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HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card Review
- 10× CashPoints on 5 partner brands: Amazon, BigBasket, Flipkart, Reliance Smart SuperStore, Swiggy
- 2 CashPoints per ₹150 on all other spends (including UPI)
- ₹500 fee waived on very-low ₹50K annual spend
- Quarterly ₹500 voucher at ₹50K quarterly spend
- Low ₹20K/month income requirement — very accessible
- Welcome 500 CashPoints on fee payment
- Narrower partner set than Millennia (5 brands vs 10)
- Monthly 10X cap: Max 2,500 CashPoints per calendar month on the 5 partner brands (≈ ₹18,750 of 10X spend capped)
- Statement-cycle cap: Max 15,000 reward points per statement cycle (hard ceiling across all categories)
- Redemption value: 1 CP = up to ₹0.25 across all channels (statement, SmartBuy catalogue, SmartBuy flights/hotels) — NOT ₹1
- No lounge access (even milestone-based)
- ₹50 redemption fee on CashPoints-to-statement credit (since Aug 2024); min 2,000 CP balance to redeem
- Wallet loads and Easy EMI excluded from earning (since Sep 2024); education via 3rd-party apps attracts a 1% fee and earns nothing
- 1% transaction fees (per-txn, since Aug 2024): Fuel over ₹15,000/txn, Utility over ₹50,000/txn, Rent via wallet apps (CRED/PayTM/MobiKwik/etc), Education via 3rd-party apps — each attracts 1% fee on entire amount, capped ₹3,000/txn. Insurance NOT treated as utility (no charge).
- 3.5% forex markup
Fees & charges
| Item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹500 + GST |
| Renewal fee | ₹500 + GST — waived on ₹50K annual spend |
| Finance charge | 3.6% p.m. |
| Cash advance | 2.5% (min ₹500) |
| Forex markup | 3.5% |
| CashPoints redemption fee | ₹50 per redemption (Aug 2024 change) |
| Late payment | Up to ₹1,300 |
Eligibility & documents
Age
21-60 years (salaried); 21-65 years (self-employed)
Salaried minimum income
Net monthly ₹20,000+ (₹2.4L/year) — very accessible
Self-employed minimum
ITR ₹6 lakh+ per annum
Recommended CIBIL
650+
Typical credit limit
₹25,000 – ₹2 lakh at issuance
Documents
PAN, Aadhaar, salary slip + 3-month bank statement OR ITR, address proof
Rewards structure
10× CashPoints on 5 brands: Amazon, BigBasket, Flipkart, Reliance Smart SuperStore, Swiggy. Earn 20 CashPoints per ₹150 (5% headline at 1 CP = ₹0.25 on statement).
Other spends including UPI: 2 CashPoints per ₹150 (1.3% headline, 0.33% effective at ₹0.25 redemption).
Category caps (typical HDFC policy): 1,000 CashPoints per accelerated category per cycle (spend up to ₹7,500 per brand per month earns full 10×).
Excluded from rewards: Fuel, Easy EMI / Smart EMI / Dial-An-EMI, wallet/gift/prepaid card loads (MCC 6540), rent payments, government-related transactions, cash advances, card fees/charges. (Education via 3rd-party apps attracts a 1% fee + no rewards; direct to school/college still earns the 2 CP/₹150 base.)
Redemption: 1 CashPoint = up to ₹0.25 across ALL channels — statement credit, SmartBuy catalogue, SmartBuy flight/hotel bookings. ₹50 redemption fee on statement credit (since 1 Aug 2024). Minimum 2,000 CashPoints required for statement credit redemption. SmartBuy flights/hotels: max 50% of booking value can be paid via CashPoints.
Welcome benefits & milestones
Welcome benefit: 500 CashPoints on payment of joining fee (≈ ₹125 value at 1 CP = ₹0.25). Renewal benefit: 500 CashPoints on payment of renewal fee.
Quarterly milestone: Spend ₹50,000 in a calendar quarter → ₹500 gift voucher from SmartBuy catalogue. Hit every quarter = ₹2,000/year.
Annual fee waiver: Spend ₹50,000 in anniversary year → next year’s ₹500 fee waived. Very achievable threshold.
Key benefits
- 10× on 5 partner brands: Amazon, BigBasket, Flipkart, Reliance Smart, Swiggy
- 2 CP per ₹150 on other retail + UPI
- Quarterly ₹500 voucher at ₹50K spend
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver (₹400-₹5,000 transactions, cap ₹250/month)
- Zero lost card liability after reporting
- Free add-on cards
- Smart EMI on transactions ₹10,000+
- Swiggy Dineout: Additional 10% off on Swiggy Dineout (per HDFC landing page)
Usage terms & fine print
Lounge access
No complimentary lounge access. Step up to Regalia Gold (₹2,500) or Diners Privilege (₹1,000) for lounges.
