Best Cashback Credit Cards in 2026
Finding the best cashback credit card is often the first step toward smarter financial management. Unlike traditional reward points that can be confusing to calculate or difficult to redeem, cashback is straightforward: you spend money, and a percentage of that money returns to you as a statement credit or bank deposit.
Top 5 Cashback Credit Cards in India
Below is the table of the best cashback credit cards in India:
| Card Name | Key Cashback Benefit | Best For | Joining/Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBI Cashback Credit Card | 5% on all online spends (unrestricted) | Online Shopping | ₹999 + GST |
| Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card | 5% for Prime members; 2% on partner merchants | Amazon Loyalists | Nil (Lifetime Free) |
| HDFC Millennia Credit Card | 5% on Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato, etc. | Multi-Brand Spenders | ₹1,000 + GST |
| Axis Bank ACE Credit Card | 5% on Google Pay bills; 1.5% on other spends | Utility Bills | ₹499 + GST |
| HSBC Live+ Credit Card | 10% on food delivery, dining, and groceries | Dining & Groceries | ₹999 + GST |
1. SBI Cashback Credit Card
Best for: All-round online shopping without brand restrictions.
Joining Fee: ₹999 + GST
Annual Fee: ₹999 + GST (Waived on annual spends of ₹2 Lakh)
Key Features & Benefits :
- 5% Cashback: On almost all online spends (Amazon, Flipkart, small boutique sites, etc.) without merchant restrictions.
- 1% Cashback: On all offline (in-store) transactions.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000 (Capped at ₹100/month).
- Auto-Credit: Cashback is automatically credited to your card account within 2 days of statement generation.
- Worldwide Acceptance: Can be used at over 24 million Visa outlets globally.
Capping: Accelerated 5% cashback is capped at ₹5,000 per month.
2. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card
Best for: Amazon loyalists and those seeking a lifetime free card.
Joining Fee: NIL (Lifetime Free)
Annual Fee: NIL (Lifetime Free)
Key Features & Benefits :
- 5% Cashback: For Amazon Prime members on Amazon.in.
- 3% Cashback: For non-Prime members on Amazon.in.
- 2% Cashback: On payments to 100+ partner merchants (Swiggy, Uber, etc.) using Amazon Pay.
- 1% Cashback: On all other spends (insurance, travel, etc.).
- No Expiry: Reward points (1 Point = ₹1) never expire and are added to your Amazon Pay balance.
- Dining Discounts: Minimum 15% discount at partner restaurants via ICICI Culinary Treats.
Note: No cashback on fuel, EMI transactions, or gold purchases.
3. HDFC Millennia Credit Card
Best for: Young professionals with diverse online habits (Zomato, Uber, etc.).
Joining Fee: ₹1,000 + GST
Annual Fee: ₹1,000 + GST (Waived on annual spends of ₹1 Lakh)
Key Features & Benefits :
- 5% Cashback: On 10 partner brands: Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato, Myntra, Tata CLiQ, Sony LIV, BookMyShow, Cult.fit, and Uber.
- 1% Cashback: On all other spends (excluding fuel, rent, and wallet reloads).
- Welcome Gift: 1,000 CashPoints (worth ₹1,000) upon payment of the joining fee.
- Lounge Access: 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit per quarter (upon spending ₹1 Lakh in that quarter).
- Quarterly Milestone: ₹1,000 gift voucher on spending ₹1 Lakh in a calendar quarter.
Redemption: 1 CashPoint = ₹1 when redeemed against statement credit.
4. Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
Best for: High cashback on utility bills and offline transactions.
Joining Fee: ₹999 + GST
Annual Fee: ₹999 + GST (Waived on annual spends of ₹2 Lakh)
Key Features & Benefits :
- 5% Cashback: On Bill Payments (Electricity, Gas, Internet) and DTH/Mobile recharges made via Google Pay.
- 4% Cashback: On Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola.
- 1.5% Unlimited Cashback: On all other transactions (highest base rate in the category).
- Lounge Access: 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year.
- Unlimited Base Reward: Unlike other cards, the 1.5% base cashback has no monthly ceiling.
- Dining: Up to 15% off at 4,000+ partner restaurants.
5. HSBC Live+ Credit Card
Best for: Foodies, grocery shoppers, and international spenders.
Best Cashback Rupay Credit Cards
Here are the best RuPay credit cards for cashback.
| Card Name | Joining/Annual Fee | UPI Cashback Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Kiwi RuPay (YES/AU Bank) | Lifetime Free (₹500 Neon opt.) | 1.5% offline UPI (up to 5% Neon) |
| Axis SuperMoney RuPay | Lifetime Free | 3% UPI |
| Jupiter Edge+ RuPay (CSB) | ₹499 joining, no annual | 1% UPI; 10% Amazon/Flipkart |
| HDFC Tata Neu Infinity | ₹1,499 (sometimes ₹0) | 1.5% Tata Neu UPI |
| IndusInd Platinum RuPay | Lifetime Free | 0.7-2% UPI |
Benefits of Using a Cashback Credit Card
- Direct Savings: It effectively acts as a permanent discount on your life. A 5% cashback on a ₹50,000 laptop saves you ₹2,500 instantly.
