The verdict
The quintessential virtual UPI companion card for everyday UPI transactions. Linking directly to any UPI payment app allows earning up to 3% CashPoints on neighborhood grocery and dining QR payments with an effortless ₹25,000 fee waiver.
Spending ₹2,000/mo on local grocery QR scans (720 pts/yr = ₹180 value) + ₹1,000/mo utility bill payments (240 pts/yr = ₹60 value) clears the low ₹25,000 annual spend to waive the ₹250 fee, providing over ₹490 in net annual utility value (1.96× ROI).
No airport lounge access and 1 CashPoint = ₹0.25 on statement cash credit.
✓What works
- +3% CashPoints on groceries, supermarkets, and dining via merchant UPI QR payments (up to 500 points per month).
- +2% CashPoints on utility bill payments (up to 500 points per month).
- +1% CashPoints on all other eligible merchant UPI transactions.
- +100% virtual digital card issued instantly and linked to Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and PayZapp.
- +Annual renewal fee of ₹250 waived on spending just ₹25,000 in the anniversary year.
- +Enjoy 50 days of interest-free credit on daily UPI scan-and-pay transactions.
✕What doesn't
- −No complimentary airport lounge access.
- −Points redemption value is ₹0.25 per CashPoint.
- −CashPoints capped at 500 points per category per calendar month.
What it earns
1 CashPoint = ₹0.25 when redeemed against statement balance or SmartBuy portal.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery & Supermarket Merchant UPI | 3.0% CashPoints | 500 pts / mo | 3,000 pts (₹750 value) |
| Utility Bill Payments via UPI | 2.0% CashPoints | 500 pts / mo | 2,000 pts (₹500 value) |
| All Other Merchant UPI Spends | 1.0% CashPoints | 500 pts / mo | 1,000 pts (₹250 value) |
| P2P UPI Transfers & Rent | 0% | Excluded | 0 pts |
Accelerated earn
3% CashPoints on Groceries + 2% Utilities
Earn reward points whenever you scan any merchant UPI QR code.
| Category / Channel | Multiplier Rate | Monthly Cap | Cap / Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery QR UPISupermarkets & food. | 3.0% · 3% CashPoints | 500 pts / mo | — |
| Utility Bill UPIElectricity, water, gas. | 2.0% · 2% CashPoints | 500 pts / mo | — |
| Fee WaiverWaived at ₹25,000 spend. | 100% · ₹250 Waived | 1 / year | — |
Redemption options
Redeem CashPoints directly against card statement at 1 pt = ₹0.25.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement Balance CreditBEST VALUE | 1 pt = ₹0.25 | 500 pts | None | ₹99 + GST |
| SmartBuy Travel & Vouchers | 1 pt = ₹0.25 | 500 pts | None | ₹99 + GST |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +Merchant UPI QR payments at kirana stores, supermarkets, restaurants.
- +Electricity, water, gas, broadband utility bills via UPI.
- +General online merchant UPI payments.
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers to friends or family.
- −Rent payments.
- −Wallet load transactions.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹250 + GST |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹250 + GST (Waived at ₹25,000 spend) |
| Forex Markup | 3.5% + GST |
| Finance Charges | 3.49% / month (41.88% / year) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 21–60 years |
| Salaried Income | ₹15,000+ monthly net salary |
| Self-Employed Income | ITR above ₹1.8 Lakhs per annum |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HDFC UPI RuPay Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for HDFC UPI RuPay Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on HDFC UPI RuPay Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on HDFC UPI RuPay Credit Card?
Who is HDFC UPI RuPay Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: HDFC UPI RuPay Credit Card
The HDFC UPI RuPay Credit Card is a digital-first, virtual credit card operating on the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) RuPay network, specifically engineered to link with mobile UPI applications (PayZapp, Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) for merchant QR code scan-and-pay transactions. Issued at a nominal annual fee of ₹250 + GST, the renewal fee is completely reversed upon spending just ₹25,000 in qualifying retail transactions during the anniversary year.
The card brings credit card reward power to everyday micro-merchants: cardholders earn 3% CashPoints on grocery, supermarket, and dining merchant UPI scans (capped at 500 CashPoints/month), 2% CashPoints on utility bill payments, and 1% CashPoints on all other merchant UPI transactions (capped at 500 CashPoints/month), with instant digital issuance directly inside the PayZapp app.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
-
Seamless Mobile UPI Integration: Link directly to Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, or PayZapp to scan merchant QR codes at local kirana stores, cafes, and supermarkets.
-
3% CashPoints on Daily Groceries & Dining UPI: Earn 3% CashPoints on grocery store, supermarket, and dining merchant QR payments (capped at 500 CashPoints per month).
-
2% CashPoints on Utility Bill Payments: Earn 2% CashPoints on electricity, piped gas, water, and broadband payments via UPI.
-
1% CashPoints on Other Merchant UPI: Earn 1.0% CashPoints across all other merchant UPI QR transactions (capped at 500 CashPoints per month).
-
Ultra-Low ₹25,000 Annual Spend Waiver: Annual spend of just ₹25,000 completely reverses the ₹250 annual renewal fee.
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
-
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Transfers Strictly Barred: Credit card on UPI is restricted strictly to verified merchant QR codes (P2M); personal friend-and-family transfers (P2P) are prohibited by RBI/NPCI guidelines.
-
Monthly CashPoint Caps: 3% grocery/dining category capped at 500 CashPoints/month, and 1% other UPI category capped at 500 CashPoints/month.
-
Virtual-First Issuance: Primarily issued as a digital card in PayZapp without plastic card hardware.
-
No Complimentary Airport Lounges: Does not include complimentary airport lounge access across domestic or international terminals.
-
Excluded Categories: Fuel purchases, rent payments via aggregator platforms, wallet reloads, and government taxes earn zero points.
Who Benefits Most
-
Daily UPI QR Payers: Spenders scanning merchant QR codes 5 to 10 times daily for coffee, snacks, local groceries, and restaurant meals.
-
Small-Ticket Spend Maximizers: Consumers who want to earn structured cashback on daily ₹50 to ₹500 transactions that normally earn nothing.
-
Budget Conscious Cardholders: Spenders spending ₹2,500 monthly who effortlessly hit the ₹25,000 annual spend fee waiver.
- HDFC Bank — UPI RuPay Credit Card schedule of charges
- HDFC Bank virtual RuPay UPI reward points guidelines
Independent Editorial & Statutory Disclaimers
Institutional Transparency & Nominative Fair Use Statement
CredSutra operates as an independent credit card discovery and consumer intelligence engine. CredSutra is NOT a bank, Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), Direct Selling Agent (DSA), or Lending Service Provider (LSP).