Which UPI App is Best for Rewards & Cashback in 2025? In-Depth Review

Which UPI App is Best for Rewards:- Digital payments in India have skyrocketed, thanks to the rise of UPI (Unified Payments Interface). From recharges and bill payments to instant money transfers and shopping, UPI apps have become an everyday essential. But if you’re asking:
“Which UPI app gives the best cashback and rewards in 2025?”
You’re in the right place.

This comprehensive guide will explore the top UPI apps in India, how their rewards and cashback systems work, and which one is currently best for maximum value, discounts, and digital benefits.

🔹 1. Introduction to UPI Rewards

UPI apps were initially launched for seamless payments. However, to boost adoption, companies began offering cashback, scratch cards, vouchers, and lucky draws. This gamified approach attracted millions of users.

Today in 2025, many UPI apps continue to offer rewards to:

• Retain users
• Promote offers & partner brands
• Encourage bill payments & recharges
• Reward high-volume users
• Build loyalty in a highly competitive market

💰 2. How Cashback & Rewards Work in UPI Apps

Every UPI app has its own system for giving rewards, which can include:

• Scratch cards: Open after a qualifying transaction
• Cashback: Direct to bank or wallet
• Vouchers: Redeemable at partner brands (e.g., Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart)
• Coupons: Get discounts on next transactions
• Referral bonuses: Earn by inviting friends
• Lucky draws: For large-value payments or bills

🔝 3. Top UPI Apps Offering Rewards in 2025

Let’s break down each popular UPI app and how they reward users:

🔵 PhonePe

• Reward Type: Scratch cards, cashback, gold rewards
• Best For: Recharges, bill payments, grocery payments
• Special Offers:
• ₹5–₹500 cashback on first electricity bill
• Get scratch cards on every ₹100+ transaction
• Partner deals with BigBasket, Myntra, Flipkart
• Pros: Very active reward system, easy to use
• Cons: Some scratch cards have ₹0 rewards

🔴 Google Pay (GPay)

• Reward Type: Scratch cards, event-based contests
• Best For: Bill payments, friend-to-friend transfers
• Special Offers:
• “Go India” or “Diwali Stamps” seasonal campaigns
• ₹5–₹1000 per scratch card
• Bonus for repeated use of the same merchant
• Pros: High-value rewards possible
• Cons: Rewards are not guaranteed on every transaction

🟠 Paytm

• Reward Type: Cashback to wallet, Paytm points
• Best For: Shopping, mobile recharges, ticket booking
• Special Offers:
• Cashback for using Paytm UPI for train/bus tickets
• Up to ₹5000 on partner shopping deals
• Points system convertible to coupons
• Pros: More options like gold, insurance, shopping
• Cons: Rewards usually in Paytm wallet—not direct bank account

🟡 Amazon Pay (UPI)

• Reward Type: Amazon Pay balance cashback, vouchers
• Best For: Shopping on Amazon, bill payments
• Special Offers:
• ₹25–₹250 cashback on electricity bills
• 10% back on Amazon UPI shopping
• Scratch card games for lucky winners
• Pros: Rewards useful for Amazon purchases
• Cons: Not ideal for person-to-person UPI transfers

🟢 BHIM App

• Reward Type: Cashback through government schemes
• Best For: Basic transfers, government rewards
• Special Offers:
• Up to ₹750 per month in cashback for merchants
• BHIM referral bonuses occasionally available
• Pros: Official NPCI app, simple interface
• Cons: Limited reward structure for individuals

🟣 Cred UPI

• Reward Type: Cred Coins, scratch cards, cashback
• Best For: Credit card payments, high-value UPI transfers
• Special Offers:
• Coins redeemable for deals
• ₹1000+ scratch cards for large bill payments
• Premium brand rewards (TataCliq, Uber, Starbucks)
• Pros: Great for premium users
• Cons: Needs high credit score to join

🔵 Jio UPI (via MyJio App)