- No "Points Math": You don't have to calculate how many points equal a Rupee or Dollar. $1.00$ in cashback is simply $1.00$.
- Sign-up Bonuses: Many cards offer "Welcome Benefits" such as ₹500–₹2,000 in cashback if you spend a certain amount in the first 30–90 days.15
- Fraud Protection: Most premium cashback cards come with "Zero Lost Card Liability," protecting you from unauthorized transactions.
Eligibility Criteria for Cashback Credit Cards
Lenders have specific requirements to ensure that applicants can manage credit responsibly. While these vary by bank, the general standards include:
- Age: Usually between 21 and 65 years. Some banks offer "add-on" cards for individuals aged 18+.
- Income:
- Salaried: Minimum monthly income typically starts at ₹25,000–₹35,000 for entry-level cards.
- Self-Employed: Usually requires an annual ITR (Income Tax Return) of ₹6 Lakh or more.
- Credit Score: A score of 750 or above is generally considered ideal. Lower scores may lead to rejection or higher interest rates.
- Employment Stability: Most banks prefer applicants who have been with their current employer for at least 6 months.
Documents Required for Cashback Credit Cards
To ensure a smooth application, keep the following documents ready:
- Identity Proof: PAN Card (Mandatory), Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Voter ID.
- Address Proof: Utility bills (not older than 3 months), Rent Agreement, or Aadhaar Card.
- Income Proof:
- Salaried: Latest 3 months' salary slips and 6 months' bank statements.
- Self-Employed: Previous 2 years of ITR, Profit & Loss statements, and Audit reports.
- Photographs: Recent passport-sized photos (if applying offline).
Steps to Apply for an Airlines Credit Card
- Click on the "Apply Now" button.
- Basic Info: Enter your Name, Mobile Number, Income, and Pincode to see eligible offers.
- Compare & Select: Compare cards from different banks (HDFC, SBI, Axis, etc.) and click "Apply Now" on your preferred card.
- Fill Details: Enter your PAN card number, Date of Birth, and Office address.
- OTP & Video KYC: Verify your mobile number via OTP and complete the Video KYC (or schedule a document pickup).
- Approval & Delivery: Once the bank verifies your credit score (CIBIL) and documents, the card is approved and delivered within 7–10 days.
FAQs
When you use a cashback credit card:
- You make a purchase.
- The card issuer tracks eligible transactions based on merchant category codes (MCC).
- At the end of the billing cycle, cashback is calculated according to the card’s terms.
- The earned cashback is credited to your credit card account or bank account — usually monthly or quarterly.
A cashback credit card is a type of credit card that gives you a percentage of your spending back as cash credited to your account. Unlike reward points that require conversion, cashback is straightforward savings — it reduces your outstanding balance or returns to your bank account.
For 2026, the top cashback credit cards in India are:
- Cashback SBI: Best all-rounder with 5% flat cashback on online spends.
- Swiggy HDFC: Offers 10% on Swiggy and 5% on major online platforms.
- Amazon Pay ICICI: 5% unlimited for Prime members; lifetime free.
- Airtel Axis: Up to 25% on bills/recharges.
- HSBC Live+: 10% on dining and groceries.
In 2026, the Airtel Axis Bank Card technically holds the highest rate with 25% cashback on Airtel bills. For general shopping, the Cashback SBI Card leads with 5% flat cashback on nearly all online spends. Other top options include Swiggy HDFC (10%), HSBC Live+ (10% on dining/groceries), and the lifetime-free Amazon Pay ICICI (5%).
Yes, several cards offer 5% cash back. Popular options include the CASHBACK SBI Card, which gives 5% on most online spends, and the Amazon Pay ICICI Card, offering 5% for Prime members. Others, like the Chase Freedom Flex or Discover it Cash Back, feature 5% rotating categories (grocery, gas, or dining) that change every quarter.
Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card is lifetime free with 5% cashback for Prime members on Amazon, 3% non-Prime, and 2% on partners like Swiggy.
Cashback cards provide direct monetary returns, while rewards cards offer points or miles that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or other perks.
Many cashback credit cards partner with e-commerce platforms to offer additional discounts and cashback on online purchases
Reshma Rawat is a passionate writer, with a decade of experience in writing for a variety of domains (finance, technology, lifestyle, e-commerce, real estate, etc.). Currently, she is working as Assistant Manager - Content @MyMoneyMantra, and writes blogs & webpages on financial products (loans, credit cards, insurance, financial policies by government, mutual funds, etc.
Abhijeet Singh has comprehensive experience in business writing, content management, SEO, social media and user analytics. Key areas of expertise include stock markets and personal finance.