💳 August 2025 Update: Searching for the Top Cashback Credit Cards India users love? Banks in India now offer cashback of up to 5%–10% on shopping, dining, fuel, and online payments. The right cashback card not only saves you money but also maximizes every rupee you spend. Here’s how to pick the perfect one!
Let me tell you something that took me way too long to figure out
So here’s the thing – I’ve been messing around with credit cards for about 5 years now. Started like most people, just got whatever card the bank guy at my office recommended. Big mistake.
Last year, I finally sat down and did the math on how much money I was leaving on the table. Turns out, it was a lot. Like, an embarrassingly lot. We’re talking about ₹30,000+ that I could’ve gotten back just by using the right cards for my spending.
The whole cashback thing isn’t rocket science, but there’s some stuff that banks don’t really explain clearly. And honestly? Some cards are just better than others, no matter what their fancy brochures say.
Why I actually prefer cashback over those point systems
Look, I know reward points sound fancy and all. But here’s my issue with them – I can never figure out what they’re actually worth. One day, you need 2000 points for a ₹500 voucher, next month, it’s 2500 points for the same thing. It’s annoying.
Cash is cash. When my SBI card says I’ll get 5% back, that’s exactly what happens. ₹5 back for every ₹100 I spend online. Simple as that.
Plus, I don’t have to worry about points expiring or spending hours trying to figure out the best way to redeem them. The money just shows up as a credit on my statement. Done.
The Top Cashback Credit Cards India that actually work (based on real experience)
Maximum Cashback Rates Offered by Top Credit Cards in India (August 2025)
Let me walk you through the ones I’ve used and what I really think about them.
SBI Cashback Card – My current favorite
SBI Cashback Credit Card front design showing cashback offers and contactless payment feature
I’ll be straight with you – this card has saved my wallet. Been using it for almost 2 years now.
What’s good about it:
- 5% back on online stuff (Amazon, Flipkart, food delivery, everything)
- ₹5,000 monthly limit, so that’s ₹60,000 a year if you max it out
- 1% on offline shopping too
- The annual fee is ₹999, but honestly, I make that back in less than a month
What’s not so great:
- That ₹5,000 monthly cap can be limiting if you’re a heavy online shopper
- No airport lounge access (not a big deal for me, but some people care)
- Takes about 2 months for cashback to show up on your statement
Real numbers: Last month, I got ₹4,200 cashback. This month I’m already at ₹3,800. The math works out.
Get it here – SBI Official Site
Amazon Pay ICICI – Zero fees, decent returns
Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card with cashback benefits, featuring contactless payment and the Visa network
This one’s interesting because it’s completely free. No joining fee, no annual fee, nothing.
Why I like it:
- Lifetime FREE Credit Card (Select Variants)
- Amazing Discounts on Amazon and Flipkart Sale
- Earn ICICI Bank Reward Points on your spending except for fuel
- Save on 1% fuel surcharge, waived at HPCL petrol pumps
The catch:
- Without Prime, it’s only 1% on Amazon
- Cashback goes to your Amazon Pay balance, not your bank account
- Customer service can be slow (it took them 3 weeks to sort out a billing issue once)
Who should get this: Anyone who shops on Amazon regularly and doesn’t want to pay card fees.
Apply here – ICICI Official Site
Travel cards – because we all like to travel
HSBC Travel One Credit Card – Indulge in luxury and earn Reward Points!
This is where things get interesting for people who travel a lot.
The deal:
- Enjoy welcome benefits worth Rs 4000
- Get a complimentary 3-month EazyDiner Prime membership
- Earn up to 4 Reward points for every Rs 100 spent
My honest take: If you spend more than ₹10,0000 a Year on Travel, then this card makes sense. Otherwise, stick with SBI Cashback for general use.
Check it out – HSBC Official Site
Swiggy HDFC – If you’re obsessed with Swiggy
10% cashback on Swiggy orders sounds great, right? And you get a free Swiggy One membership.
But here’s the thing – I tried this for 6 months. The cashback cap is ₹3,500 monthly, which means you need to order ₹35,000 worth of food from Swiggy to max it out. That’s… a lot of biryani.
Bottom line: Only get this if Swiggy is basically your kitchen.
Swiggy card details – HDFC Official Site
The math that actually matters
Annual Fee vs Cashback Potential Comparison – Top 5 Credit Cards India
Let me show you some real numbers from my own spending:
My monthly expenses (roughly):
- Online shopping: ₹15,000 (Amazon, Flipkart, etc.)
- Food delivery: ₹8,000 (yeah, I know, I should cook more)
- Groceries: ₹5,000
- Other stuff: ₹12,000
With SBI Cashback card: ₹15,000 × 5% = ₹750 monthly
Annual cashback: ₹9,000 (after ₹999 fee = ₹8,001 net)
If I had HSBC Live+ for food: ₹8,000 × 10% = ₹800 monthly
Annual cashback: ₹9,600 (after ₹999 fee = ₹8,601 net)
So yeah, for my spending pattern, having both cards would get me about ₹16,000+ back every year. Not bad for just using different pieces of plastic.
