Grocery rewards vary by merchant, transaction coding and reward caps. Compare current issuer terms before choosing a card for online apps or in-store shopping.
Our Top Picks for Grocery Shopping
20 reward points/₹100 on eligible grocery MCCs
1,000 accelerated points/billing cycle; up to ₹250 value
RBL lists 20 points per ₹100 on grocery transactions, capped at 1,000 points per billing cycle; each point redeems for up to ₹0.25. This is up to 5% value on the first ₹5,000 eligible grocery spend, not unlimited cashback.
Watch out: Merchant MCC must qualify; after the cap, grocery earns 1 point/₹100. Points are redeemable rewards, not statement cashback.
5% on 10 named online merchants; 1% other eligible spends
Separate ₹1,000/month caps; BigBasket not in current 5% list
HDFC's current Millennia list names Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy and other selected merchants, but not BigBasket. A grocery transaction only receives the accelerated rate if it qualifies under the issuer's current named list and terms.
Watch out: BigBasket should not be presented as a 5% partner based on the current list; monthly caps apply.
10% on eligible Swiggy app spend, including Instamart
₹1,500 per billing cycle; ₹249 transaction minimum
HDFC lists 10% cashback on eligible Swiggy app transactions, including Instamart, with a billing-cycle cap. It can suit users who already spend through Swiggy and meet the transaction minimum.
Watch out: Swiggy Money Wallet, Liquor and Minis are excluded; other eligibility terms apply. It does not make BigBasket or Blinkit eligible for the Swiggy rate.
5% eligible online; 1% eligible offline
₹2,000 cashback each for online and offline per statement cycle
SBI advertises 5% eligible online cashback and 1% eligible offline cashback. An online grocery purchase may qualify, subject to merchant coding and the current exclusions.
Watch out: Online cashback is capped at ₹2,000 per statement cycle; utilities, fuel and other listed categories are excluded. Offline grocery is not 0% by default.
10% on listed Blinkit preferred-merchant transactions
Issuer merchant/app definitions and current terms apply
Axis currently lists Blinkit among preferred merchants for value back. This does not make all grocery purchases—including physical supermarket transactions—eligible for 10%.
Watch out: Confirm the order and transaction meet the live Axis preferred-merchant terms; general other spend is listed at 1%.
Axis Airtel: Blinkit Is Not All Grocery Spend
Axis currently lists Blinkit among preferred merchants with 10% value back. Separately, eligible Airtel Thanks bill payments and utility payments have their own accelerated rates and caps; other eligible purchases generally earn the 1% base rate.
That means a qualifying Blinkit order may earn the preferred-merchant rate, while BigBasket, another grocery app or a physical supermarket should not be assumed to qualify. Confirm Axis's current merchant definitions and transaction terms before routing spend.
Do not switch or estimate lost cashback based on a broad “grocery” label alone. The online platform, merchant coding, minimum transaction and monthly caps can change the actual reward.
Understand why banks make these changes by reading our explainer on why cashback rates are never permanent.
The BigBasket Problem
BigBasket transactions can be evaluated differently by each issuer. Tata Neu partner rewards depend on current merchant and route eligibility; HDFC Millennia's current named 5% list does not include BigBasket. An online-cashback product may cover an eligible transaction, subject to its MCC rules, exclusions and cap.
SBI Cashback advertises 5% on eligible online transactions, but do not assume every bill or app transaction qualifies. SBI's revised terms include a ₹2,000 online cap per statement cycle and category exclusions.
Online Grocery vs Offline Supermarket: Different MCCs
Online grocery apps and physical supermarket terminals can be coded differently. RBL ShopRite's terms list eligible grocery MCCs (including 5411, 5422, 5441, 5451 and 5499); a delivery app is not automatically guaranteed to post under one of those codes.
Other issuers use their own eligible-online lists, preferred merchants or broad online/offline cashback buckets. SBI Cashback currently lists 5% online and 1% offline but excludes several categories; Axis ACE lists fuel excluded and 1.5% on other eligible spends, not a universal 2% grocery rate.
