Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card Review: 5% Cashback Under a ₹750 Cap
The Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card pays 5% on online food delivery, online grocery and online entertainment, 3% on fuel and 0.5% on most other spends, with the 5% and 3% categories sharing a cap of ₹750 per billing cycle. The joining and annual fees are ₹750 + GST each, and the annual fee is waived if you spend ₹2 lakh in a card year. It works best for app-heavy households whose boosted spends stay near ₹15,000 a cycle.
Key facts
- Joining fee
- ₹750 + GST
- Annual fee
- ₹750 + GST. Annual fee waived on minimum retail spend of ₹2 lakh in a year
- Base reward
- Unlimited 0.5% cashback on other eligible spends (about 0.5% value)
- Best category
- Online food delivery and online grocery: about 5% value
- Lounge
- Not published by the bank
- Forex markup
- 3.5% of the amount
- Network
- Visa, RuPay
Opens the bank's own page for this card. Approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
In short
A good cashback card for families who order food and groceries online and fill fuel often, as long as the boosted cashback stays within ₹750 a cycle; past that it pays nothing extra.
Best for
- Households spending ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 a cycle on online food, grocery and OTT
- Car or bike owners who want 3% back on fuel
- UPI users who want a RuPay credit card that earns on UPI
Skip it if
- Your 5% category spends go well past ₹15,000 a cycle
- You spend abroad, given the 3.5% forex markup
- You want lounge access, insurance or welcome gifts
Highlights
- 5% on online food delivery, online grocery, movie tickets and OTT
- 3% on fuel at all fuel stations
- ₹750 combined cap per billing cycle on the 5% and 3% categories
- ₹750 + GST fee, annual fee waived on ₹2 lakh retail spends
- Minimum redemption rises from 100 to 500 points on 1 December 2026
Kotak Cashback+ in brief
Cashback+ is Kotak Mahindra Bank's category cashback card. The cashback build up as points, 1 point for each rupee, and you redeem it against your bill through Kotak Unbox. It comes on Visa and RuPay, and the RuPay one can be linked to UPI.
Three points decides whether it suits you. The boosted rates are 5% on online food delivery and online grocery, 5% on online movie tickets and OTT subscriptions, and 3% on fuel at any fuel station. All of these share one cap of ₹750 per billing cycle, and after the cap they earns 0%. Everything else that's eligible, including offline grocery and restaurant bills, gets 0.5% with no limit.
On fees, the MITC and Key Fact Statement both say ₹750 joining and ₹750 a year, plus GST. Kotak's listing page shows ₹0 joining and the card page talks of first year free, but both are marked as limited-time or channel-based offers, so we treat ₹750 as the real fee. The card is active and taking new applications, Kotak having been allowed again to issue cards from 12 February 2025 after the RBI's April 2024 freeze. Compare it with the bank's other cards on our Kotak credit cards page.
Recent and coming changes
- 1 June 2025: across Kotak's cards, 1% transaction fees came in on utility, fuel, wallet, gaming and third-party education payments above set limits.
- 1 December 2026: the minimum redemption goes up from 100 points to 500 points. Until then 100 is enough.
The cost of holding Cashback+
Joining fee is ₹750 and the annual fee is ₹750, GST extra, so ₹885 each with 18% GST (18% of ₹750 is ₹135). The annual fee is waived when your retail spends in the card year touch ₹2 lakh, which is ₹16,666.67 a month, roughly ₹16,667 (₹2,00,000 divided by 12). A family putting groceries, food apps, fuel and shopping on it will usually get there; someone using it only for food orders mostly won't. Up to 3 add-on cards are free.