Some cards that sound good but aren’t worth it (in my opinion)
Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card
25% cashback on Airtel bills sounds amazing, right? Here’s the problem – the cashback is capped at ₹250 monthly. That means you can only get 25% back on ₹1,000 worth of Airtel bills.
Most people don’t spend ₹1,000 monthly on Airtel. And if you do, ₹250 back isn’t life-changing money.
Axis ACE Credit Card
1.5% on everything sounds convenient, and it is. But when you can get 5% on online shopping with other cards, why settle for 1.5%?
The only time this makes sense is if you hate managing multiple cards and want everything simple.
Stuff nobody tells you about cashback cards
Cashback Categories Distribution Among Top Credit Cards in India
Thing #1: Most cashback shows up 2-3 months after you spend. Don’t expect it immediately.
Thing #2: Some categories don’t count. Fuel purchases, cash advances, EMI payments – usually no cashback on these.
Thing #3: You have to pay your full balance on time. Miss a payment, and any cashback you earned gets wiped out by interest charges.
Thing #4: The spending caps reset monthly, not annually. So if you don’t max out your cap in January, you can’t carry it over to February.
Thing #5: Statement credit is usually better than a direct bank transfer. Less hassle, shows up automatically.
My current setup (what works for me)
Right now I’m using three cards:
- SBI Cashback – for all online shopping
- HSBC Live+ – for food and groceries
- Amazon Pay ICICI – backup for random stuff and Amazon purchases
Is this optimal for everyone? Probably not. But it works for my spending habits, and I don’t have to think too hard about which card to use.
Total annual cashback I’m getting: somewhere around ₹18,000-20,000. After annual fees, that’s about ₹16,000+ in my pocket.
Red flags to watch out for
Don’t get a cashback card if:
- You can’t pay the full balance monthly
- You’re not organized enough to track spending caps
- You already have debt on other cards
Be careful of:
- Cards with really high annual fees (₹5,000+) unless you’re a big spender
- Cards that give cashback only on specific brands you don’t use
- Promotional rates that drop after 6 months
Quick FAQ from my own experience
Q: How long does it take to get approved?
A: Usually 7-10 days if your documents are in order. ICICI was fastest for me (3 days), SBI took about a week.
Q: Can I get multiple cashback cards from the same bank?
A: Yeah, but they might reduce your credit limit on existing cards. Happened to me with HDFC.
Q: What if I forget to pay on time?
A: You’ll get hit with late fees and interest. More importantly, your cashback for that month might get cancelled. Learned this the hard way.
Q: Should I close cards I’m not using?
A: If there’s no annual fee, keep them open. It helps your credit score. If there’s a fee and you’re not using it, close it.
Tools that actually help
These aren’t sponsored or anything, just stuff I use:
- Credit Card EMI Calculator – for planning big purchases
- Credit Card Tracker Tool – to keep track of spending across cards
- Your bank’s mobile app notifications – set these up for spending alerts
What I’d tell my younger self
If I could go back 5 years, I’d tell myself to stop overthinking this stuff. Pick 2-3 good cashback cards that match your spending, use them responsibly, and you’ll save decent money without much effort.
Don’t get caught up in chasing the absolute best deals or having 10 different cards. That’s just complicating things for maybe ₹2,000 extra cashback per year. Not worth the mental overhead.
And please, for the love of all that’s holy, pay your balances in full every month. The interest on credit cards will eat up any cashback you earn, plus a lot more.
Final thoughts
Look, cashback credit cards aren’t going to make you rich. But if you’re already spending money on stuff you need, you might as well get some of it back.
The key is finding cards that match how you actually spend money, not how you think you should spend money. And being honest about whether you can handle the responsibility of managing credit cards properly.
Start with one good card, see how it goes, then maybe add another if it makes sense. Don’t rush into it, and definitely don’t get a card just because someone online (including me) said it’s good.
Your spending habits are different from mine, so what works for me might not work for you. But hopefully this gives you a starting point to figure out what might work.
Disclaimer (the boring but important stuff)
All this info is based on what I know as of August 2025. Banks change their terms all the time, so double-check everything on their official websites before applying.
I’m not a financial advisor, just someone who’s learned some stuff through trial and error. If you’re dealing with debt or financial issues, talk to a professional, not random people on the internet.
The links to bank websites might earn me a small commission if you apply, but that doesn’t change what I’ve written here. I only recommend stuff I actually use or have researched properly.
And remember – credit cards are tools. Use them responsibly, or they’ll hurt you more than they help.
Hope this helps! Feel free to bookmark this and come back to it when you’re ready to apply for cards.