High-Yield Cashback on PhonePe Ecosystem and Food Delivery
Consumers who pay household utility bills via PhonePe and order frequently from online food delivery platforms.
₹999
One-time upfront₹999
Waived on ₹2 lakh annual spend1% on UPI Scan & Pay and other retail transactions
On eligible spends8 Domestic visits/year · ₹75k quarterly spend required
Complimentary visitsLast verified 2 Oct 2026
Objective editorial assessment, ideal spender profile, and primary trade-offs
The PhonePe HDFC Bank Ultimo Credit Card is designed as a direct consumer bridge between HDFC Bank's formidable banking rail and PhonePe's ubiquitous 500-million-user digital interface. At an annual fee of ₹999 plus GST, Ultimo targets middle-income and salaried professionals who route significant monthly expenditures through mobile payment apps. The card delivers an attractive 5% cashback on eligible transactions within the PhonePe application (covering utility bills, municipal taxes, DTH, and mobile recharges), 2% cashback on dining and groceries, and 1% on other retail transactions. Cashback is credited as reward points redeemable against card statements or PhonePe vouchers at ₹1 per point value. Cardholders also enjoy 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year (1 per quarter), elevating its utility beyond simple bill payment cards. On the cautionary side, monthly cashback caps apply on the 5% tier (typically ₹500 to ₹750 per billing cycle), meaning power users spending tens of thousands on high-ticket utilities will quickly hit diminishing returns. For regular urban families spending ₹10,000 to ₹25,000 monthly on household bills and groceries, the ₹1,000 welcome voucher and fee waiver on ₹1.5 Lakhs annual spend make Ultimo a very lucrative proposition.
10 RPs/₹100 on Select PhonePe Spends Like Recharges, Bill Payments, Movies, Hotels, Utilities, and More. 5 RPs/₹100 on Brands Like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Ajio, and More. 1 RP/₹100 on Scan & Pay UPI Spends
Get 50% of the Joining Fee Back as a PhonePe Gift Card on Your First RuPay Credit Card UPI Transaction, and the Remaining 50% as 10 Gift Cards on Continued UPI Spends
Base earning rates, partner merchant acceleration, redemption options, and exclusions
| Spend Category | Earn Rate | Reward Cap | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhonePe App & Travel Spends | 10% Reward Points on PhonePe app transactions (recharges, utilities, merchant orders; max 1,00,000 or 1,000 RP/month) | 1,000 Reward Points/mo | Standard terms apply |
| Select Online Brands | 5% Reward Points on select online partner brands (Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, Myntra; max 500 RP/month) | 500 Reward Points/mo | Standard terms apply |
| All Other Spends | 1% Reward Points on UPI Scan & Pay and other eligible retail transactions | No Cap | Standard terms apply |
Calculate estimated net cashback and points across your actual spending pattern.
Estimate your rewards using the card's current reward rates, monthly caps and applicable fee-waiver rules.
Customize monthly spend in each category. Category amounts sum directly to your monthly spend.
| Category / Reward Bucket | Monthly Spend | Rate | Effective Rate | Cap Period | Eligible Reward | Cap Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhonePe App & Travel Spends | ₹6,000 | 10% Reward Points on PhonePe app transactions (recharges, utilities, merchant orders; max 1,00,000 or 1,000 RP/month) | — | ₹1,000/monthly | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Select Online Brands | ₹6,000 | 5% Reward Points on select online partner brands (Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, Myntra; max 500 RP/month) | — | ₹500/monthly | Calculating... | Under cap |
| All Other Spends | ₹18,000 | 1% Reward Points on UPI Scan & Pay and other eligible retail transactions | — | None | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Total Monthly Cashback | ₹30,000 | - | — | - | ₹0 / mo | Zero cap loss |
₹3.6 lakh
12 billing cycles₹0
0% blended return-₹999
Standard renewal+₹0 / yr
Rewards - FeeBonus vouchers and annual fee waiver milestones unlocked as your total spend increases
Spend ₹2,00,000 or more in an anniversary year to receive a full waiver of the ₹999 annual renewal fee.