The practical implication: review the transaction MCC and issuer terms for both app orders and physical stores. ShopRite's grocery points apply to eligible grocery MCCs across channels, but the accelerated points cap is just 1,000 per billing cycle.
Do not assume an online-only card earns nothing offline: SBI Cashback lists a 1% eligible offline tier. Conversely, an “online” purchase is not guaranteed to qualify for every card's accelerated rate.
The RBL ShopRite Case
RBL lists 20 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible grocery transactions, up to 1,000 points per billing cycle. Each point may be redeemed for up to ₹0.25; this is a maximum-value equivalent, not cash. The fee is ₹500 plus tax, with a waiver at ₹1.5 lakh eligible membership-year spend.
The accelerated tier reaches its cap at ₹5,000 eligible grocery spend per billing cycle. Grocery spend beyond that earns 1 point per ₹100. MCC definitions matter for online platforms and physical stores.
There is a separate fuel surcharge waiver (up to ₹100 per month on eligible ₹500–₹4,000 transactions), but fuel purchases do not earn reward points under current ShopRite terms. Do not count the waiver as grocery rewards.
Annual Return at Different Grocery Spend Levels
This is a feature comparison, not an earnings forecast. ShopRite's 1,000-point cap is about ₹250 at RBL's maximum stated ₹0.25-per-point redemption value; Millennia's 5% offer only applies to its current named merchants, not every grocery app.
For each card, verify the merchant/MCC and remaining cycle cap before estimating value. See our cap structure explainer for more on shared vs category-specific caps.
Stack for Maximum Grocery Earning
No single card covers every grocery merchant at the same rate. A second card may help only if its current online/offline category, merchant coding, caps and redemption terms fit your actual purchases.
We do not publish a single blended-return estimate because the merchant MCC, eligible order minimums and remaining statement-cycle cap are user-specific. ShopRite's grocery tier can provide at most 1,000 accelerated points per billing cycle (up to ₹250 at the issuer's stated maximum point value).
SBI Cashback has separate ₹2,000 online and offline cashback caps per statement cycle, with exclusions. Use the Stack Builder tool for a broad comparison, then confirm grocery eligibility in each issuer's terms.
What to Do Right Now
- Check whether your card's merchant terms cover the grocery app/store you actually use; Blinkit has an Axis Airtel preferred-merchant offer, but BigBasket and in-store spend differ.
- Evaluate ShopRite only if eligible grocery MCC spend and its 1,000-point cycle cap suit you; account for redemption value, annual fee plus tax, and the ₹1.5 lakh waiver threshold.
- Do not count HDFC Millennia's 5% merchant tier for BigBasket; it is not on the current named list.
- For offline supermarkets, compare issuer MCC/category terms; SBI Cashback lists 1% eligible offline cashback, while exclusions still apply.
- For Swiggy Instamart, HDFC Swiggy's 10% app cashback has a ₹1,500 billing-cycle cap and a ₹249 transaction minimum.
- Read the Smart Swipe guide to see which card to swipe at each specific grocery channel.
The Honest Verdict
There is no universal best grocery card: the right option depends on the exact merchant, transaction coding, point redemption, cycle caps and fees. RBL ShopRite's 20 points/₹100 grocery earn is capped at 1,000 accelerated points per billing cycle and then drops to 1 point/₹100.
Axis Airtel currently lists Blinkit as a preferred merchant, while HDFC Swiggy lists eligible Swiggy app transactions including Instamart at 10% with a cycle cap. Neither benefit covers every grocery app or supermarket.
Compare the issuer's current categories and statement-cycle caps before switching a default card; treat points and cashback as different reward types.
FAQ
Which credit card gives the best cashback on grocery shopping in India?
