Indian food-delivery spend on Swiggy and Zomato routinely crosses ₹5,000–₹15,000 per month for urban households. Most generic cards return 1% on these — the category specialists return 5–10%. Pair that with in-app dining discounts and Prime/Gold memberships, and a dedicated food-delivery card saves ₹6,000–₹12,000 a year. Here are the 2026 picks.
1. HDFC Swiggy Credit Card — co-branded, best absolute rate
The HDFC Swiggy Credit Card is the only co-branded card of its kind in India. 10% cashback as Swiggy Money on all Swiggy transactions (food delivery, Instamart, Dineout, Genie, Minis), 5% on partner merchants (Swiggy's preferred brand network), 1% on everything else. Includes Swiggy One complimentary membership. Annual fee ₹500.
On ₹10,000/month Swiggy spend, 10% = ₹1,000/month = ₹12,000/year of Swiggy Money. Nothing else comes close.
2. SBI SimplyCLICK — best pairing with Zomato
The SBI SimplyCLICK pays 10X reward points on Swiggy, Dominos, Netmeds, and other partner merchants. Zomato isn't a listed partner but earns the 5X "online" rate = ~1.25%. Pair SBI SimplyCLICK (for Swiggy) with the HDFC Swiggy Card only if your Swiggy volume is large enough to justify two cards.
3. HDFC Millennia — 5% on both Swiggy and Zomato
The HDFC Millennia pays 5% on Swiggy AND Zomato (both in the 10-merchant preferred list), plus 5% on 8 other merchants. Capped at ₹1,000/month for 5% categories. Better than the HDFC Swiggy card for dual-app households, and broader than SBI SimplyCLICK.
4. Flipkart Axis Bank — 4% on Swiggy, solid on Uber
The Flipkart Axis Bank offers 4% on Swiggy, Uber, PVR, and Cultsport. Lower than HDFC Millennia's 5% on Swiggy, but includes Uber (rides and Uber Eats) — useful if your food delivery is mixed with ride-hailing on Uber Eats.
5. Axis Ace — flat 4% on food delivery apps
The Axis Ace pays 4% on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola (ride-hailing). Simple and uncapped. For households where food delivery is ₹5K/month or less, Axis Ace may beat category cards because its 2% base rate on every other spend makes it genuinely multi-purpose.
Head-to-head on ₹10K monthly food-delivery spend
| Card | Swiggy rate | Zomato rate | Monthly value |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Swiggy | 10% | 1% (base) | ₹1,000 (if 100% Swiggy) |
| HDFC Millennia | 5% | 5% | ₹500 (capped) |
| SBI SimplyCLICK | 2.5% | 1.25% | ₹150–₹250 |
| Flipkart Axis | 4% | 1.5% (base) | ₹160–₹400 |
| Axis Ace | 4% | 4% | ₹400 |
Winner per profile:
- Swiggy-loyal: HDFC Swiggy.
- Swiggy + Zomato split: HDFC Millennia for the 5% cap, or Axis Ace for uncapped 4%.
- Already holding SBI SimplyCLICK or Flipkart Axis: use them, add HDFC Swiggy only if monthly Swiggy spend > ₹5K.
In-app dining discounts — separate from card rewards
Both Swiggy and Zomato run frequent in-app offers (Swiggy One, Zomato Gold) that stack on top of card cashback. These typically give:
- 10–30% off on delivery orders (capped ₹100–₹150).
- Free delivery on orders above ₹150.
- Member-only restaurant deals.
Cards don't compete with these — they add on top. If your card earns 5% and your Zomato Gold saves 20%, you're effectively getting 25% off.
Which cards to avoid for food delivery
Premium travel cards (HDFC Infinia, Axis Magnus) pay base rate on Swiggy/Zomato — 3.3% in Infinia's case, but measured as redeemed points, not immediate cashback. The HDFC Diners Black's 6X weekend dining bonus applies to restaurant bookings, not delivery apps. If food delivery is a significant category for you, a specialist card beats a premium card.
For a broader cashback lens, read the best cashback credit cards guide. Online shoppers should also see our best credit cards for online shopping round-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card gives the highest cashback on Swiggy?
The HDFC Swiggy Credit Card at 10% on Swiggy-owned brands. No other mainstream Indian card exceeds this on Swiggy.
Is there a card co-branded with Zomato?
Not in 2026. RBL had a Zomato-branded card that was discontinued. For Zomato rewards, HDFC Millennia (5%) or Axis Ace (4%) are the best alternatives.
Can I use Swiggy Money like real money?
Swiggy Money is spendable across all Swiggy services (food, Instamart, Dineout, Genie). It cannot be transferred to a bank account or UPI merchant. For most households this isn't a constraint — Swiggy Money turns over quickly.
Do HDFC Swiggy cashback caps reset monthly or annually?
The HDFC Swiggy 10% tier is capped at ₹1,500/month of cashback earned, resetting each billing cycle. Cashback above the cap still accrues but at the 1% base rate.
Credit Cards Editor, OnePaisa Editorial
Sandhya writes on credit cards for OnePaisa — reward programmes, fees and charges, lounge and travel benefits, and head-to-head card comparisons. Every fee, earn rate and benefit in her guides is checked against the issuer's MITC document and official product page, and against OnePaisa's verified product data, before it is published. Where an issuer does not disclose a number, the guide says so instead of estimating it.
Work published under this byline follows OnePaisa’s editorial standards — how our guides are researched, fact-checked against primary sources, and corrected.