Best Cashback Credit Cards in India
For users who do not want to deal with reward points catalogs, airline transfer ratios, or booking portals, cashback credit cards are the ideal choice. They provide direct statement credits that immediately reduce your outstanding bill.
1. Comparing Top Cashback Credit Cards in India
Cashback cards are defined by their percentage returns on online retail spends and their monthly capping limits. A card offering 5% cashback might sound excellent, but if it has a low cap, a mid-tier card with no caps could yield more for heavy spenders.
Here is how the top cashback credit cards stack up side-by-side:
| Card Name | Joining Fee | Base Return | Accelerated Cashback Rate | Monthly Cap on Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cashback SBI Card | ₹999 + GST | 1.00% | 5% on Online Retail | ₹5,000 per statement cycle |
| Swiggy HDFC Bank Card | ₹500 + GST | 1.00% | 10% on Swiggy / 5% on Online | ₹1,500 per category per month |
| Airtel Axis Bank Card | ₹500 + GST | 1.00% | 25% on Mobile/DTH / 10% on Utilities | ₹250 (Airtel) / ₹250 (Utilities) |
| Amazon Pay ICICI Card | Nil | 1.00% | 5% on Amazon (Prime members) | No Cap (Unlimited) |
| Axis Bank Ace | ₹499 + GST | 1.50% | 2% on utility bills via GPay | No Cap on Base Spends |
2. In-Depth Cashback Cards Analysis
#1. Cashback SBI Card
The absolute best general-purpose cashback credit card in India for online shoppers.
- Joining/Renewal Fee: ₹999 + GST
- Renewal Fee Waiver: ₹2 Lakh spends.
- Primary Benefit: 5% Cashback on all online retail spends (across almost all online merchants like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, etc.).
[!WARNING] Exclusions & Caps: The 5% accelerated cashback is capped at ₹5,000 per billing cycle (which corresponds to ₹1,00,000 online spends). Standard exclusions apply: no cashback on rent, wallet loads, utility bills, insurance, school/educational fees, jewellery, and railways.
Redemption Mechanics: There is no manual redemption process. The accumulated cashback is automatically credited directly to your credit card statement balance within 2 working days of the statement generation date.
#2. Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card
Excellent for urban dwellers who order frequently on Swiggy and shop online.
- Joining/Renewal Fee: ₹500 + GST
- Primary Benefit: 10% Cashback on all Swiggy spends (Food Delivery, Instamart, Dineout, Genie) and 5% Cashback on eligible online shopping (Amazon, Flipkart, etc.).
Capping Details: The 10% cashback on Swiggy is capped at ₹1,500 per month. The 5% cashback on online shopping is also capped at ₹1,500 per month. General spends earn a flat 1% cashback.
#3. Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card
An unmatched card for optimizing household utility bills and telecom expenses.
- Joining/Renewal Fee: ₹500 + GST
- Primary Benefit: 25% Cashback on Airtel Mobile, DTH, and Broadband bill payments via the Airtel Thanks App (capped at ₹250/month). 10% Cashback on utility bill payments (electricity, gas, water) via Airtel Thanks (capped at ₹250/month). 10% Cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and BigBasket (capped at ₹500/month).