There is no universal best card because merchant coding and caps differ. RBL ShopRite earns 20 points per ₹100 on eligible grocery MCCs, capped at 1,000 accelerated points per billing cycle; each point redeems for up to ₹0.25. That is up to ₹250 value, not cash, and online apps may not use an eligible MCC. Check the issuer's current terms and fee before applying.
Does the Axis Airtel card give cashback on grocery purchases?
Axis currently lists eligible Blinkit transactions in its preferred-merchant offer. This should not be generalized to BigBasket, other grocery apps or physical supermarkets; check the live merchant definitions, caps and transaction eligibility before paying.
Does HDFC Millennia give cashback on BigBasket?
BigBasket is not included in the current named list of HDFC Millennia's accelerated 5% merchants reviewed for this guide. A transaction may receive the base rate if otherwise eligible. Verify the issuer's current merchant list and caps.
Do credit cards give cashback on offline grocery purchases at DMart or Spencer?
It depends on merchant coding and card terms. RBL ShopRite gives accelerated points on eligible grocery MCCs, up to 1,000 points per billing cycle. SBI Cashback lists 1% on eligible offline transactions, subject to exclusions. Axis ACE lists 1.5% on other eligible spends, not a universal 2% grocery rate. Check current issuer terms.
What is the MCC code for grocery and does it affect cashback?
A merchant category code helps identify a transaction type. RBL ShopRite lists grocery MCCs including 5411, 5422, 5441, 5451 and 5499. An online app can be processed under a different code, so the app name alone does not guarantee category rewards. Review your statement and the issuer's current terms.
Is Swiggy Instamart covered by the HDFC Swiggy card?
HDFC lists 10% cashback on eligible Swiggy app transactions, including Instamart, subject to a ₹1,500 billing-cycle cap and a ₹249 minimum transaction under current terms. Swiggy Money Wallet, Liquor and Minis are excluded. This does not make BigBasket or Blinkit eligible for that offer.
Does SBI Tata Neu Infinity card work for BigBasket?
Tata Neu-linked rewards may be available, but eligibility and earn rate depend on the current card terms, merchant and purchase route. NeuCoins are loyalty currency, not statement cashback. Confirm the rate and redemption conditions in the issuer and Tata Neu terms before estimating value.
What is the best credit card for both grocery and food delivery?
Match each card to an eligible merchant and category rather than assuming one card covers all food and grocery spend. HDFC Millennia's accelerated rate applies only to its current named merchants, while HDFC Swiggy's app offer and RBL ShopRite's grocery-MCC points have separate eligibility rules and caps. Compare annual fees and redemption value as well.
Related: RBL ShopRite Card Review · HDFC Millennia Review · Best Cards for Food Delivery · Best Cards for Online Shopping · Cashback Rate Is a Lie · Stack Builder
Product rules behind this comparison
A supermarket, BigBasket, Blinkit and Instamart may use different merchant codes and earn tiers. ShopRite's accelerated grocery bucket earns up to ₹250 voucher-equivalent value per billing cycle, with base points beyond it; Live+ has a shared ₹1,200 cap across its accelerated categories.
HSBC Live+ Credit Card — earning, costs and limits
10% cashback on eligible dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping and utility MCCs, capped at ₹1,200/month combined. Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra shopping earn 1.5%, not 10%; foreign-currency spends earn no cashback. Most other eligible domestic spends earn 1.5%. Cashback is credited within 45 days of the statement date; reversals/cancellations can recover credited cashback. ₹999 joining and annual fee; renewal reversed after >₹2L anniversary-year spend.
Annual fee before tax: ₹999. Joining fee: ₹999 before tax. ₹999 renewal fee is reversed in full after more than ₹2L spend in the anniversary year; reversal follows in the next statement cycle.
Calculation scope: The generic spend inputs cannot distinguish HSBC's accelerated-category MCCs from merchants such as Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra, or domestic from international spend (which earns no cashback). A flat category estimate would misstate rewards, so no model is enabled.
