Cashback is the simplest form of benefit a credit card can offer. You spend money and you get real value back, instead of earning rewards and later redeeming them for cash, vouchers or other items. There are several cashback credit cards in India, most of them offering extra cashback on select spending categories. There is no single cashback card to match everyone’s needs so you should pick the right credit card based on how you spend your money.
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Annual Fee: Rs. 500
Minimum Income: Communicated at the time of application
The card is among the best co-branded credit cards in India. When talking about value back across most popular categories, the Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card is close to perfect. You get 5% cashback on three popular shopping websites- Flipkart, Myntra and 2GUD and the other preferred merchant category offering 4% cashback covers travel (GoIbibo and MakeMyTrip), movies (PVR), dining (UberEats) and more.
Annual Fee: Nil
Annual Fee: Rs. 750
Minimum Income: Rs. 4 Lakh per annum
This card works very well for those who like to shop online but do not want to be limited to a particular website. 1.5% cashback across all online spends is a good deal. The card also offers 1% flat-rate cashback across all other purchases allowing you to get maximum benefit out of the program.
Monthly Fee: Rs. 49
Annual Fee: Rs. 1,000
Minimum Income: Rs. 25,000 per month
HDFC Millennia Credit Card perfectly match the needs of the millennials as the cashback benefit has been spread across multiple categories including online shopping, travel, wallet reloading and even on offline transactions. This is a good mix of features and is difficult to be found in any other card in its price range.
Annual Fee: Rs. 750
Annual Fee: Rs. 500
Minimum Income: Rs. 25,000 per month
There are very few credit cards that would give a 5% cashback on utility bill payments for an annual fee of only Rs. 500. The benefit is also easy to avail for many, as utility bills are a necessity more than a choice. Offers and discounts applicable to Citibank credit cards would also be applicable to the Citi Cashback Credit Card.
Annual Fee: Rs. 2,999
SBI Card PRIME would find a better place in the list of best rewards credit cards in India.
Annual Fee: Rs. 999
Minimum Income: Rs. 90,000 per month
This card is good for people who make big purchases at supermarkets, as there is no maximum cap on the amount of cashback. Other transactions are also rewarded with 3X points. Overall, the offers and discounts on Standard Chartered Credit Cards will also help the users a lot.
Annual Fee: Rs. 749
Annual Fee: Rs. 250
Minimum Income: Rs. 55,000 per month
There are only a few non-branded fuel credit cards in India which would offer such a benefit on fuel expenses. So is the case with utilities benefit. The card is best suited for those who would want to add on to their available credit limit while using the card only for the said categories.
Annual Fee: Rs. 499
Annual Fee: Rs. 299
Minimum Income: Communicated at the time of application
| Credit Card | Best Suited For | Key Feature |
| Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card | Co-branded Benefits | 5% cashback on Flipkart, Myntra and 2GUD |
| HSBC Cashback Credit Card | Online Shopping | 5% cashback on all online spends* |
| HDFC Millennia Credit Card | Overall Cashback Benefit | 5% cashback on Amazon and Flipkart; 1% cashback on offline spends and wallet reloads |
| Citi Cashback Credit Card | Movies and Utilities | 5% cashback on movie tickets, telephone and other utility bill payments |
| Standard Chartered Manhattan Platinum Credit Card | Supermarket Spends | 5% cashback when shopping at supermarkets |
| Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card | Fuel and Utilities | 5% cashback on fuel, phone and utility bills* |
| Kotak Delight Platinum Credit Card | Dining and Movies | 10% cashback on dining and movies* |
*Terms and Conditions Apply.
Kotak Delight Platinum Credit Card is best-suited to the needs of frequent diners as it offers cashback at each and every restaurant and café. Though there is a cap of Rs. 600 per month on each category, the reward rate is quite competitive.
Annual Fee: Rs. 500
The main criterion for us has been the value back that each of these cards offer. We have also covered different spending categories from supermarket spends, fuel and groceries to those with comprehensive cashback benefits across multiple categories. Most of the cards in our list are from ‘low to moderate’ fee range and thus suited to the needs of many. You can read our reviews of the listed cards to get an unbiased opinion on each of them.
The choice of right cashback credit card depends on how you plan to use the card. Since credit card benefits are usually inclined towards one or two specific categories, understanding your need is very important while choosing any type of card. For example, if you plan to use the card mainly for groceries, the Standard Chartered Manhattan Platinum Credit Card would be good for you. However, if you wish to be rewarded for fuel expenses, their Super Value Titanium Credit Card would be better.
Once you have narrowed down your options, you should compare the cards on the basis of annual fee, cashback rate, bonus categories, etc.
The idea behind cashback and rewards is the same- they are simply an incentive for using your card. While cashback is simple to understand and manage, reward points are a bit complicated because of the extra step of first accumulating them and then redeeming at a later stage. Some cards allow you to convert the reward points into cash but the rate may not be the same. At the same time, there are rewards credit cards that allow conversion into miles which could be better than cashback, especially if you travel often. So, you must make a choice depending on your needs.
Any credit card would be worth only if you manage to get benefits at least equivalent to the annual fee charged. Most cashback cards charge low annual fee so it is likely that you would be able to make the most of it even if you do not put every expense on the card. However, you should always pay your bills on time so that the extra charges do not eat into your benefits.
The easiest way to maximize the benefits on your cashback credit card is to use it for the bonus category of expenses. For example, if your cashback credit card offers fuel benefits, you must put your fuel expenses on this card to make the most of it.
You should consider getting a cashback credit card if your rewards card does not cover a particular spending category. Even if you are happy with your rewards credit card, getting a low or no annual fee cashback credit card does not hurt.
Yes. This is because rewards may look like a lot but their actual value back is low. Mostly, the monetary value of 1 reward point ranges from Re. 0.25 to Re. 0.50. But when you get real and direct cashback, even 2% is better.
Membership rewards card is the best card compared to any card of any other bank. I mean which bank gives you 1000 points by just making 4 transactions in 1 calender month ...? none amex roxx and the cx care is next level no other bank is even 10% of amex cx care ......without thinking twice just go for it
No extra rewards or benefits. Only basic features. Could have been better.
SBI Simply Click is a good card for online shopping. I get a lot of rewards. Recommended!
The only credit card from American Express that comes with low Annual fee of Rs. 495 but offers amazing list of cashbacks and rewards that make it worth having
My job keeps me on my toes with frequent travels, thanks for American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card I get to enjoy lounge access on the days when my flights are painfully delayed
Ever since i have got this card my spending have become rewarding with amazing rewards program that Amex membership rewards card offers.
