Are rotating category cards worth the hassle?

Question

Cards like Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it have 5% categories that change every quarter. Is it worth tracking and activating them?

CardCompare Expert · Accepted Answer

Yes, if you set a calendar reminder to activate. The math: $1,500 quarterly cap × 5% = $75/quarter = $300/year in bonus rewards. That's significant for a $0 annual fee card. Pro tips: (1) Set a quarterly reminder. (2) If the category matches your spending, front-load purchases early in the quarter. (3) The Discover it first-year match makes it effectively 10% — up to $600/year.