If you pay for almost everything through UPI scan & pay, you’ve probably wondered — why don’t I earn anything on these payments? Most credit cards skip rewards on UPI transactions entirely. The Kiwi Credit Card is built around fixing exactly that.
Here’s a straightforward look at what this Kiwi Credit Card offers, what it doesn’t, and who it actually makes sense for.
What Is the Kiwi Credit Card?
The Kiwi Credit Card is a lifetime free credit card issued through the Kiwi app, in partnership with Axis Bank or YES Bank. It’s designed for people who use UPI daily and want to earn cashback without paying any annual fees.
The card earns rewards in a currency called Kiwis — the more you scan and pay, the more you collect.
What Makes Kiwi Different From Other Credit Cards
Most credit cards in India work at POS terminals or for online checkouts. That’s fine, but UPI has taken over a huge chunk of everyday spending — chai stalls, vegetable vendors, parking lots, small restaurants. These places don’t have card machines. They have QR codes.
Kiwi lets you scan those QR codes and pay directly using your credit card balance through UPI apps like PhonePe or Google Pay. That’s the main thing that sets it apart.
How to Apply for Kiwi Credit Card
The application is fully online. No branch visits, no paperwork.
- Download the Kiwi app from Google Play or the App Store.
- Enter your mobile number and verify it with an OTP.
- Complete your KYC by submitting your identity details through the app.
- If approved, your virtual card is active right away.
The physical card reaches you in 7–10 working days. Until then, the virtual card works for online payments, UPI, and in-store QR scans.
Who Can Apply for Kiwi Credit Card?
The eligibility requirements are pretty straightforward:
- Age between 21 and 60 years
- You should not already have a YES Bank credit card or an Axis Kiwi credit card
- Application is done entirely through the Kiwi app
No branch visits, no paperwork piles. Just the app.
Kiwi Credit Card: Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: None
- Annual Fee: None (lifetime free)
- Interest Rate: 3.6% per month (52.86% annually)
The zero-fee part is genuinely good. The interest rate, like most credit cards, is high — so this card works best if you pay your bill in full each month.
Key Features of the Kiwi Credit Card
Pay anywhere UPI works You can use your Kiwi card on any UPI QR — no swipe machine needed. For people who spend a lot at local shops and small vendors, this alone makes it more useful than most premium cards.
- No fees, ever There’s no joining fee and no annual charge. A lot of cards in this range charge ₹500 to ₹2,000 per year. Kiwi skips all of that.
- Virtual card on approval Once your application is approved, you get a virtual card immediately. You don’t have to wait for physical delivery to start spending.
2x cashback on scan-and-pay Every time you pay via QR scan, you earn double cashback. If you regularly spend on groceries, food deliveries, or utilities, it adds up quickly. The company says users have collectively saved ₹18 crore in cashback — which suggests people are actually using this feature, not just signing up for it.
Partner discounts Kiwi has tie-ups with brands in food, travel, shopping, and entertainment. The specific deals rotate, so it’s worth checking the app regularly.
How the Rewards Work
The card earns cashback through Kiwis:
- 1.5% cashback on UPI scan & pay transactions
- 0.5% cashback on online transactions
- Transactions need to be in multiples of ₹100 to earn rewards
Value: 1 Kiwi = ₹0.25. You can redeem them anytime, directly into your linked UPI account.
Monthly Cashback Cap:
Your cashback is capped at 1% of your total credit limit per month. So if your limit is ₹50,000, the most you can earn is 2,000 Kiwis (₹500) in a month.
That cap is worth keeping in mind. High spenders will hit the ceiling pretty quickly.
Categories That Don’t Earn Rewards
Not everything qualifies. Kiwis are not earned on:
- Jewelry and insurance payments
- Utilities and transportation
- Educational institutions
- Government services
- Financial institutions and wallet-related transactions
These exclusions cover a good chunk of where people actually spend — so it’s worth checking your own spending pattern before expecting big returns.
Kiwi Neon: The Paid Upgrade
If you use UPI heavily, Kiwi offers a paid subscription called Kiwi Neon that boosts your cashback and adds milestone rewards.
Who Can Get It:
Only users with a YES Bank Klick credit card issued through the Kiwi app.
Cost: ₹999 per year (plus taxes). Non-refundable.
Cashback With Neon:
- 2% cashback on UPI scan & pay (up from 1.5%)
- 0.5% cashback on online transactions (no change)
Milestone Rewards (Annual Spends, Excluding Restricted Categories):
| Spend Amount | Cashback Rate | Lounge Access |
|---|---|---|
| ₹50,000 | 3% | 1 visit |
| ₹1,00,000 | 4% | 1 visit |
| ₹1,50,000 | 5% | 1 additional visit |
Base rewards are credited instantly. Milestone rewards come in within 30 days after the month ends.
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Security and Card Controls
Kiwi uses NPCI-certified systems for transaction security. From the app, you can:
- Get real-time alerts for every payment
- Block your card instantly if it’s lost or stolen
- Set your own spending limits
- Reach customer support through chat, email, or WhatsApp
The ability to control limits and block the card yourself — without calling a helpline and waiting — is something most users appreciate.
With Neon vs Without: A Quick Comparison
| Category | Without Neon | With Neon |
|---|---|---|
| UPI Scan & Pay | 1.5% | 2% |
| Online Transactions | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Milestone Rewards | None | Up to 5% + lounge visits |
The online cashback doesn’t change at all with Neon. The real benefit is on UPI spending, plus the milestones if you hit those thresholds.
Is the Kiwi Neon Subscription Worth ₹999?
It depends on how much you spend through UPI.
At 2% cashback, you’d need to spend roughly ₹49,950 in UPI transactions just to recover the ₹999 subscription cost (since you’re gaining an extra 0.5% over the base). If you’re already spending that much via UPI every year — and staying within the monthly cap — the math works.
But if your UPI usage is moderate, the free card alone is a perfectly decent option.
Who Is This Card Best For?
The Kiwi Credit Card works well if:
- You use UPI scan & pay daily for groceries, food, or local shops
- You want a lifetime free card with no strings attached
- You’re new to credit cards and want something simple to start with
It’s less useful if:
- Most of your spending falls in the excluded categories (utilities, travel, education)
- You want rewards on offline swipe transactions
- You want a card that earns well on all types of spends
Quick Summary
The Kiwi Credit Card is a solid, no-cost option for people who live on UPI. The rewards are simple, redemption is easy, and there are no hidden fees. The monthly cashback cap and excluded categories do limit how much you can earn — but for everyday users, that’s not usually a deal-breaker.
The Kiwi Credit Card Neon subscription adds real value for heavy UPI spenders, especially those who can hit the annual milestones. For everyone else, the free version does the job without costing anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
The virtual card is active immediately after approval. The physical card is delivered in 7–10 working days.
Kiwi gives cashback rather than points. It’s credited directly to your linked bank account, and there’s no expiry date on what you earn.
UPI credit card integration depends on specific network and bank partnerships with NPCI. Kiwi is built from the ground up for UPI compatibility, which regular cards aren’t.
Yes. You can adjust your spending limits directly from within the app.
Yes. You can move your existing card balance to Kiwi at a lower interest rate. It’s a practical option if you’re trying to reduce what you pay in monthly interest.