• Reward Type: Jio coupons, recharges, cashback
• Best For: Jio recharge, JioMart shopping
• Special Offers:
• ₹50–₹500 cashback on Jio recharges
• JioMart purchase coupons
• Pros: Good for Jio users
• Cons: Rewards mostly Jio-focused, not universal

📊 4. Feature Comparison Table (2025)

| App | Direct Cashback | Scratch Cards | Best Use Case | Referral Bonus | Reward Payout |
|————–|——————|—————-|—————————–|——————|—————–|\n| PhonePe | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Utility bills, recharges | ₹100–₹150 | Bank account |\n| Google Pay | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | P2P transfers, events | ₹101 | Bank account |\n| Paytm | ✅ Yes (Wallet) | ✅ Yes | Online shopping | ₹50 | Paytm Wallet |\n| Amazon Pay | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Amazon shopping, bills | ₹75–₹100 | Amazon Pay |\n| BHIM | ✅ Yes (Govt) | ❌ No | Government incentives | Occasionally | Bank account |\n| Cred | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Credit card, large bills | No | Coins + Cash |\n| Jio Pay | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Jio recharge, shopping | No | Jio Coupons |

🎁 5. Types of UPI Rewards

1. Scratch Cards – Based on transaction size and partner brand
2. Direct Cashback – Sent to bank/wallet instantly
3. Coupons – Redeemable on next purchase or recharge
4. Partner Discounts – On Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, etc.
5. Loyalty Points – Cred coins, Paytm First Points
6. Referral Bonuses – For inviting friends or new users
7. Festive Contests – Google Pay’s “Go India”, “Rangoli” events

👤 6. Best UPI App Based on User Type

• Students: Google Pay or PhonePe (best cashbacks)
• Business Owners: PhonePe (merchant cashback) or BHIM
• Online Shoppers: Amazon Pay or Paytm
• Jio Users: Jio UPI
• Credit Card Holders: Cred UPI
• Minimalists: BHIM App (no ads, govt backed)

💡 7. Tips to Maximize Cashback

• Use apps that give rewards for everyday tasks: recharge, bill pay
• Always check ‘Offers’ or ‘Rewards’ tab before paying
• Split larger bills (e.g. ₹1500 electricity) into two smaller ones
• Refer friends actively to earn bonuses
• Participate in festive and seasonal campaigns
• Combine UPI offers with bank debit card discounts

🎯 8. UPI Apps with Scratch Cards in 2025

• Google Pay: Highest quality scratch card rewards
• PhonePe: Most frequent scratch cards
• Paytm: Scratch + points-based
• Amazon Pay: Special scratch events every month
• Cred: Premium scratch card offers

🔐 9. Are Cashback Offers Safe and Legit?

Yes. Most UPI rewards are:

• Offered by NPCI-approved apps
• Run in collaboration with banks and partners
• Transparent (you can view all rewards in-app)

But beware of:

• Fake UPI apps
• Suspicious links promising rewards
• Never share your UPI PIN or click on unknown links

🔮 10. Future of UPI Rewards in India

As of 2025, UPI has surpassed 18 billion monthly transactions. The focus is shifting toward:

• Offline UPI (UPI Lite) rewards
• Credit card via UPI cashback
• UPI Autopay incentives
• Voice-command-based payments with rewards
• Loyalty systems linked to UPI ID

NPCI has also started encouraging micro-rewards for rural transactions.

✅ 11. Final Verdict: Which UPI App is Best for Rewards?

Here’s the ranking for 2025 based on usability, cashback frequency, and reward variety:

1. PhonePe – Best all-rounder for daily rewards
2. Google Pay – Best high-value scratch cards
3. Amazon Pay – Great for shopping rewards
4. Cred – Best for high spenders
5. Paytm – Best for wallet-based cashback
6. Jio UPI – Best for Jio ecosystem
7. BHIM – Simple, no-frills, but with merchant cashback