*Milestone spend calculation is tracked across eligible retail purchases within each specified billing or calendar period. Excludes cash advances, wallet loads, and EMI conversions.
Domestic and international lounge privileges, spend hurdles, and participating terminals
Verify this card against live departure gates and specific terminal lounges across India.
This card includes complimentary admission across verified Indian airport terminals. Check individual terminal lounges and spend criteria before you travel.
Complete breakdown of joining, renewal, forex, financing APR, and transaction charges
• Joining Fee: ₹999 + GST; Annual Renewal Fee: ₹999 + GST. • Fee Waiver: Spend ₹1,50,000 or more in the preceding 12 months to waive the ₹999 renewal fee. • Welcome Benefit: ₹1,000 PhonePe voucher upon fee payment and card activation within 30 days. • Cashback: 5% cashback on PhonePe app merchant/bill payments; 2% on dining and groceries; 1% on general retail. • Monthly Cap: 5% accelerated cashback capped at ₹500 per statement billing cycle. • Airport Lounges: 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar year (1 per quarter). • Exclusions: Fuel, rent payments, wallet top-ups, and educational fees do not earn cashback.
Evaluate whether this card's perks and waiver threshold justify its ₹999 renewal fee.
Income criteria, minimum age, CIBIL score benchmark, and verification checklist
Eligibility criteria not specified
Verified eligibility criteria are not currently available for this card. Check the issuer's latest terms before applying.
Common questions regarding PhonePe HDFC Bank Ultimo Credit Card application, fees, reward redemption, and eligibility
Alternative credit cards with comparable reward rates, annual fee waivers, and perks
Direct online application on the official HDFC Bank portal with paperless verification.
Alternative credit cards with comparable reward rates, annual fee waivers, and perks
Best for: Digital natives, food delivery enthusiasts, and online shoppers wanting tailored monthly cashback.
Rewards: 1% CashPoints on all other spends
Renewal fee waived on ₹1,00,000 annual spend
Last verified 14 Oct 2026
Best for: First-time cardholders, young earners, and budget shoppers looking for dependable utility bill cashback.
Rewards: 0.50% on all other retail transactions
Renewal fee waived on ₹1,00,000 annual spend
Last verified 2 Oct 2026
Best for: Heavy PhonePe users, utility bill payers, and urban spenders seeking accelerated reward velocity on digital transactions.
Rewards: 1 Reward Point per Rs. 100 spent on other eligible retail transactions
Lounge access: 2 Domestic visits/quarter
Renewal fee waived on ₹2,00,000 annual spend
Last verified 2 Oct 2026
Best for: Utility Bill Payers, Google Pay Users & Everyday Dining, Grocery and Cab Spenders
Rewards: 5% on Google Pay bills, 4% on Swiggy/Zomato/Ola, 1.5% elsewhere
Lounge access: 1 Domestic visits/quarter · ₹50k quarterly spend required
Renewal fee waived on ₹2,00,000 annual spend
Last verified 2 Oct 2026
Reliance SBI Card PRIME
Best for: Loyal Reliance ecosystem shoppers (Reliance Digital, Trends, Smart Bazaar, JioMart) who spend ₹10,000+ monthly and travel domestically and internationally.
Rewards: 2 Reward Points per Rs. 100 on other retail spends
Lounge access: 2 Domestic visits/quarter + 4 International visits/year
Renewal fee waived on ₹3,00,000 annual spend
Last verified 10 Sept 2026
Best for: Ultra-high-net-worth individuals, luxury frequent flyers, and high spenders seeking the highest reward return on travel bookings in India.
Rewards: 5 Reward Points per ₹150 spent
Lounge access: Unlimited Domestic & International
Forex markup: 2% Low Forex
Renewal fee waived on ₹10,00,000 annual spend
Last verified 16 Sept 2026
