If you're looking to save money on your daily expenses, cashback credit cards can be a great solution. These cards are known for being simple and effective, providing a direct benefit for your spending. When you use the credit card, a percentage of your purchase amount is returned to you as cashback. However, cashback cards come in different types. Some cards offer a fixed cashback rate for all purchases, while others provide a higher rate for specific categories like groceries or online shopping. With the right credit card, you can earn money back on the things you spend on the most. To make it easier for you, here's a list of some of The best cashback credit cards in India.
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Cashback SBI Card | Rs. 999 | Online Shopping |
| Axis Bank ACE Credit Card | Rs. 499 | Utilities and Food Orders |
| Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card | Rs. 500 | Co-branded Benefits |
| Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card | Nil | Online Shopping |
| HDFC Millennia Credit Card | Rs. 1,000 | Benefits across Multiple Categories |
| Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card | Rs. 500 | Utility Bill Payments |
| Paytm SBI SELECT Credit Card | Rs. 1,499 | Travel and Shopping |
| Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card | Rs. 499 | Online Spends |
| YES Prosperity Cashback Plus Credit Card | Rs. 1,499 | Bill Payments |
| Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card | Rs. 500 | Co-branded Benefits |
The SBI Cashback Credit Card stands out with the highest 5% cashback rate for online purchases, surpassing other cashback cards in the market. What makes it exceptional is that there are no restrictions on where you shop online – you get cashback regardless of the website. Unlike many other cards, there are no limitations to specific platforms. Another plus is that redeeming your cashback is straightforward, as it's directly credited to your card account.
The Axis Bank Ace Credit Card offers a flat 2% cashback on all your purchases, giving you good value in return. You can also get up to 5% cashback on bill payments, DTH, and mobile recharges using Google Pay, and 4% cashback on popular services like Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola – things most people use regularly. What's great is there's no maximum limit on how much cashback you can earn, making it a fantastic deal for those who frequently spend in these categories. With a low annual fee, this card is a top choice for those starting their careers, providing high overall value back.
The Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card is a top-notch co-branded card in India, especially for those who love shopping on Flipkart. You get a solid 5% cashback every time you shop on Flipkart, and a decent 4% cashback on other merchants like ClearTrip, PVR, Uber, and Cure.fit. This card covers popular categories like shopping, travel, and lifestyle, making it quite versatile. While cards like Amazon Pay and Paytm SBI Card have their own perks, the Flipkart Card stands out with its partnerships with highly popular merchants in various categories. If you're into getting discounts and offers for online shopping across different areas, this card is a great choice for you.
The Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card is a partnership card that comes with excellent benefits, especially for Amazon shoppers. Prime members enjoy a hefty 5% cashback on Amazon transactions, and there's no joining or annual fee. Non-Prime members also get a respectable 3% cashback on their Amazon purchases. Beyond cashback, the card provides additional perks like dining benefits, a fuel surcharge waiver, and a no-cost EMI facility. If you're a regular online shopper on Amazon, this card offers valuable benefits for your purchases.
The HDFC Millenia card stands out by offering attractive cashback across various categories, including online shopping, travel, wallet loading, and offline transactions. With a generous 5% cashback on popular websites like Amazon and Flipkart, it also extends cashback benefits to EMIs and wallet loading – a unique feature among cashback credit cards. Priced at an annual fee of Rs. 1,000, this card provides a compelling deal for those seeking cashback and discounts. However, it's essential to note that cashback is applicable only if you surpass a predetermined transaction amount in a specific category. Therefore, this card is an ideal choice for individuals who tend to make higher spends using their credit card.
Ideal for Airtel users, The Airtel Axis Credit Card stands out with a hefty 25% cashback on Airtel mobile, WiFi, DTH, and broadband bill payments. It also offers a valuable 10% cashback on preferred merchants and utility bills paid through the Airtel Thanks app, along with a consistent 1% cashback on other expenditures. Notably, this card addresses a common gap in rewards programs by including utility bill payments. With a budget-friendly annual fee and the convenience of direct cashback accrual to the credit statement, it proves to be a hassle-free and cost-effective choice. However, for those not using Airtel services but still keen on cashback for utility bills, the Axis ACE credit card, which offers cashback via Google Pay, might be a more suitable alternative.
