Best Cashback Credit Cards: By Category
1. Best Overall Cashback Credit Card: SBI Cashback Credit Card
The SBI Cashback Credit Card is widely recognized as the best overall cashback card in India. Its high cashback rate of 5% on online spending, with only standard exclusions, combined with a generous monthly cashback limit of ₹5,000, makes it a compelling favorite among users.
- 5% unlimited cashback on all online transactions (except standard excluded categories)
- 1% cashback on offline purchases and utility payments
- Maximum monthly cashback of ₹5,000 (reached at ₹1 lakh monthly spend even when spending entirely in the higher-earning online category)
- Annual fee of ₹999, waived on ₹2 lakh annual spend
2. Best Lifetime Free Cashback Credit Card for Online Spending: Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card
The Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card stands out as the best lifetime free cashback card for online spending. With 5% unlimited cashback for Amazon Prime members and no annual fees, it offers excellent value since the Amazon platform caters to a vast range of consumer spending needs.
- 5% cashback on Amazon purchases (Prime members), 3% for non-Prime members
- 2% cashback on 100+ Amazon Pay partner merchants
- 1% cashback on all other transactions
- No cashback limits or caps
- Welcome benefits worth ₹2,500
- Lifetime free - no joining or annual fees
3. Best Cashback Credit Card for Groceries & Dining (Online & Offline, No Merchant Restrictions)
The HSBC Live+ Credit Card excels as the best cashback card for groceries and dining, offering high rewards on essential daily spending categories without merchant restrictions. Unlike many other high-rewarding cards, it also rewards offline purchases in these categories. Its 10% cashback on food-related expenses makes it ideal for users who frequently spend on dining and groceries.
- 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and grocery spends (capped at ₹1,000 per month)
- 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other eligible retail spends
- 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year (1 per quarter)
- Annual fee of ₹999, waived on ₹2 lakh annual spend
4. Best Cashback Credit Card for Utility Payments (Entry-Level): Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card
The Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card is our pick for the best entry-level card for utility payments, particularly beneficial for Airtel ecosystem users. With exceptional cashback rates on telecom and utility services at an affordable annual fee, it delivers strong value for essential spending. Additionally, it offers high cashback on food delivery and groceries at select partners, along with airport lounge access benefits.
- 25% cashback via Airtel Thanks App on mobile, broadband, DTH, and WiFi services (up to ₹250 per month)
- 10% cashback on utility bill payments via Airtel Thanks App: electricity, water, gas bills (up to ₹250 per month)
- 10% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and BigBasket (up to ₹500 per month)
- 4 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
- Annual fee of ₹500, waived on ₹2 lakh annual spend
5. Best Cashback Credit Card for Utility Payments & Online Spending: PhonePe SBI Black Credit Card
The PhonePe SBI Black Credit Card is the best mid-level card for utility payments, designed for PhonePe ecosystem users. With enhanced monthly cashback limits compared to cards like the Airtel Axis, it caters to users who make larger utility payments and online transactions through PhonePe. It also offers a high cashback rate of 5% on online spending, though its monthly cashback limit is lower than cards like the SBI Cashback Card, which charges a lower annual fee.
- 10% cashback on PhonePe transactions (including recharges, bills, insurance, travel) - Monthly limit: ₹2,000 cashback on ₹20,000 spending
- 5% cashback on online spend - Monthly limit: ₹2,000 cashback on ₹40,000 spending
- 1% cashback on UPI transactions (RuPay variant only) - Monthly limit: ₹2,000 cashback on ₹2 lakh spending
- 4 free domestic airport lounge visits per year
- Annual fee of ₹1499, waived on ₹3 lakh annual spend
6. Best Cashback Credit Card for UPI Payments: Kiwi Yes Bank Credit Card
The Kiwi Yes Bank Credit Card stands as the best lifetime free card for UPI payments, enabling users to earn high rewards on UPI transactions through its Neon subscription program costing ₹999 per year.
- Spend ₹50,000: Earn 3% cashback + 1 airport lounge access
- Spend ₹1,00,000: Earn 4% cashback + 1 airport lounge access
- Spend ₹1,50,000: Earn 5% cashback + 1 airport lounge access
How to Choose the A Cashback Credit Card
Finding the most suitable cashback card for yourself depends on your spending patterns:
- Track your spending for 2-3 months to identify your highest expense categories
- Compare cashback rates specifically for those categories, since very few cards give the same cashback across all categories
- Calculate potential annual savings including annual fees, high cashback rate along with high spending can make even a high fee card worth paying for
- Consider redemption processes - automatic statement credit into your card account is often most convenient
- Check annual fee, welcome offers, and minimum yearly spending requirements for annual fee waivers
💡Expert Tip
For maximum value, consider a multi-card strategy:
- A dedicated online shopping cashback card like Cashback SBI Card for e-commerce purchases
- A utility payment cashback card like Airtel Axis or PhonePe SBI Black for monthly utilities
- A dining & grocery-focused merchant-agnostic cashback card like the HSBC Live+ for supermarket spending and dining
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