Fuel surcharge waiver
1% fuel surcharge waiver on ₹400-₹5,000 transactions, cap ₹250/month.
Interest-free period
Interest-free credit up to 50 days. Minimum payment 5% or ₹200.
EMI conversion
Smart EMI on transactions ₹10,000+. Tenures 3-36 months. Interest 0-1.5% p.m. Processing fee 1%. Easy EMI conversions don’t earn CashPoints (since Sep 2024).
Digital wallets & UPI
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay supported. Visa or Mastercard variants available. Some RuPay variants in market — check current issue. No direct UPI linking on Visa/Mastercard.
Insurance cover
Lost card liability cover, basic purchase protection
Compared with alternatives
HDFC Millennia (₹1K) →
2× the fee. 10 brands at 5% vs MoneyBack+ 5 brands. Millennia broader; MoneyBack+ cheaper with easier ₹50K waiver.
HDFC Swiggy (₹500) →
Same fee. 10% on Swiggy vs MoneyBack+ 5% on 5 brands. Swiggy wins for food-delivery-heavy; MoneyBack+ for broader online.
Amazon Pay ICICI (LTF) →
Zero fee. 5% Amazon (Prime) + 1% other. Narrower but free.
Axis ACE (₹499) →
Similar fee. 5% Google Pay bills (Android only), 4% food delivery, 1.5% flat. Different use case.
Who the HDFC MoneyBack+ is for
Entry-tier professionals (₹20K+ monthly income) who shop online at Amazon/Flipkart/BigBasket/Reliance Smart. At ₹10K/month on these 5 brands × 5% × 12 months = ₹6K/year cashback + ₹2K/year vouchers = ₹8K on a ₹500 fee (and the fee is waivable at ₹50K spend anyway).
Not the right card if: you shop at merchants outside the 5-brand list. Consider HDFC Millennia for 10 brands, Flipkart Axis for Flipkart-heavy, or HDFC Swiggy for food delivery.
How to apply & how to cancel
Apply: Apply via hdfcbank.com/moneyback-plus-credit-card. Instant eligibility check. Approval 3-5 business days. Pre-approved offers common for HDFC savings-account customers.
Cancel: PhoneBanking (1800 202 6161). Clear dues. Redeem CashPoints before closure (forfeited at close).
Final verdict
HDFC MoneyBack+ is a solid entry-level cashback card for ₹20K+/month income earners doing online shopping at Amazon/BigBasket/Flipkart/Reliance/Swiggy. The ₹500 fee is easy to waive at just ₹50K annual spend. Narrower than Millennia (5 vs 10 brands) but ₹500 cheaper. Good first card for new-to-credit users.
Frequently asked questions
How does MoneyBack+ differ from plain MoneyBack?
Plain MoneyBack (older) had a different structure. MoneyBack+ is the current active product with the 10× on 5 brands and 2 CP per ₹150 base.
What 5 brands earn the 10×?
Amazon, BigBasket, Flipkart, Reliance Smart SuperStore, and Swiggy. Must be via the merchant’s app/website at merchant-checkout with the card.
Does UPI spending earn rewards?
Yes — UPI spends earn the base 2 CP per ₹150 (like regular retail). Wallet loading (Paytm/PhonePe via card) does NOT earn rewards per Sep 2024 change.
What is the ₹50 redemption fee?
From 1 August 2024, HDFC charges ₹50 per redemption of CashPoints as statement credit. Catalogue/SmartBuy redemptions are exempt.
Can I redeem CashPoints for cash?
Only as statement credit (₹50 fee applies). No direct cash withdrawal.
Does MoneyBack+ have lounge access?
No — no complimentary lounge access on this tier. Step up to Regalia Gold or Diners Privilege for lounges.
What is the CashPoints expiry?
CashPoints valid 2 years from earn date. Use before expiry.
Is the ₹50K fee waiver easy?
Yes — just ₹4,200/month spend clears the threshold. Very low bar; effectively this is a LTF card for anyone who uses it actively.
Data current as of April 2026. Credit card fees, rewards and benefits are revised periodically by issuers. Always confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.
Eligibility (per HDFC issuer page, Apr 2026)
- Salaried Indian: age 21-60 years, monthly income ₹15,000+ (entry threshold)
- Self-employed Indian: age 21-65 years, ITR > ₹6,00,000
- CIBIL 700+ recommended; HDFC banking customers get pre-approved offers