Interest and penalties
Interest is 3.75% a month or 45% a year, and the interest-free period goes up to 51 days when the previous bill was cleared. Cash advance is simply not available on this card, so no cash fee to worry. Going over limit cost ₹500 if the excess is ₹500 or more.
| Amount due | Late payment charge |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹100 | ₹0 |
| Above ₹100 to ₹500 | ₹100 |
| Above ₹500 to ₹1,000 | ₹500 |
| Above ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 | ₹600 |
| Above ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 | ₹750 |
| Above ₹10,000 to ₹25,000 | ₹900 |
| Above ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 | ₹1,100 |
| Above ₹50,000 | ₹1,300 |
Forex and fees on certain spends
Foreign currency spends carry 3.5% markup and dynamic currency conversion is 3.5% too, so ₹10,000 abroad cost ₹350 extra before GST (3.5% of ₹10,000).
- Fuel: 1% fee on total fuel spends above ₹25,000 a cycle. Funny thing, 3% of ₹25,000 is exactly ₹750, so the fuel cashback alone fill the cap at the same point the fee starts.
- Utilities: 1% above ₹35,000 a cycle. Rent: 1% of every payment plus GST.
- Wallet loads and online skill gaming: 1% above ₹10,000 a cycle each. Education via third-party apps: 1%.
- Card replacement ₹100. Redeeming cashback is free of charge. Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% on fills of ₹500 to ₹4,000, up to ₹3,500 a year.
Kotak Cashback+: fees and charges
| Joining fee | ₹750 + GST |
|---|---|
| Annual or renewal fee | ₹750 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver | Annual fee waived on minimum retail spend of ₹2 lakh in a year |
| Add-on card fee | Nil |
| GST | Charged on top of the fees and charges listed |
| In the bank’s words | Joining fee ₹750 and annual fee ₹750, plus GST; the annual fee is waived on ₹2 lakh of retail spends in a year; up to 3 add-on cards free. Kotak's listing page shows a first-year-free offer that may vary by channel. |
| Interest on unpaid balances | Up to 3.75% a month (45% a year) |
| Late payment fee | Up to ₹100: ₹0; >₹100-₹500: ₹100; >₹500-₹1,000: ₹500; >₹1,000-₹5,000: ₹600; >₹5,000-₹10,000: ₹750; >₹10,000-₹25,000: ₹900; >₹25,000-₹50,000: ₹1,100; >₹50,000: ₹1,300 (charged when no payment or less than the Minimum Amount Due is paid by the due date) |
| Cash withdrawal | Cash advance facility not available |
| Over-limit fee | ₹500 (if over limit amount is equal to or greater than ₹500) |
| Forex markup | 3.5% of the amount |
| Other fees |
|
How the cashback works
- 5%: online food delivery and online grocery (MCCs such as 5411, 5499, 5812 and 5814), plus online movie tickets and OTT subscriptions (MCCs such as 7832 and 5968).
- 3%: fuel at all fuel stations (MCC 5172, 5541, 5983).
- Shared cap: 750 points, so ₹750, per billing cycle across the 5% and 3% buckets together, then 0%. On 5% spends alone you hit it at ₹15,000 (₹750 divided by 5%).
- 0.5%, no cap: other eligible spends, including offline grocery, dining and movies. On the RuPay variant, every UPI payment earns 0.5%, even at a 5% merchant.
- Nothing: rent, B2B, utilities, insurance, education and government, wallet, online skill gaming, EMI, cash advances and balance transfers.
There's no minimum spend, but cashback accrue only in whole rupees. You can redeem only against your statement, 1 point being ₹1, free of cost, and from 1 December 2026 you'll need 500 points instead of 100 to do it. Points expire 1 year after they accrue, so don't sit on them. No welcome gift or milestone benefit is published.
Three households, three results
- Light, ₹12,000 a month: food delivery ₹3,000, online grocery ₹2,000 and OTT ₹500 make ₹5,500 at 5%, so ₹275; fuel ₹2,000 at 3% is ₹60; boosted total ₹335 (₹275 plus ₹60), well under ₹750. Other spends of ₹4,500 at 0.5% add ₹22.50. Month: ₹357.50 (₹335 plus ₹22.50); year: ₹4,290 (₹357.50 times 12). Yearly spend is ₹1,44,000 (₹12,000 times 12), short of ₹2 lakh, so the ₹885 fee stays and the net is ₹3,405 (₹4,290 minus ₹885).
