Turn your everyday purchases into rewards with cashback credit cards! Get a portion of your spending back as cash or points.
Cashback credit cards reward you every time you use them by giving you a percentage of your spending back in the form of cash rewards. How this works is that when you pay for an eligible purchase, you earn a predetermined percentage of the amount as a cashback.
Let’s assume that your credit card offers 1% cashback on all online purchases. So, if you spend ₹10,000 on an online purchase, you will receive a cashback of ₹100.
The cashback may be offered as a statement credit or a direct credit to your linked bank account. The nature and percentage of cashback offered vary for every card. The cashback may also be different across categories of purchases.
So, ensure that you read the terms and conditions before applying for a money back credit card. To maximise your rewards, it is best to choose a card whose rewards align with the spends and purchases you regularly make.
When making a purchase, you end up using your credit card to pay for the entire purchase amount. The merchant (or the seller) pays a fee, also known as the interchange fee, to your credit card issuer. This fee is paid to facilitate the transaction.
A portion of the purchase amount you spent is what you typically earn as cashback. This amount gets credited to your statement at the end of your billing cycle. Sometimes, it may take a little longer to reflect in your account.
Apart from the cashback credit cards mentioned earlier, there are some credit cards that may not offer immediate cashback benefits. Instead, they allow the redemption of reward points for cash. Here are some of these:
Credit Card |
Annual Fee |
Reward points to cash conversion rate |
HDFC Bank Titanium Edge Card |
NA |
100 reward points for ₹10 |
IndusInd Bank Platinum Aura Edge Credit Card |
No Annual Fees |
1 reward point for ₹0.5 |
HDFC Freedom Credit Card |
₹500 |
1 reward point for ₹0.15 |
IndusInd Bank Platinum Card |
No Annual Fees |
1 reward point for ₹0.40 |
HDFC Bank Platinum Edge Card |
NA |
100 reward points for ₹10 |
IndusInd Bank Legend Credit Card |
No Annual Fees |
1 reward point for ₹0.50 |
Disclaimer: The charges may vary at the discretion of the card issuer.
Rewards credit cards and cashback credit cards sometimes end up being used interchangeably. However, they are actually separate types of credit cards.
To gain a better understanding of the differences between the two, refer to the table below:
Feature |
Rewards Credit Cards |
Cashback Credit Cards |
Type of earnings |
Reward points, which accumulate for every purchase |
Cashback or a percentage of spending returned as cash |
Redeeming earnings |
Dedicated website/app, net banking; redeem for travel miles, gift cards, merchandise, statement credits |
Cashback automatically credited to statement or deposited in linked bank account |
Expiry |
Reward points have an expiration date, so they must be used within a set time frame. |
Cashback earned does not expire and can be used anytime. |
Flexibility |
Reward points can only be redeemed for specific categories/products listed on the bank's reward catalogue. |
Cashback can be used to purchase anything you want. |
Rewards credit cards work best for consistent spenders who value diverse reward options, in specific categories. On the other hand, cashback credit cards work best for users who simply want to earn a cashback on every purchase they make.
Here are some key advantages of having a cashback card:
Several cards offer cashbacks on every purchase made using the card. The cashback percentage varies from card to card and can range from 1% to 5%. These rewards can add up quickly. These can be redeeme Read Mored for statement credits, gift cards, purchases you make online. Read Less
Some credit cards provide higher percentages of cashbacks on specific categories such as dining, fuel, or groceries. This can help you save more money on your everyday expenses.
Some of these may come with welcome bonuses, such as cashback rewards or extra points. You get these for signing up and spending a certain amount within a specified time frame.
Some credit cards waive the renewal fee if you achieve the minimum spending limit within a set time period. Usually, this period is defined by your credit card issuer. This can be great if you want to Read Moreenjoy the benefits of a credit card without paying any additional fees. Read Less
There may be some cards that offer travel benefits. With those, you can enjoy free airport lounge access, travel insurance, or discounts on flights and hotels.
In case of some cashback credit cards, you can choose EMI options. These allow you to convert high-value purchases into easy monthly instalments with low interest rates.
These may offer exclusive discounts and cashback offers on online purchases from e-commerce websites. This makes them an ideal option for frequent shoppers.
