What does reward rate mean on this page?

It is the published base earn rate, normalised to points per ₹100, before category bonuses or partner accelerators. A card at 5 pts/₹100 earns 500 points on ₹10,000 of everyday spend. Issuers often state the same rate per ₹150 or per ₹200; this page divides those onto one scale so the cards can be compared.

Why are cashback cards not on this list?

Cashback is a percentage of spend, not points per ₹100. Putting it on this scale would compare two different units. Cashback sits on the cashback versus reward points page.

Does a higher points rate mean more rupees back?

Not by itself. Caps, excluded categories, and what one point is worth in rupees still decide the return. Category and partner rates sit on top of the base rate and stay on each card page rather than being folded into this ranking.

Learn

Reward rate: how points per ₹100 works

Reward rate is the number of points you earn per ₹100 spent at the base earn level — before category bonuses or partner accelerators. A higher number means more points, not necessarily more value: what a point is worth in rupees depends on the programme and how you redeem it. A card earning 5 pts/₹100 returns 500 points on ₹10,000 of everyday spend. Dining, fuel, or partner category rates are layered on top and vary by card.

12 cards with a published base points rate

Example math

₹10,000 spend

At 10 pts / ₹100 (Federal Bank Scapia ), ₹10,000 earns 1000 points at base rate — (10,000 ÷ 100) × 10 = 1000. Category multipliers apply on top.

Highest published base points rate (pts / ₹100, normalized)

12 cards

Only reward points cards — cashback uses % back and isn’t on this scale. Cards without a published base earn rate are excluded. Sorted highest first. This ranks points earned, not rupee value: a point is worth different amounts in different programmes.

Highest published base rate here Most points per ₹100

Federal Bank Scapia

10 pts / ₹100

Annual fee ₹0 · Forex 0% · Unlimited lounge access

View card details →

YES Bank Marquee 9 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹4,999 · Forex 1% · 6 per quarter domestic + Unlimited international
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Axis Bank Burgundy Private 7.5 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee — · Forex 0% · Unlimited lounge access
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Axis Bank Reserve 7.5 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹50,000 · Forex 1.5% · Unlimited lounge access
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IDFC FIRST Bank Private 6.7 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹25,000 · Forex 0% · Unlimited lounge access
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Axis Bank Magnus 6 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹12,500 · Forex 2% · Unlimited lounge access
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ICICI Bank Emeralde 6 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹12,000 · Forex 2% · Unlimited lounge access
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Show 5 more

Axis Bank Privilege 5 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹1,500 · Forex 3.5% · 2 per quarter domestic lounge
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Axis Bank SELECT 5 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹3,000 · Forex 3.5% · 2 per quarter domestic + 6 per year international
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IndusInd Bank EazyDiner 4 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹2,999 · Forex 3.5% · No complimentary lounge access
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HDFC Bank Infinia 3.3 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹12,500 · Forex 2% · Unlimited lounge access
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HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Edition 3.3 pts / ₹100 · Annual fee ₹12,500 · Forex 2% · Unlimited lounge access
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Compare close options

Axis Bank Reserve vs IDFC FIRST Bank Private

Another published base-rate reference: Rubyx American Express — 2 pts / ₹100.

Category-rate examples

Not the base-rate ranking

Some cards earn differently for a named merchant, channel, or spending category. Their card pages keep those conditions and caps attached instead of flattening them into the base-rate table.

Context

Orientation

You are here

Reward rate

You’re looking at how fast a card earns points — points per ₹100 at base earn, before category bonuses.

Part of Reward points & programmes

Closely related

Useful when comparing the same kind of card decision.

Cashback vs reward points Cashback % and points / ₹100 are different units — compare the shape, not the number.
Forex markup Cost-side counterpart — lower forex saves; higher reward rate earns.
Reward point transfers Earn rate only matters if you can move points to where value lives.

Often compared with

Shortlists people usually open next to this topic.

High reward credit cards Larger shortlist of strong points-earning cards.
Dining credit cards Category earn where base rate × dining multiplier shows up.

Caps, exclusions, and the rupee value of one point still determine real returns — always check the issuer’s current terms.

Why points per ₹100?

Earn rate

Different issuers state earn rates on different bases — some say ‘2 pts per ₹100’, others ‘3 pts per ₹150’. Normalising everything to pts/₹100 lets you compare cards directly without doing the division yourself.

Common questions

What does reward rate mean on this page?: It is the published base earn rate, normalised to points per ₹100, before category bonuses or partner accelerators. A card at 5 pts/₹100 earns 500 points on ₹10,000 of everyday spend. Issuers often state the same rate per ₹150 or per ₹200; this page divides those onto one scale so the cards can be compared.
Why are cashback cards not on this list?: Cashback is a percentage of spend, not points per ₹100. Putting it on this scale would compare two different units. Cashback sits on the cashback versus reward points page.
Does a higher points rate mean more rupees back?: Not by itself. Caps, excluded categories, and what one point is worth in rupees still decide the return. Category and partner rates sit on top of the base rate and stay on each card page rather than being folded into this ranking.