- Typical, ₹25,000 a month: food ₹5,000, grocery ₹5,000 and movies or OTT ₹1,000 make ₹11,000 at 5%, ₹550; fuel ₹4,000 at 3%, ₹120; boosted ₹670 (₹550 plus ₹120), still under the cap. Other ₹10,000 at 0.5% is ₹50. Month ₹720 (₹670 plus ₹50), year ₹8,640 (₹720 times 12). At ₹3,00,000 a year (₹25,000 times 12) the annual fee is waived; in year one the ₹885 joining fee leave ₹7,755 (₹8,640 minus ₹885), unless you got the first-year-free offer.
- Heavy, ₹50,000 a month: food ₹8,000, grocery ₹10,000 and OTT ₹1,500 make ₹19,500 at 5%, ₹975; fuel ₹8,000 at 3%, ₹240. Boosted would be ₹1,215 (₹975 plus ₹240), but the cap cut it to ₹750, so ₹465 is lost (₹1,215 minus ₹750). Other ₹22,500 at 0.5% is ₹112.50. Month ₹862.50 (₹750 plus ₹112.50), year ₹10,350 (₹862.50 times 12); ₹10,350 out of ₹6,00,000 spent is about 1.73%.
| Household | Monthly spend | Boosted cashback | Base cashback | Year | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | ₹12,000 | ₹335 | ₹22.50 | ₹4,290 | ₹885 (spend under ₹2 lakh) |
| Typical | ₹25,000 | ₹670 | ₹50 | ₹8,640 | Waived from year two |
| Heavy | ₹50,000 | ₹750 after cap | ₹112.50 | ₹10,350 | Waived from year two |
The lesson from the heavy case: once your 5% spends pass ₹15,000 a cycle, put the extra on another card.
Kotak Cashback+: higher-reward categories
| Category | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Online food delivery and online grocery | 5% cashback, about 5% value | Combined cap of 750 reward points (₹750) per billing cycle across the 5% and 3% categories; 0% after the cap, billing cycle |
| Online entertainment (online movie tickets and OTT subscriptions) | 5% cashback, about 5% value | Shared 750-point cap per billing cycle, billing cycle |
| Fuel at all fuel stations | 3% cashback, about 3% value | Shared 750-point cap per billing cycle, billing cycle |
Kotak Cashback+: how rewards work
| Earned as | Cashback (accrued as reward points, 1 point = ₹1) |
|---|---|
| Base rate | Unlimited 0.5% cashback on other eligible spends; RuPay variant: unlimited 0.5% on all UPI on credit card spends (including accelerated categories). About 0.5% value back |
| Minimum spend rules | No minimum spend; cashback accrues only in multiples of ₹1; offline grocery, dining and entertainment earn base 0.5% |
| No rewards on |
|
| Lower rewards on |
|
| Value of a point |
|
| Redemption fee | Redemption is free of cost |
| Expiry | Unclaimed cashback (reward points) expires 1 year from accrual |
| Welcome benefits | None published |
| Milestone benefits | None published |
| Lounge access | Not published by the bank Condition: No lounge benefit published for this card |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000; maximum ₹3,500 in an anniversary year |
| Insurance cover | Not published by the bank |
Applying for Kotak Cashback+
Kotak doesn't publish the age or income it wants from the main applicant on the Cashback+ page, which is a gap we can't fill. What it does say is that add-on holders must be 18 or older. The bank set its own criteria and decide each case; the RBI fixes no minimum income or age for credit cards.
Documents
- Identity proof, age proof and address proof.
- Income proof or employment details, and your PAN card.
- Online you just share name, phone number, PAN and Aadhaar, then complete Video KYC.
