Current 5% Bonus Categories
With many credit cards in your wallet, keeping track of the best earning rates for each category is vital. Besides limited time spending promotions, earning 5% with a credit card is usually as good as it gets. There are several credit cards out there that offer 5% on quarterly rotating categories, or monthly.
Some of the most popular credit cards that have this feature include Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom (no longer available), Discover it, and Citi Custom Cash and Citi Dividend (no longer available). But there are a couple of other cards as well.
So let’s take a look at the current 5% bonus categories for Q2 2026, plus details on how each card’s earning is structured, and quick activation links to get you started.
5% Bonus Categories Q2 2026
| Card & Activation Link | 5% Categories | Benefit Details |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Flex Chase Freedom Activation Link | Amazon. Whole Foods. Chase Travel. Feeding America. | 5% bonus earnings on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter. |
| Discover it® Activation Link | Restaurants. Home Improvement Stores. | 5% bonus earnings on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter. |
| Citi Dividend Activation Link | Grocery Stores. Citi Travel. | 5% back in eligible categories, up to a maximum of $300 cash back annually. |
| Citi Custom Cash® No activation Required | Restaurants. Gas stations. Grocery stores. Select travel. Select transit. Select streaming services. Drugstores. Home improvement stores. Fitness clubs. Live entertainment. | Automatically earns 5% on your top eligible category each billing cycle, up to $500 spent. |
| U.S. Bank Cash+® Activation Link | TV, Internet, Streaming. Home utilities. Select clothing stores. Cell phone providers. Electronic Stores. Gyms/Fitness. Fast food. Ground Transportation. Sporting goods. Department Stores. Furniture Stores. Movie theaters. | 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you select. |
Guru’s Wrap-up
Earning 5% cash back on your everyday spend is a sweet deal, unless you are working on a welcome bonus.
Categories such as grocery stores, gas stations and home improvement stores are usually popular. These are merchants where people already have organic spend, but they also sell third party gift cards.
Managing rotating categories can feel like a part-time job, but missing an activation means leaving easy money on the table. Bookmark this page now to ensure you always have the latest 5% categories, activation links, and spend-tracking tips at your fingertips. We update this guide every quarter, making it your one-stop shop to ensure every swipe earns the maximum reward possible without the guesswork.
Here’s how you can bookmark:
- Desktop (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox): Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Command + D (Mac).
- iOS (Safari): Tap the Share icon (the square with an upward arrow) and select Add Bookmark.
- Android (Chrome): Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right and tap the Star icon.
