Best Rotating Category Credit Cards 2026

Earn up to 5% cash back on quarterly bonus categories. 2 cards with rotating rewards worth $350+ in sign-up value.

Quick Picks

Best Overall
Chase Freedom Flex
Best First-Year Value
Discover it Cash Back
Chase

Chase Freedom Flex

$200
~$200 value
Spend Required$500 in 3 months
Annual Fee$0
Base Rewards1% on all purchases
5% rotating categories (quarterly)3% dining3% drugstores
Apply NowDetails
Discover

Discover it Cash Back

Cashback Match
~$150 value
Spend Required$0 in 12 months
Annual Fee$0
Base Rewards1% on all purchases
5% rotating categories (quarterly, up to $1,500)
Apply NowDetails

Frequently Asked Questions

What are rotating category credit cards?

Rotating category cards offer elevated cash back (usually 5%) on spending categories that change every quarter. Common categories include gas, groceries, restaurants, Amazon, and department stores. You typically need to activate each quarter to earn the bonus rate.

Do I need to activate rotating categories?

Yes, most rotating category cards require you to activate the quarterly bonus online or through the app. If you forget to activate, you'll earn the base rate (usually 1%) instead of the bonus rate.

Which rotating category card is best?

The Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back are the two most popular rotating category cards. Both earn 5% on quarterly categories with no annual fee. The Discover it also matches all cash back earned in your first year.