How to Earn 5% Cash Back With PayPal Using the Chase Freedom Flex® (Dec 2025)
By: Goose
Published: 12/3/2025
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TLDR; The Chase Freedom Flex® has rotating 5% back categories every quarter but the 5% cash back on PayPal is only for the month of December.
So the Chase Freedom Flex® has rotating categories every quarter that you can earn 5% cash back on. For the last quarter of 2025, you can earn 5% back on purchases at Old Navy, on Chase Travel and at department stores.
But there’s another neat category added in there for a limited time—you can earn 5% cash back on purchases using PayPal in the month of December.
How do I activate 5% cash back on the Chase Freedom Flex®?
In order to activate 5% cash back on the Chase Freedom Flex®, you need to first log into Chase or you can use their dedicated page to activate it. Then you will click on your Chase Freedom Flex® and activate the 5% cash back above where it says “Pay card.”
This is pretty easy but it can be annoying to remember—you’ll have to remember to activate the 5% cash back for every quarter with your Chase Freedom Flex® (assuming you’ll make use out of the respective quarter’s categories).
What can you use PayPal for with your Chase Freedom Flex®?
The short answer is that you’ll have the most options to use PayPal via your Chase Freedom Flex® when you shop online. Online shopping for all kinds of things like clothes, electronics and appliances should allow PayPal. Auto insurance, utilities, Airbnb, fast food apps and gift cards are other potential use cases for PayPal.
My tip is that whenever you check out with an online purchase, you should always check to see if there is a PayPal option.
What are my thoughts on the Chase Freedom Flex®?
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a fantastic semi-beginner card for those looking to earn points for travel opportunities. When I started out in the credit card space, I first got the Discover it Cash Back card. I then got the Chase Freedom Flex® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® around the same time.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was primarily for the 1.5% cash back on all purchases and I of course got the Chase Freedom Flex® for 5% cash back on those rotating categories every quarter.
Both the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® are nice to have as you can convert the cash back you earn into Chase points.
These Chase points are great to have when you eventually get a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card allows you to transfer your Chase points to airline & hotel partners at a 1:1 rate.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a nice card to have in your back pocket in case there are any 5% cash back categories (up to $1,500 spending every quarter) that you think you can put to use. And it's a no annual fee card so you can keep it in your wallet as long as you like with no cost to you.
Personally, I really like when the Chase Freedom Flex® has gas as a 5% cash back category. In my personal life and during the workday I drive a TON so it’s always nice to earn rewards on gas. It’s especially nice when I’m earning cash back on purchases that will be reimbursed through work. However, this is only typically provided on a singular quarter throughout the year.
Final Remarks
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a card that comes with a little extra work to earn excellent cash back rates. And the 5% cash back on PayPal in December on the card goes along with that idea. It can be sometimes tricky to find where you can use PayPal to get 5% cash back, but it’s worth the effort. A lot of times you can get the 5% cash back with PayPal with online shopping and simultaneously earn cash back with Rakuten or Capital One Shopping added as a browser extension. If you’re all about maximizing your cash back rewards, the Chase Freedom Flex® is a fantastic card.
FAQs
No. You can spend up to $1,500 every quarter with the respective categories on the Chase Freedom Flex® and still get 5% cash back. If you spend $1,500, you will get $75 in cash back.
From my research, the answer is no. If you can prove me wrong, let me know!
You can earn 5% cash back on purchases at Old Navy, on Chase Travel and at department stores for the rest of the year.
Folks who already have some credit from a credit card like the Capital One Savor card or who have managed credit before (like student loans) should get the Chase Freedom Flex®. And of course if you want Chase points to travel the world.