Struggling with rising costs in Malaysia? What if your credit card could pay you back every time you buy groceries, pump petrol, shop on Shopee, or dine out?
This 2025 guide reveals the smartest cashback credit cards in Malaysia, ranked by real savings potential. Whether you’re a student, young professional, or family breadwinner, there’s a card here that can easily give you RM500–RM1,800 cashback per year.
Forget the hype. These picks are based on verified card data, current promotions, and actual usability, not outdated marketing claims.
What Is a Cashback Credit Card?
A cashback card gives you back a percentage of what you spend. It’s real money, not points or vouchers, usually deducted from your bill or credited into your statement.
Example: Spend RM1,000 on groceries, get RM100 back with 10% cashback. That’s RM1,200/year saved for the same expenses.
Most cards offer either flat cashback (e.g. 0.5% on everything) or tiered/category-based cashback (e.g. 10% on petrol, 1% on others). The trick is matching the card to your lifestyle.
Top 10 Cashback Credit Cards in Malaysia (2025)
| Rank | Credit Card | Why It’s a Genius Pick | Min Income | Annual Fee | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UOB ONE Card | True 10% cashback on petrol, groceries, dining. up to RM60/month cashback if optimized. | RM3,000 | RM195 (1st yr free) | 🔗 Apply |
| 2 | RHB Cash Back Visa | 10% on GrabFood, Shopee, online groceries. Super low income required. | RM2,000 | RM70 (1st yr free) | 🔗 Apply |
| 3 | Hong Leong Wise | Up to 15% cashback (Dining, Groceries, Petrol). Weekend king, if you track well. | RM2,000 | RM98 (Primary), RM48 (Supp) | 🔗 Apply |
| 4 | UOB EVOL Card | 8% cashback on online, eWallet, sustainable brands. | RM3,000 | RM90 | 🔗 Apply |
| 5 | Maybank Amex Cash Back Gold | 1.5% cashback on overseas spend. Great for foreign purchases. | RM2,500 | RM70 (1st yr free) | 🔗 Apply |
| 6 | Alliance Bank Visa Signature | 5% cashback on all retail, simple cashback with minimal tracking. | RM4,000 | RM148 (1st yr free) | 🔗 Apply |
| 7 | HSBC Live+ | 8% cashback on lifestyle (dining, fashion, GSC). Bonus cinema discounts. | RM5,000 | RM300 (1st yr free) | 🔗 Apply |
| 8 | BSN Visa Cash Back | Tiered cashback (0.2%–5%) with no annual fee. | RM4,000 | FREE | 🔗 Apply |
| 9 | Public Bank Visa Signature | 3% cashback on groceries, dining, and online (RM100+ per transaction). From Feb 2025: 2% for online + dining. RM30 monthly cap. | RM6,666.67 | RM388 (1st yr free, waived with 12 swipes) | 🔗 Apply |
| 10 | Standard Chartered Simply Cash | Up to 15% cashback on Petrol, Groceries + Dining (RM2,500 spend required). | RM8,000 | RM250 (1st yr free) | 🔗 Apply |
In-Depth Reviews of the Top Picks
1. UOB ONE Card
Best For: Optimizers who spend consistently on essentials.
Why It’s Great: Up to 10% cashback on petrol, groceries (at specific merchants like AEON Big, Jaya Grocer, Lotus’s), dining (selected MCCs), and Grab services, but only if you hit RM1,500+ retail spend/month. Unlimited 0.2% cashback for other retail spend.
Heads-up: Cashback is capped at RM15 per category per month (Petrol, Groceries, Dining, Grab). Specific MCC and merchant requirements apply. ONE Classic card no longer offered.
🔗 Apply
2. RHB Cash Back Visa
Best For: GrabFood lovers, Shopee addicts.
Why It’s Great: High 10% cashback on online groceries and food delivery. Easy to qualify with just RM2,000 income.
Heads-up: Cashback capped at RM10 per category per month, great for light users.
🔗 Apply
3. Hong Leong Wise
Best For: Weekend kaki makan and supermarket warriors.
Why It’s Great: Up to 15% cashback on selected categories, especially petrol and dining. Set and track your categories to maximize returns.
Heads-up: You must manually choose the categories each month to activate cashback.
🔗 Apply
4. UOB EVOL Card
Best For: Online spenders and cashless lifestyle users.
Why It’s Great: 8% cashback on Shopee, Grab, Touch ‘n Go eWallet, and selected eco-friendly merchants. Perfect for digital Malaysians.
Heads-up: Monthly cashback capped at RM30. Spend RM1,000+ to qualify. Annual fee is RM90.
🔗 Apply
5. Maybank Amex Cash Back Gold
Best For: Malaysians who shop on foreign websites like Shein, Amazon, and Taobao.
Why It’s Great: 1.5% unlimited cashback on overseas spend. Works well for foreign currency transactions.
Heads-up: First-year fee waived, then RM70/year. Not free for life.