Credit Card |
Features |
Cashback Rewards |
|
Up to 1.5% cashback |
|
Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card |
|
2% cashback on payments to 100+ partner merchants |
Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card |
|
Up to ₹200 cashback per month |
|
Up to ₹750 cashback per month |
Disclaimer: The charges may vary at the discretion of the card issuer.
The eligibility and documents needed to apply for a cashback credit card are simple as well as minimal.
Nationality: You must be an Indian citizen
Age: Your age must range between 18 and 70 years
Employment Status: You must be a salaried or a self-employed individual
Other Criteria: You must abide by the bank’s income and credit score criteria
Proof of Address: Ration card, Aadhaar card, passport, or Voter’s ID (one copy)
Proof of Identity: Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, or driving licence (one copy)
Note: The eligibility criteria mentioned above, and the list of documents are indicative. Depending on the money back credit card you choose, you may have to fulfil specific eligibility criteria or submit additional documents during the application process.
There are a few factors that you should consider to ensure that you opt for the best cashback credit card in India. Here is a quick look at a few of them.
The benefits offered by a credit card should align with your requirements. For instance, there are cards that offer great rewards for groceries and departmental store purchases. Similarly, there are others that reward you for fuel transactions. You should choose a card whose benefits match what you are going to be using it for.
Not all cards come with the same annual fee. There are lifetime-free credit cards as well as cards that have an annual fee ranging from ₹499 to ₹1,499 and more. It is important to choose which card’s annual fee you can afford.
The rate of cashback that you are eligible for varies depending on the card that you choose. The higher the rate, the more the savings. So, when shopping for the best cashback credit card, make sure to get one that offers a high rate.
Some of these offer accelerated cashback on certain specific transactions. It is advisable to opt for the ones that offer such bonus rewards since they can help you maximise the cashback that you get to receive.
You can get started right away. Follow these steps:
Click on ‘Apply Now’ on this page
Enter your details and accept the ‘Terms and Conditions’
Validate your mobile number by entering the OTP you’ve received
Fill in the details required for your application
Check the credit card offers available for you
Compare the features of all cards, before you apply for the one that suits your needs the best. Once you submit your application, the concerned representative will contact you to process the application further.
Both the cashback and rewards program follow the same concept, which is to incentivise you to use the credit card. You can come across certain cards that will allow you to convert the reward points into cash.
On the other hand, you can find some reward credit cards that will allow you to convert the same into miles. The latter type of cards can prove to be beneficial if you travel frequently. Therefore, you must select a card based on your needs.
A credit card would be valuable if its advantages outweigh the annual fees and interest charges. However, you should always pay your bills on time so that you can realise the benefits instead of losing them on charges or late payment fees.
You can consider getting yourself one if your rewards card does not cover a particular spending category. Since these come with low or no annual fee, availing one will not burden your pocket.
Yes, the received cashback will be credited to your credit card account.
Yes, it is possible to maximise cashback benefits on a credit card. Make sure you read the terms and conditions thoroughly before buying the card. For instance, some cards may offer high cashback only if you shop at participating merchant outlets. If you do not shop at those outlets, the card will not have any value to you, no matter how big the rewards are.
It is up to you to decide which one is the best cashback card for you. That said, the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card, Cashback SBI Card, and Flipkart Axis Bank Card are some of the top options with valuable benefits.
Rewards credit cards and cashback credit cards provide entirely different benefits. For instance, when you use a rewards credit card to make purchases, you get reward points. Once you have accumulated enough of them, you can choose to redeem the points in favour of discount coupons and e-vouchers. On the other hand, when you use a cashback card, a percentage of your transaction value is credited back to you.
So, even if you already have a rewards credit card, you may still choose to apply for this card as well.
A cashback of 2% may seem small. However, on an annual expenditure of ₹1,00,000, it translates to ₹2,000 saved. Over time, this cashback can add up significantly.
Many credit cards offer a higher rate of cashback for certain specific transactions. So, to maximise the amount of cashback, make sure to use your credit card to pay for transactions that are eligible for bonus or accelerated rewards.
Depending on the terms and conditions of your money back credit card, you may receive your credit card cashback as a statement credit or as a bank credit. If you receive it as a statement credit, you can use it to lower the current outstanding balance on your credit card. However, if the cashback is credited to your bank account, you can use it like regular cash.