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How to Earn 17x on Dining With the Chase Freedom Flex and Paze (Q4 2026)
September 27, 2026
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
From October 1 through December 31, 2026, Chase Freedom Flex® cardholders can earn up to 17 points per dollar on restaurant orders. That's 17% back in Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, one of the highest dining returns any card has offered.
It takes three things lining up: the card's everyday dining rate, Chase's Q4 bonus category, and a Chase promotion for paying with Paze. Here's how the stack works, where to use it, and the caps to watch.
How Does the 17x Dining Stack Work?
Each restaurant order paid with Paze and your Freedom Flex can earn three separate rewards:
- 3x: The Freedom Flex's standard rate on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery
- 4x: The extra bonus from Chase's Q4 2026 dining category, once you activate it
- 10x: Chase's additional Paze bonus, if the offer is on your account
That adds up to 17x. Chase advertises the Q4 category as 5% cash back, but that 5% includes the card's 1% base rate, which is already part of the 3% dining rate. So the quarterly category adds 4x on top of dining, for 7x total before Paze.
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How to Earn 17x on Dining, Step by Step
- Activate your Q4 categories. Go to chasebonus.com and activate by December 14, 2026. The Q4 categories are dining, grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), and American Red Cross donations. See our Q4 2026 rotating categories guide for every card's bonus categories this quarter.
- Check for the Paze offer. Sign in to Chase and look for the 10x Paze promotion in your Freedom Flex account's offers. Having your card in Paze doesn't guarantee the bonus, so confirm the offer is on your account.
- Activate your Paze wallet. In the Chase app, select your Freedom Flex, then go to Manage account, Digital Wallets, and Paze.
- Find a restaurant that accepts Paze. Paze shows up at checkout on many restaurant websites that use Clover for online ordering.
- Order online and pay with Paze. Choose Paze at checkout and select your Freedom Flex.
Tip: Paze is online only, so it won't work at an in-person card reader. Cardholders report that Paze often doesn't appear in the Clover app, so order through the restaurant's website instead.
New to Paze? Our Chase Paze guide covers setup in more detail.
What Are the Caps on the 17x Dining Stack?
Two different caps apply, and they reset on different schedules:
- Q4 bonus category: The extra 4x applies to the first $1,500 in combined purchases across all three Q4 categories (dining, grocery stores, and Red Cross) for the whole quarter.
- Paze bonus: The extra 10x applies to up to $1,500 in Paze purchases per month.
So the full 17x covers at most $1,500 in dining for the quarter, and less if you also use the Q4 bonus at grocery stores. After you hit the quarterly cap, Paze dining orders still earn 13x (3x dining plus the 10x Paze bonus) until you reach that month's Paze limit.
How Much Is 17x Worth?
- A $100 restaurant order: 1,700 points, or $17 in cash back
- The full $1,500 quarterly cap at 17x: 25,500 points, or $255 in cash back
Calculation formulated by Kudos, based on 3x dining, a 4x Q4 category bonus, and a 10x Paze bonus, with points valued at 1 cent each as cash back.
If you also hold a Chase Sapphire card, you can combine your Freedom Flex points with it and transfer them to airline and hotel partners, which can make them worth more.
Don't Want to Order Online? You Still Get 7x
The Paze bonus is the biggest piece, but it only works online. If you're dining in or paying at the counter, your Freedom Flex still earns 7x on dining for the rest of the year once you activate the Q4 categories (up to the $1,500 quarterly cap).
That's still one of the highest dining rates available this quarter, and it applies at any restaurant, no Paze needed.
Kudos tip: Rotating categories are easy to forget. Kudos shows you the best card for each purchase, so you'll know when your Freedom Flex is the one to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to activate the Freedom Flex Q4 categories?
Yes. Activate at chasebonus.com by December 14, 2026. Without activation, dining earns the standard 3x.
Does the 10x Paze bonus apply to every Chase card?
No. The Paze bonus is a Chase promotion that applies to eligible cards with the offer on the account. Check your Chase account to confirm it before you rely on it.
Can I use Paze at a restaurant in person?
No. Paze is an online checkout option, so you need to order through a participating restaurant's website.
Does grocery spending count toward the same $1,500 cap?
Yes. Dining, grocery stores, and Red Cross donations share one $1,500 quarterly cap for the Q4 bonus.
Does the Freedom Flex earn cash back or points?
Both. Chase advertises the Freedom Flex as a cash back card, but rewards are earned as Ultimate Rewards points, with 1 point worth 1 cent as cash back.
Bottom Line
If you have a Chase Freedom Flex®, activate your Q4 categories now and check your account for the Paze offer. Ordering from a restaurant's website with Paze can earn 17x on up to $1,500 of dining this quarter, and even without Paze, you'll earn 7x at any restaurant through December 31.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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