How the application goes
The online route end with a virtual card once Video KYC is done, so you can start using it before the plastic arrives. You can also apply at a Kotak branch or through bank representatives. Kotak must give you the Key Fact Statement for this card with the application, showing the interest rate and charges in one page.
Some rules that protect you: the card account can't be reported to credit bureaus before you activate it, and if you don't activate within 30 days the bank must seek your OTP consent or close it free of cost. The bank has to judge your repayment capacity on your own means, and if it reject you, the reasons must come in writing. A CRIF score above 700 is generally seen as good. Approval stays Kotak's call. For help, ring 1800 4100 or visit our Kotak customer care page.
Kotak Cashback+: eligibility and documents
| Age (salaried) | Not published by the bank |
|---|---|
| Age (self-employed) | Not published by the bank |
| Income (salaried) | Not published by the bank |
| Income (self-employed) | Not published by the bank |
| Other conditions | Add-on cardholder must be 18 years and above. Primary-applicant eligibility not published on the card page. |
| Documents |
|
| How to apply | Online on the Kotak website (onboarding.kotak.bank.in): choose a card, share name, phone number, PAN and Aadhaar, complete Video KYC and receive a virtual card; or apply offline at a Kotak branch or through bank representatives. Dream Different (FD-secured) applications go through the Kotak811 app or website. White and White Reserve have no online Apply button (programme/RM-linked). |
| Card customer care | 1800 4100 |
These are the bank's published conditions. Meeting them does not guarantee a card: approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
Who gets the most from Cashback+
The ideal user is a household that orders food and groceries on apps, pays for one or two OTT subscriptions and runs a car or bike. Put ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 of those spends on it each cycle and you collect most of the ₹750 cap, and if total spends reach ₹2 lakh a year, the fee disappear too. RuPay users get a small bonus too, since UPI payments on the card earns 0.5% with no cap.
It's a weaker choice if you shop mostly in stores, because offline grocery and dining earns only 0.5%. Very heavy food-app users will hit the cap early in the cycle and then earn nothing extra. And travellers should avoid it abroad with 3.5% markup and no lounge.
Trade-offs
The shared cap is the big one: fuel and food fight for the same ₹750. The cashback also expire in 1 year, and the 500-point minimum from December 2026 means a light user may wait two months between redemptions, since ₹357.50 a month takes 2 months to cross 500. In return you get cash at ₹1 a point, with no catalogue games.
Pros
- 5% back on online food delivery, online grocery, movie tickets and OTT
- 3% back on fuel at all fuel stations
- Cashback redeemed against the bill at ₹1 a point with no redemption fee
- RuPay variant earns 0.5% on UPI payments
- Up to 3 add-on cards free
Cons
- One ₹750 cap per billing cycle covers all the 5% and 3% categories
- Offline grocery and dining earn only 0.5%
- 3.5% forex markup, and no lounge or insurance published
- Cashback expires 1 year after it accrues
- Minimum redemption rises to 500 points from 1 December 2026
Cashback+ against other cashback cards
Three cashback cards compete for the same wallet. The comparison table below has every fee and cap.
Cashback+ or HSBC Live+
HSBC Live+ charges ₹999, reversed above ₹2 lakh of spends, and pays 10% on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping and utilities up to ₹1,200 a month, with 1.5% unlimited on most else. It pays nothing on fuel, but it does give lounge visits and a 1.99% forex markup. It asks ₹6 lakh income for salaried people. If you can qualify and you eat out more than you fill fuel, Live+ is stronger.
Cashback+ or SBI Cashback
The CASHBACK SBI Card costs ₹999 + taxes, reversed at ₹2 lakh, and gives 5% on all online spends up to ₹2,000 a cycle plus 1% offline. Fuel is excluded and forex is 3.5%. For broad online shopping SBI wins on cap size; Cashback+ is cheaper and earn on fuel.
