Cashback has become the most sought-after benefit in Brazilian credit cards, with some offering returns that can reach 5% or more on specific categories.

These five cards lead the market with the highest cashback rates, putting real money back in your pocket with every purchase.

#1: Méliuz Card – Up to 5% Cashback Champion

Méliuz revolutionized cashback in Brazil by combining a credit card with their cashback platform for market-leading returns.

Why Méliuz Leads in Cashback:

• 5% Partner Stores: Hundreds of major retailers

• 3% Restaurants: Dining and delivery apps

• 1.8% Everything Else: Double market average

• Platform Stacking: Extra cashback through app

Méliuz Real Returns:

• Online Shopping: 5% at Magazine Luiza, Americanas

• Food Delivery: 3% at iFood, Rappi, Uber Eats

• Supermarkets: 2% at major chains

• Combined Average: 2.5-3% effective cashback

Monthly Earning Examples:

• R$ 2,000 shopping: R$ 100 cashback (5%)

• R$ 1,000 dining: R$ 30 cashback (3%)

• R$ 1,500 others: R$ 27 cashback (1.8%)

• Total Monthly: R$ 157 in cashback

#2: RecargaPay Card – 5% on Essential Services

RecargaPay dominates the utility payment segment with unmatched cashback rates on bills and recharges.

RecargaPay Cashback Structure:

• 5% Phone Recharges: All carriers included

• 3% Streaming Services: Netflix, Spotify, etc

• 2% Utility Bills: Power, water, gas

• 1% General Purchases: Everything else

RecargaPay Smart Strategy:

• Centralize Bills: Pay all utilities through card

• Family Recharges: Top up multiple phones

• Prepaid Services: Internet and TV packages

• Business Bills: Use for company utilities

Realistic Monthly Returns:

• Phone bills: R$ 300 at 5% = R$ 15

• Utilities: R$ 800 at 2% = R$ 16

• Streaming: R$ 200 at 3% = R$ 6

• Monthly Average: R$ 37-50 guaranteed

#3: PicPay Card – 5% Selected Categories

PicPay transformed from payment app to serious cashback contender with rotating high-yield categories.

PicPay Dynamic Cashback:

• 5% Rotating Categories: Changes monthly

• 2% PicPay Store: Partner merchants

• 1% Base Rate: All other purchases

• Instant Credit: Use cashback immediately

PicPay Category Examples:

• January: 5% on pharmacies

• February: 5% on gas stations

• March: 5% on supermarkets

• Strategic Planning: Match spending to categories

Maximization Tactics:

• Track Categories: Check app monthly

• Bulk Purchases: Stock up during 5% periods

• Gift Cards: Buy during promotional categories

• Average Return: 2-3% overall cashback

#4: Santander SX – 2% Unlimited Cashback

Santander’s digital offering provides consistent 2% cashback on selected categories without caps or complications.

SX Reliable Returns:

• 2% Selected Categories: Choose monthly

• 1% Everything Else: Unlimited earnings

• No Maximum: Earn without limits

• Monthly Choice: Pick best categories

SX Category Options:

• Supermarkets: Consistent 2% choice

• Transportation: Uber, gas, parking

• Online Shopping: E-commerce purchases

• Restaurants: Dining and delivery

SX Monthly Performance:

• Chosen category: R$ 3,000 at 2% = R$ 60

• Other spending: R$ 2,000 at 1% = R$ 20

• Guaranteed minimum: R$ 80 monthly

• Annual projection: R$ 960+ cashback

#5: Atacadão Card – 3% on Wholesale Purchases

Atacadão’s credit card offers exceptional cashback for bulk buyers and small business owners.

Atacadão Cashback Focus:

• 3% Atacadão Stores: All purchases

• 2% Carrefour Group: Sister stores

• 1% External: Other merchants

• 0.5% Bills: Utility payments

Atacadão Business Benefits:

• Bulk Buying: Perfect for resellers

• No Cashback Limit: Unlimited earnings

• Business Hours: Extended for cardholders

• Exclusive Prices: Member-only deals

Wholesale Strategy:

• Monthly shopping: R$ 2,000 at 3% = R$ 60

• Carrefour purchases: R$ 500 at 2% = R$ 10

• Business model: Resellers earn more

• Effective rate: 2-3% average return

Brazil’s Top Cashback Cards Compared

Card	Max Rate	Best Categories	Average Return
Méliuz	5%	Online shopping	2.5-3%
RecargaPay	5%	Bills/recharges	2-2.5%
PicPay	5%	Rotating monthly	2-3%
Santander SX	2%	Choose monthly	1.5-2%
Atacadão	3%	Wholesale/grocery	2-2.5%

Maximizing Your Cashback Strategy

Multi-Card Approach:

• Category Specialization: Different cards for different spending

• Bill Concentration: RecargaPay for utilities

• Shopping Focus: Méliuz for e-commerce

• Grocery Strategy: Atacadão for bulk buying

Monthly Optimization:

• Track Promotions: Check rotating categories

• Plan Purchases: Time big expenses

• Stack Benefits: Use portals plus cards

• Review Monthly: Adjust strategy regularly

Realistic Cashback Expectations

Average Brazilian Spending:

• Monthly expenses: R$ 3,000-5,000

• Optimal strategy: 2-3% average return

• Monthly cashback: R$ 60-150 realistic

• Annual benefit: R$ 720-1,800

Common Mistakes:

• Chasing Categories: Overspending for cashback

• Ignoring Fees: Annual fees eating returns

• Single Card: Missing optimization opportunities

• Cash Advances: Losing cashback eligibility

Conclusion

These five cards prove that earning substantial cashback in Brazil is achievable, with rates reaching 5% in specific categories.

While Méliuz leads with versatility and RecargaPay dominates utilities, the key is matching cards to your spending patterns.

A strategic combination of 2-3 cards can realistically generate R$ 100-200 monthly in cashback, making these cards essential tools for smart Brazilian consumers in 2025.