RBL ShopRite — earning, costs and limits
20 reward points/₹100 on eligible grocery MCCs up to 1,000 accelerated points per billing cycle, then 1 point/₹100 on grocery spend above the cap; each point redeems for up to ₹0.25. Other eligible retail earns 1 point/₹100. Fuel earns no reward points; a separate surcharge waiver applies to eligible ₹500–₹4,000 purchases up to ₹100 per calendar month.
Annual fee before tax: ₹500. ₹1.5L eligible purchases in the membership year.
HDFC Tata Neu Infinity Credit Card — earning, costs and limits
5% NeuCoins on eligible non-EMI Tata-brand purchases; 1.5% on eligible non-Tata and merchant-EMI spend. Selected Tata Neu app/website categories can earn an additional 5% through NeuPass, with named exclusions. On RuPay UPI, eligible transactions earn 0.5%, plus 1% when paid using the Tata Neu UPI ID; the combined UPI cap is 500 NeuCoins/calendar month. Grocery, utility, telecom/cable and insurance each have separate 2,000-NeuCoin monthly caps. A further 50,000-NeuCoin statement-cycle ceiling applies where no category cap already governs. NeuCoins expire 12 months from the end of the month of credit under the current issuer schedule; fuel and other excluded transactions earn none.
HDFC lists ₹1,499 joining and renewal fees, plus applicable taxes; renewal is waived after ₹3 lakh spend in the preceding year. ₹1,499 renewal fee waived after ₹3L eligible spend in the preceding year..
One NeuCoin is shown by HDFC as ₹1 for eligible Tata Neu redemption. This is ecosystem-specific value, not unrestricted cashback or statement credit; eligible merchants, payment routes, caps and NeuCoin expiry apply.
September 2026 consumer-card MITC: utilities above ₹50,000 in a calendar month attract a 1% fee on the full eligible monthly total (maximum ₹4,999 before GST), not just the excess. Fuel purchases above ₹15,000 attract 1% on the full transaction, capped at ₹4,999 before GST. INR payments at overseas/internationally registered merchants attract 1.75% DCC markup. These charges and applicable GST are not deducted from gross reward estimates; a fuel-surcharge waiver does not waive the separate high-value fuel charge.
Calculation scope: Generic spend categories cannot distinguish Tata partner-brand MIDs, selected NeuPass app routes, ordinary non-Tata purchases or RuPay UPI channels. Separate category caps, the 50,000-point statement-cycle ceiling and ecosystem-restricted redemption cannot be represented faithfully in one flat category estimate.
Axis ACE — earning, costs and limits
5% on eligible electricity, water, gas, LPG, broadband, DTH and mobile recharge through Google Pay on Android; 4% on eligible Swiggy, Zomato and Ola transactions; 1.5% on other eligible spends. The 5% and 4% categories share one ₹500 cap per statement; the 1.5% base cashback is uncapped. Utility transactions outside Google Pay, fuel, EMI, wallet, rent, jewellery, insurance, education, government, gift cards and toll/road fees are excluded. Merchant IDs determine accelerated eligibility; cashback rounds to the nearest rupee per transaction and returns/EMI conversions reverse rewards. Fuel surcharge waiver is separate: 1% on ₹400–₹4,000 transactions, up to ₹500 per statement; GST on the surcharge is not refunded.
Joining fee ₹499; annual fee ₹499 from year two, subject to the eligible-spend waiver. Applicable taxes are extra. Annual fee waived when eligible annual spend exceeds ₹2 lakh; rent (MCC 6513) and wallet loads (MCC 6540) are excluded from waiver spend..
Calculation scope: Broad dining and utility categories cannot identify Swiggy/Zomato/Ola merchant IDs or Google Pay on Android eligibility. The accelerated buckets share a ₹500 statement-cycle cap and round per transaction; the category model would falsely apply 4%/5% to unqualified spend. No generic estimate is shown.
A reward rate is conditional on the merchant and payment route. Numerical tools show scenarios using the supported models; they do not estimate rent, insurance, UPI or overseas earning by substituting a generic spending category.