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HDFC Bank PIXEL Play
Annual fee ₹500 · Forex 3.5% · No lounge access
Cashback vs reward points — what's the difference?
**Cashback cards** return a percentage of your spend directly (e.g. 2% back = ₹200 on ₹10,000 spent). **Reward points cards** give points per ₹100 that you redeem later — the rupee value per point depends on how and where you redeem. Don't compare a '5%' cashback card to a '5 pts/₹100' card without checking what one point is actually worth.
Both types have caps, exclusion categories, and terms that change. Always verify with the issuer.
Why they can't be directly compared
Two different unitsCashback is a percentage — easy to calculate. Reward points have a redemption value that varies by card and partner. A card giving 10 pts/₹100 at 0.25 rupees per point is worth 2.5% back. At 0.10 rupees per point it's 1% back. The number of points alone tells you nothing without the redemption rate.
Real comparison (same spend)
₹10,000 spendAt ₹10,000 of eligible base spend (ignoring caps in this slice):
- Cashback lead (HDFC Bank PIXEL Play): ₹300 back (base cashback rate on eligible spend, before caps).
- Points lead (ICICI Bank HPCL Super Saver): ~₹167 estimated value (pts/₹100 × published point value; simplified — actual redemption rules still apply).
Top base cashback (%, catalog)
8 cardsOther options
- Axis Bank Flipkart Annual fee ₹500 · Forex 3.5% · 4/year domestic lounge
- Axis Bank Airtel Annual fee ₹500 · Forex 3.5% · No lounge access
- HDFC Bank Millennia Annual fee ₹1,000 · Forex 3.5% · No lounge access
- HDFC Bank PIXEL Go Annual fee ₹250 · Forex 3.5% · No lounge access
- HDFC Bank Swiggy Annual fee ₹500 · Forex 3.5% · No lounge access
- HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Annual fee ₹99 · Forex 3.5% · No lounge access
Compare close options
Top base points rate (pts / ₹100, catalog)
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ICICI Bank HPCL Super Saver
Annual fee ₹500 · Forex 3.5% · 4/year domestic lounge
Other options
- ICICI Bank Emeralde Annual fee ₹12,000 · Forex 2% · Unlimited lounge access
- Axis Bank Magnus Annual fee ₹12,500 · Forex 2% · Unlimited lounge access
- Axis Bank SELECT Annual fee ₹3,000 · Forex 3.5% · 8/year domestic lounge (2 per quarter)
- HDFC Bank Infinia Annual fee ₹10,000 · Forex 2% · Unlimited lounge access
- HDFC Bank Tata Neu Infinity RuPay Annual fee ₹1,499 · Forex 2% · 8/year domestic lounge (2 per quarter)
- IDFC FIRST Bank Private Reserve Annual fee ₹0 · Forex 0% · Unlimited lounge access
Compare close options
Where to go next
Learn moreRelated pages
- Reward rate (points / ₹100) How base earn rate works for points cards — definition and worked example.
- Best high reward credit cards Top points-earning cards ranked by base earn rate.
- Best dining credit cards Earn rate for dining spend — base earn × category multiplier where available.
- Best low annual fee credit cards Fee and earn rate together tell the full value story.
Quick compares
flat percent back vs points, redemption value matters, do not equate numbers