Chase Freedom Flex

Worth it only if you'll remember to activate the 5% rotating categories each quarter; miss the activation and you've left the best rate on the table. The cap is $1,500 in bonus spend per quarter, so max 5% earns you $75 a quarter, or $300 a year, plus standing dining and drugstore bonuses. If quarterly tracking annoys you, the Citi Custom Cash auto-applies 5% to your top category instead. Confirm the current calendar on chase.com.

Chase Freedom Flex at a glance

Rewards & perks

• 5% categories that rotate each quarter
• Protection for your cell phone
• Works with a Sapphire card for point transfers

Pros

• No annual fee
• Earns a high 5% on rotating categories
• Includes cell phone insurance

Cons

• You have to turn on the categories every quarter
• 5% rate stops after $1,500 spent per quarter

Who should apply

• A good credit score
• Counts against the Chase 5/24 rule

Before you apply: card terms change often. Confirm the current annual fee, APR, welcome offer and rewards on the official Chase site. CreditCardCompare is an independent comparison resource, not the card issuer, and this is not financial advice.