Karp
Senior Writer
Profile photo of Paul Soucy
Edited by Paul Soucy
Director
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?

Who doesn't want to be rewarded?
Create a NerdWallet account for personalized recommendations, and find the card that rewards you the most for your spending.

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

Horizontal scroll

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® SavorSM Cash Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

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

1%-8%

Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 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

$250

For a limited time, earn a $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

See more Cash Back cards

Find the right credit card for you.

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Get Started
Get more smart money moves – straight to your inbox
Sign up and we’ll send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money.