🔗 Apply
6. Alliance Bank Visa Signature
Best For: Busy users who want cashback across all retail without managing categories.
Why It’s Great: Flat 5% cashback on all eligible retail spend. Perfect for those who don’t want to track categories.
Heads-up: Cashback cap applies, and minimum monthly spend required to unlock full benefits.
🔗 Apply
7. HSBC Live+
Best For: Lifestyle spenders who love dining, fashion, entertainment.
Why It’s Great: Up to 8% cashback on categories like dining, shopping, and weekend GSC movie tickets. Comes with lifestyle rewards and promotions.
Heads-up: High income requirement and premium annual fee.
🔗 Apply
8. BSN Visa Cash Back
Best For: Low-maintenance users who want basic cashback with no fees.
Why It’s Great: Tiered cashback up to 5%, and no annual fee.
Heads-up: Cashback depends on spending tiers (RM1, RM1,000, RM3,000). Minimum income: RM4,000/month (RM48k/year).
🔗 Apply
9. Public Bank Visa Signature
Best For: People with consistent spending across everyday categories.
Why It’s Great: Up to 6% cashback on groceries, dining, online shopping, and petrol. Easy to hit if you’re managing a household or shop online regularly.
Heads-up: RM1,500 monthly spend required to unlock full cashback. Annual fee waived if you spend RM12,000/year.
Min Income: RM6,666.67/month
Annual Fee: RM388 (waived with 12 swipes)
🔗 Apply
10. Standard Chartered Simply Cash
Best For: Everyday spenders who want meaningful cashback with higher spending.
Why It’s Great: Simply Cash Credit Card gives up to 15% cashback every month on selected categories such as petrol, groceries, and dining. Spending below RM2,500 will have a monthly cap of RM10. Meanwhile, for spending RM2,500 and above, you’ll have a monthly cap of RM40, which breaks down to RM20 for petrol and RM20 for the combined category of groceries plus dining.
Heads-up: Minimum monthly spend of RM2,500 is required to unlock the 15% cashback rate. Spending below this threshold earns only 0.5% cashback.
🔗 Apply
Cashback Example by Monthly Spending
| Category | Spend (RM) | Card Recommendation | Cashback (%) | Cashback Value |
| Groceries | RM800 | UOB ONE / HL Wise | 10% / 8% | RM80 |
| Petrol | RM300 | RHB / UOB ONE | 10% / 10% | RM30 |
| Online Shopping | RM600 | UOB EVOL | 8% | RM48 |
| E-Wallet Reload | RM300 | UOB EVOL | 8% | RM24 |
| Overseas Spend | RM500 | Maybank Amex | 1.5% unlimited | RM7.50 |
Monthly Total Cashback: RM189.50 – RM213.50
Yearly Estimate: RM2,200+ if optimized!
FAQs: What Malaysians Want to Know
Q: Should I get more than one cashback card?
A: Yes. Pair 2–3 cards to cover all spending categories and maximize total cashback.
Q: Is cashback taxable in Malaysia?
A: No. Cashback is considered a rebate, not income.
Q: Can I apply if I don’t meet the income requirement?
A: Some banks allow joint applications or fixed deposit guarantees. But always be honest.
Q: Flat cashback vs. category cashback: which is better?
A: Flat cashback (like 0.5%) is simple but low. Category cards give better returns if you manage them.
Cards to Approach with Caution in 2025
Not all credit cards are created equal, and some, while attractive on the surface, may come with terms that don’t suit most Malaysians. Here are a few cards to consider carefully before applying:
UOB Simple Card: This card offers cashback only if you carry a balance (i.e., don’t pay in full). This can lead to interest charges, which may outweigh any rewards. Best avoided if you’re a full-statement payer.
Public Bank Visa Platinum: With an annual fee of RM333 and only 0.2% cashback, the value you receive may not justify the cost unless you’re leveraging exclusive privileges or benefits.
Cards with RM10/month cashback caps: These cards severely limit your earnings, especially in today’s spending environment. Look for options offering RM30–RM100+ per month to make your cashback worthwhile.. Dangerous for debt.
How to Apply for a Cashback Credit Card in Malaysia
- Check your monthly income: Match it to the card’s minimum.
- Prepare your documents:
- IC (front + back)
- Latest 1–3 months payslip or EPF statement
- Income tax BE form (optional but helpful)
- Apply online via the bank’s site or aggregator platform like RinggitPlus, iMoney, etc.
- Wait for approval : Typically 1–7 working days.
- Activate & start swiping smart.
Final Thoughts
With inflation hitting every Malaysian household, it’s no longer enough to “just swipe.” A strategic cashback credit card setup can earn you back RM500 to RM2,200 per year, tax-free.
Don’t just pick the flashiest card. Pick the one that matches your lifestyle.
Want more savings? Check out our next guide: [Best Fixed Deposit Accounts in Malaysia 2024 – Beat Inflation the Smart Way]
