Time-sensitive update
Checked October 16, 2026. Reward rates, milestones, eligible merchants, exclusions, fees and promotional validity can change. Confirm the latest Google Pay and issuer terms before applying or planning spending.
What changed?
Google Pay changed the rewards programme for its Flex co-branded credit cards from October 16, 2026. Flex is offered with Axis Bank and SBI Card on RuPay and Visa networks.
Google One members receive higher base rates and two monthly category milestones. Other Flex users receive lower spend-based rates.
Rewards are issued as Stars. One Star currently equals ₹1. Stars can be used against eligible Flex payments completed in Google Pay or for supported vouchers. They are not cash that can be withdrawn or moved to another platform.
New Flex reward rates
| Eligible reward-cycle spend | Google One member | Other Flex user |
|---|---|---|
| Below ₹15,000 | 1.6% back in Stars | 0.8% back in Stars |
| ₹15,000 or more | 3.2% back in Stars | 1.6% back in Stars |
The higher rate applies to eligible spending across the complete reward cycle after the ₹15,000 threshold is crossed—not only to the amount above ₹15,000.
There is an activity condition. If spending in the previous reward cycle was below ₹100, the published rates fall to 1.6% and 0.8% for Google One members, and 0.8% and 0.4% for other users. A reward cycle runs from the 16th of one month to the 15th of the next.
Extra rewards for Google One members
Eligible Google One members can earn two additional rewards once per cycle. Spending ₹3,000 or more on listed utility bills, OTT services and recharges earns ₹450 in Stars. Spending ₹5,000 or more through UPI on Google Pay at listed food and grocery merchants earns ₹250 in Stars.
These rewards cover existing and new members, including extended free trials. Family-group members and customers billed through third parties are excluded. Published validity runs through October 15, 2027, subject to extension.
The complete Flex reward total is capped at 1,500 Stars per cycle, including category rewards. The cap is important because the headline percentages cannot be added without limit.
Example: ₹25,000 of eligible spending
Google gives an example with ₹25,000 of spending, including ₹5,000 at qualifying food and grocery merchants and ₹3,000 in qualifying bills and recharges.
An eligible Google One member receives ₹800 from the 3.2% base rate, ₹250 from the food milestone and ₹450 from the bills milestone. The result is 1,500 Stars, exactly reaching the cycle cap. A non-member receives ₹400 at the 1.6% rate and does not receive the two member-only milestones.
This example assumes all spending qualifies and the previous-cycle activity requirement is met. It should not be treated as guaranteed cashback for every ₹25,000 card bill.
Exclusions and limits to check
- Insurance, cash withdrawals, rent, wallet loads, education, government services and jewellery are excluded.
- Transactions converted fully or partly to EMI do not earn Stars.
- Axis Bank Flex additionally excludes tolls, FASTag, road fees and gift cards under the current terms.
- Refunded purchases lose the Stars earned and reduce progress toward the ₹15,000 threshold.
- Stars expire one year after they are earned if they are not redeemed.
- Merchant-category coding determines eligibility, so a familiar merchant name alone is not enough.
Axis Bank and SBI Card fees differ
Google currently lists nil joining and renewal fees for the Flex Axis Bank card. The Flex SBI Card lists a ₹499 joining fee and ₹499 renewal fee, both before applicable taxes. Its published renewal fee is waived after ₹1 lakh of spending in the preceding year.
Editorial interpretation: The richer Google One rate does not automatically make Flex the best card for everyone. Include the cost of Google One membership, card fees, excluded spending and the ₹1,500 cap when comparing value. Never spend extra only to reach a reward tier or fee waiver.
Other Google ecosystem benefits
Google also lists a future 50% discount worth up to ₹3,960 on Google One AI Plus plans from November 15, 2026. It separately advertises up to ₹10,000 off selected Pixel and Fitbit devices at participating offline stores. The device offer is currently live for the Axis Bank variant and marked as coming soon for SBI Card.
Confirm the eligible plan, device, store, payment method and offer period before buying.
Confirmed facts and interpretation
Confirmed
Google changed Flex rewards from October 16. Google One members have higher published rates and two category milestones. One Star equals ₹1, total cycle rewards are capped at 1,500 Stars and exclusions apply.
Editorial interpretation
The strongest value is for eligible Google One members who naturally meet the spending and category milestones. Low spenders and users with excluded expenses may receive much less than the headline rate.
Key takeaways
- The new Flex rewards apply from October 16, 2026.
- Google One members can earn twice the base rate offered to other users.
- Crossing ₹15,000 increases the rate for the complete eligible cycle spend.
- Google One members can earn two additional category milestones.
- Total reward earnings are capped at 1,500 Stars per cycle.
- Check exclusions, previous-cycle activity, card fees and Star expiry.
FAQ
When did the new Google Pay Flex rewards start?
Google's official help page says the revised rewards apply from October 16, 2026. Reward terms remain time-sensitive.
How much is one Flex Star worth?
Google currently values one Star at ₹1. Stars can be redeemed against eligible Flex payments in Google Pay or used for supported vouchers, but cannot be cashed out elsewhere.
Do Google One family members get the higher rate?
Not automatically. Google's terms exclude Google One family-group members and customers billed through third-party partners from the member-specific rewards.
Is the Flex Axis Bank card lifetime free?
Google's current card comparison lists nil joining and renewal fees for the Axis Bank variant. The SBI Card variant lists ₹499 plus taxes, with a published renewal-fee waiver condition.
Do EMI purchases earn Flex Stars?
No. Google's current terms say converting a purchase, including a partial conversion, into EMI removes the entire transaction from reward eligibility.
Sources verified October 16, 2026
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