Cashback+ or Airtel Axis Bank
The Airtel Axis Bank card costs ₹500, waived from year two on ₹2 lakh, with 25% on Airtel bills and 10% on other utilities through the Airtel Thanks app, plus 10% value back on Zomato, Blinkit and District up to ₹200 per partner a month. Pick it if bills are your big spend; pick Cashback+ for fuel and OTT. Kotak's own League Platinum is the points option if you prefer milestones.
For more ideas, see our best credit cards list or the credit cards hub.
Kotak Cashback+ against similar cards
| Term | Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card This card | League Platinum Credit Card | HSBC Live+ Credit Card | CASHBACK SBI Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak) | Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak) | HSBC India | SBI Card |
| Joining fee | ₹750 + GST | ₹499 + GST | ₹999 + GST | ₹999 + GST |
| Annual fee and waiver | ₹750 + GST. Annual fee waived on minimum retail spend of ₹2 lakh in a year | ₹499 + GST. Annual fee waived on minimum retail spends of ₹50,000 in a year | ₹999 + GST. Annual fee, including GST, fully reversed if total eligible spend across primary and add-on cards in the anniversary year exceeds Rs 2,00,000 | ₹999 + GST. Renewal Fee is reversed if annual spends for last year >= Rs. 2,00,000. |
| Base reward | Unlimited 0.5% cashback on other eligible spends (about 0.5% value) | 4 Reward Points per ₹150 on all eligible spends up to ₹2 lakh annual spends | 1.5% unlimited cashback on most other spends (exclusions apply) (about 1.5% value) | 1% cashback on offline (POS at merchant outlets) spends, max Rs (about 1% value) |
| Best category | Online food delivery and online grocery: about 5% value | Special categories: Travel Agencies & Tour Operators, Package Tour Operators, Airlines and Air Carriers, Electric Sales, Durable Goods, Departmental Stores: 8 Reward Points per ₹150 | Dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping and utility spends: about 10% value | Online spends: about 5% value |
| Lounges | Not published by the bank | Not published by the bank | Domestic: 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits a year, limited to 1 visit every 6 months International: 1 complimentary international lounge visit a year (from 1 September 2026) | Domestic: None listed on card page International: None listed on card page |
| Forex markup | 3.5% of the amount | 3.5% of the amount | 1.99% of the amount | 3.5% of the amount |
| Network | Visa, RuPay | Not stated by the bank | Visa | Visa |
| Published minimum income | Not published by the bank | Rs.5 Lakhs and above per annum | ₹50,000 a month | Stable income; SBI Card says the specific minimum varies by card and does not... |
| Status | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kotak Cashback+ fee and how can it be waived?
How much cashback can I earn on Kotak Cashback+ in a cycle?
What are the eligibility rules for Kotak Cashback+?
Does Kotak Cashback+ offer lounge access or a low forex markup?
What changes on Kotak Cashback+ in December 2026?
Does Kotak Cashback+ give 5% on food delivery paid through UPI?
Related
- Kotak Mahindra Bank Credit Cards 2026: The Lineup After the RBI Ban
- Kotak League Platinum Credit Card Review: Double Points After ₹2 Lakh
- HSBC Live+ Credit Card Review: 10% Cashback Capped at ₹1,200 a Month
- CASHBACK SBI Card Review: 5% Online Cashback and the 2026 Caps
- Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card Review: 25% on Airtel Bills, With a Catch
- Kotak mahindra bank
Sources
- Kotak Mahindra Bank: Most Important Terms & Conditions and Cardholder Agreement, Retail Cards (English); Key Fact Statement - Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card (version KCBKFS04062026); Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card - Terms & Conditions; Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card product page; Credit Card - Apply for Credit Card Online (Kotak credit card listing page); Contact Us (Kotak Mahindra Bank customer service)
Last verified: 5 November 2026
Written by Anjali Bhargawa, reviewed by BankCreds Financial Experts
BankCreds does not sell cards or take applications. Fees and rewards change; the bank's own terms on the day you apply are what count, and approval is the bank's decision.