Cashback credit cards are a great pick, especially for new credit card users. They don’t offer confusing rewards that have different values, so you don’t have to worry about the conversion value, just straight-up cashback which will be shown in your account statement. Two cashback credit cards that can be solid choices for users: the Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card and the HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card.
The Kotak Cashback Credit Card is a basic entry-level credit card, so if you have low or no credit history, you can apply for the credit card. It can help you build and maintain your credit history, and it also offers cash back on food and grocery delivery, online entertainment, and fuel. This credit card comes with a joining fee of ₹750 + GST.
The HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card also offers cashback to its users on food delivery and grocery purchases. What makes the card more desirable is that, despite a low joining fee of ₹499 + GST, it offers both domestic and international airport lounge access.
Both credit cards offer benefits that justify the fees they carry, which may confuse users about which card to choose. To help the users understand and determine the credit card they should choose, we are going to compare both the credit cards on the basis of the fee benefits they come with.
Comparison in Terms of Welcome Benefits
When it comes to welcome benefits, the HSBC RuPay Cashback credit card offers ₹500 cashback on spending ₹10,000 within 30 days of logging in to the HSBC India Mobile Banking app. You will also receive a ₹100 Amazon eGift voucher when you apply online, complete video KYC, and get your card. Not only that, but when you activate your card, you will get a 2-month complimentary EazyDiner membership. With a fee of just ₹499 + GST, these benefits make the credit card worthwhile.
On the other hand, the Kotak Cashback+ credit card does not offer any welcome benefits. So, in terms of welcome benefits, the HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card is a clear winner.
Cashback Benefits
With the Kotak Cashback+ card, you earn 5% cashback on online food, grocery delivery, and entertainment purchases, and 3% cashback on fuel. The accelerated cashback categories are capped at 500 Reward Points per statement cycle, and no additional points are earned in these categories once the cap is reached. You also get unlimited 0.5% cashback on all other eligible purchases.
On the other hand, with the HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card, you can earn up to 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and grocery purchases. For all other eligible expenses, including UPI payments, you get 1% cashback. The maximum cashback is ₹400 for both categories combined.
The Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card is likely to provide more cashback for most people. Although the HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card offers a higher rate of up to 10%, it limits total cashback to ₹400 per billing cycle. This means you can’t earn more than that amount. In contrast, the Kotak card lets you earn cashback on more categories with a higher cap. This makes it a better choice for people who spend regularly and want to save more.
Airport Lounge Access
The Kotak Cashback+ credit card does not offer any airport lounge access, even though it has a joining fee of ₹750 + GST. Airport Lounge access is something that travellers look forward to, and with the same fee, many other credit card offers lounge benefits.
In contrast, the HSBC RuPay Credit Card provides both domestic and international lounge access. You will get up to 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits each quarter and 2 international visits per year with the HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card. At a joining fee of ₹499 + GST, this is a great deal for the users.
Bottom Line
When you compare both cards side by side, the HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card clearly comes out as the better option for most users. It has a lower joining fee, offers useful welcome benefits, provides solid cashback on everyday categories like dining and groceries, and even includes domestic and international airport lounge access, something the Kotak Cashback+ card does not offer. While the Kotak card can be good for people who spend heavily and want a higher cashback cap, the HSBC card gives more overall value for the price you pay. For a new credit card user or someone looking for simple, practical benefits, the HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card is the winner.
1 comment
Abhishek Chatterjee
HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card also offer 10% Cashback on offline Scan & Pay UPI – If category is dining, food delivery and grocery spending.
Note – Online ecom UPI transaction also eligible for 10% Cashback, if category is dining, food delivery and grocery spending.
0% mark-up fee on all foreign currency spends on the HSBC RuPay JCB Cashback Credit Card Extended Till 30 June 2026.
HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card is also on JCB Card network for International transaction.