Synopsis- This article is all about the best cashback credit cards in India for 2025, ranked by their real-world cashback potential. It helps you choose cards that fit your spending habits, while detailing the important attributes, cashback rates, fees, and useful tips for getting the most everyday savings by using credit wisely.
Cashback credit cards are growing in popularity because they are simple and offer instant value. Cashback is simple; whereas points and travel rewards are often complex systems, with cashback, each time you spend—often automatically—it offers real savings. By 2025, India’s generation who are digital-first, primarily Gen Z and young professionals, are choosing cards that reward their everyday spending. This article presents the top 5 cashback credit cards ranked by maximum return, and a couple of other smart bonus niche suggestions.
How Cashback Credit Cards Work & What to Watch For
- Cashback means you receive a percentage of every spend back into your account—that is easy, straightforward, and beneficial. These cards typically come in two types.
- Flat-rate cashback: You receive the same % on all eligible spends.
- Category-based cashback: You receive a greater % for eligible spends in select categories, like dining, groceries or bills.
- Make sure to follow up on the following before you decide on which card:
- Cashback caps: Some have monthly or annual earning limits.
- Spend categories: Some cards may not allow fuel, rent, or wallet loads.
- Redemption method: Some will auto-credit, require you to claim or receive usable vouchers.
Best Cashback Credit Cards
1. Cashback SBI Card:
- Cashback Structure
- 5% cashback on online spending
- 1% cashback on offline spending.
- Annual Fee
- ₹999 (waived on the annual spend of ₹2,00,000)
- Best suited for:
- Users who spend mostly online across various platforms.
- Pros:
- It has the broadest online cashback coverage.
- No restrictions on Merchants
- Cons:
- Premium Benefits are not offered
- Transactions on Rent, Fuel, and EMIs are excluded, and these transactions will not provide cashbacks
2. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card:
- Cashback Structure:
- 5% cashback for Prime Members and 3% Cashback for Non-Prime Members on purchases on Amazon.
- 2% cashback on partner merchants of Amazon Pay.
- 1% cashback on all other transactions.
- Annual Fee:
- ₹0 (Free for Lifetime)
- Pros:
- No joining or Annual Fee
- Cashback is directly credited to the Amazon Pay Wallet.
- Cons:
- This is mainly focused on spending on Amazon.
3. HDFC Millennia Credit Card:
- Cashback Structure:
- 5% cashback on various online spending through PayZapp or SmartBuy
- 1% cashback on all other spends.
- Annual Fee:
- ₹1,000 (waived on if ₹1,00,000 spent every year).
- Best suits for:
- Individuals who are more interested in Lifestyle and entertainment.
- Pros:
- It covers popular brands.
- Provides lounge access at domestic Airports.
- Cons:
- Cashback is provided only if the transactions are made through SmartBuy or PayZapp.
- Fuel, EMI payments are excluded.
4. HSBC Live+ Credit Card:
- Cashback Structure:
- 10% cashback on spending on Dining, Groceries, food delivery and quick commerce.
- 1.5% cashback on all other transactions.
- Annual Fee:
- ₹999 (Waived on the annual spend of ₹2,00,000).
- Best suited for:
- Individuals who spend mostly on Food, Groceries and Dining.
- Pros:
- 10% cashback on essential categories, which is helpful and also high.
- Lounge access is provided.
- Cons
- Cashback is applied in selected merchants.
- A minimum spend of ₹1,000 per transaction is required to get the cashback.
Also read: Credit Cards with Annual Fees Under ₹500 – Here are the Top 5 You Need to See
5. Axis ACE Credit Cards:
- Cashback Structure:
- 5% cashback on all recharges and Bill payments using Google Pay.
- 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola
- 2% cashback on all other spends.
- Annual Fee:
- ₹499 (Waived on the annual spend of ₹2,00,000).
- Best suited for:
- Households and Individuals who usually pay their monthly bills.
- Users who spend on Food Delivery apps (Swiggy and Zomato)
- Pros:
- It is a great utility cashback credit card.
- It provides good returns.
- Cons:
- Cashback is provided only if the transactions are done through Google Pay.
| Card Name | Max Cashback | Categories Covered | Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBI Cashback | 5% | All online spends (excl. rent/fuel/EMIs) | ₹999 (waived @ ₹2L) | Online shoppers |
| Amazon Pay ICICI | 5% (Prime) / 3% (non-P) | Amazon, partners (2%), 1% elsewhere | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) | Amazon loyalists |
| HDFC Millennia | 5% | Flipkart, Amazon, Zomato, Myntra | ₹1,000 (waived @ ₹1L) | Lifestyle & entertainment |
| HSBC Live+ | 10% | Dining, groceries, food delivery | ₹999 (waived @ ₹2L) | Grocery & food-heavy users |
| Axis ACE | 5% | GPay bills, Swiggy/Zomato, 2% others | ₹499 (waived @ ₹2L) | Utility & food delivery spenders |
| Airtel Axis | 25% / 10% | Airtel app, utilities, food delivery | ₹500 (waived @ ₹2L) | Airtel users with recurring bills |
| YES PaisaSave | 3% / 1.5% | E-commerce, UPI, and general spends | ₹0–₹199 | Budget UPI cashback users |
How to Pick the Right Cashback Card
- Match rewards to your spending habits: There is little point in trying to earn a high % cashback on categories that you hardly ever use. Often, a card with a lower % cashback from your most-used category will provide a better return.
- Calculate annual cashback vs annual fee: Having a card worth ₹1,000 cashback and a fee total of ₹999 will leave virtually no cash-back gain.
- Have 2 complementary cards: Pick a lifestyle and leisure card (example – Millennia) and pair it with a utility-focused card that provides cashback on groceries (example – Axis ACE) so you can play both ends of the field and secure better cashback rewards overall.
- Prefer auto-credit / low-capped rewards: If you can find cards with less hassle for tracking, and offers with higher monthly limits, those will often lead to the best credit easily.
- Review offers from time to time: Banks change offers frequently, so the good card you currently have may not be a good card tomorrow.
Conclusion
In 2025, cashback credit cards are real, instantaneous savings, especially where they align with your actual spending experiences. Don’t chase after shiny, big percentages, but rather, everyday value, direct redeemers and low or waiving fees. If you align them real intelligently and check them occasionally, even no annual fee credit cards can generate some good return on your regular expenses. Do smart choose, do smarter spend.
Written by N G Sai Rohith