The Paytm SBI Select Credit Card is a valuable choice for Paytm users, offering benefits in the form of cashback across various categories and a complimentary Paytm First Membership. Users can enjoy instant cashback and increased savings when using the card on Paytm Mall and other offline/online platforms. Specifically, the card provides up to 5% cashback on travel and movie ticket bookings, with a minimum of 1% cashback on all other transactions made offline or online. While there's also a regular variant of the card, we recommend the 'Select' variant (if eligible) for higher cashback on Paytm purchases, although the base rate remains the same for both cards.
The Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card rewards you with 2% cashback for your online transactions and 1% cashback for all other purchases. Alongside these cashback benefits, the card provides an extended interest-free period of up to 90 days. Additional perks include features like EMI conversion, contactless payments, OTP verification, and more. Another noteworthy advantage is the option to obtain a loan against your Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card, with a flexible repayment option of up to Rs. 5 lakh. This credit card is an excellent choice if you frequently shop online and are seeking a low-annual fee card that offers decent cashback on your online transactions.
The YES Prosperity Cashback Plus Credit Card is a great choice, offering a generous 5% cashback on bills like rent, mobile recharge, telephone, gas, and electricity payments through YES Bank’s PayNow service. Additionally, you get 5% cashback on groceries. These categories make sense for a wide range of customers, as they cover essential and non-discretionary expenses, providing significant rewards.
Another card with similar benefits is the Axis Ace, offering a higher universal cashback rate of 2%, surpassing the YES Prosperity Cashback. However, if you can't get the Axis Bank Ace Credit Card but are specifically looking for a card that rewards heavy utility bill payments, the YES Prosperity Cashback is an excellent alternative. It matches Axis Ace's cashback rate for utility bills and groceries at 5%, although the platforms for earning cashback are different.
The Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card is a perfect match for individuals who frequently use Swiggy for food, groceries, and everyday items, or those who enjoy dining out. This co-branded credit card offers an accelerated cashback rate of up to 10% on Swiggy and other online spends with leading brands. The earned cashback can be redeemed in a 1:1 ratio against Swiggy Money balance, making it an excellent choice for co-branded benefits and online shopping. It stands as a strong competitor to other co-branded cards like Flipkart Axis Bank and Amazon Pay ICICI credit cards. Moreover, card members are subject to only a nominal fee, which can be waived off by reaching an annual spend of just Rs. 2 lakh.
We've focused on how much value you get back from each card as the main factor. Our list includes cards that cover various spending categories like supermarkets, fuel, and groceries. Most of these cards have a 'low to moderate' fee range, making them suitable for many people. For unbiased opinions on each card, you can check out our reviews.
Choosing The best cashback credit card depends on how you intend to use it. Credit card benefits are often designed for specific categories, so it's crucial to understand your needs when picking a card. For instance, if you want rewards on fuel expenses, the Super Value Titanium credit cards might be ideal. However, if your main use is for groceries, this card might not be the best choice.
After narrowing down your options, compare the cards based on factors like the annual fee, cashback rate, bonus categories, and more.
A credit card becomes valuable only if the benefits you get are worth at least the annual fee it charges. Many cashback cards have a low annual fee, making it likely that you can make the most of it even if you don't use the card for every expense. Just make sure to pay your bills on time to avoid extra charges that could eat into your benefits.
The simplest way to make the most of your cashback credit card is to use it for the specific bonus category it offers. For instance, if your card gives cashback benefits on fuel, make sure to use it for your fuel expenses to maximize your rewards.
card. Cashback is straightforward to understand and manage, while reward points can be a bit more complex due to the additional step of accumulating and then redeeming them later. Some cards enable you to convert reward points into cash, but the exchange rate may not be equivalent. On the other hand, certain rewards credit cards allow conversion into miles, which might be more beneficial than cashback, especially for frequent travelers. Your choice should align with your specific needs.
Yes, it's better to go for direct cashback because rewards, even though they may seem like a lot, often have a lower actual value. Typically, the monetary value of 1 reward point is between 25 paise to 50 paise. In contrast, getting real and direct cashback, even at 2%, is more beneficial.
If your rewards card doesn't cover a specific spending category, it's a good idea to consider getting a cashback credit card. Even if you're satisfied with your rewards credit card, having a low or no annual fee cashback credit card can be a useful addition without any downside.
.png)
Top Credit Cards in India