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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Google Pay’s revised Flex rewards begin after 16 October 2026. Google One members can earn up to 3.2% back in promotional Stars on qualifying Flex spending, plus category bonuses, while non-members receive lower base rates. The rewards are not withdrawable cash: each Star is valued at ₹1 only inside Google Pay, and total cycle earnings are capped at 1,500 Stars.
When the new Flex rewards start
The revised programme applies after 16 October 2026. Each reward cycle runs from the 16th of one month through the 15th of the next. Google says the Google One member benefits are valid through 15 October 2027 unless Google Pay and participating issuer banks extend them.
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Your current-cycle rate also depends on activity in the preceding cycle. If you spent less than ₹100 in the previous cycle, the applicable rates for the next cycle are reduced.
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Base Flex rewards: Google One versus non-members
| Customer status | Current-cycle spend | Previous cycle at least ₹100 | Previous cycle below ₹100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google One member | More than ₹15,000 | 3.2% | 1.6% |
| Google One member | ₹15,000 or less | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Non-member | More than ₹15,000 | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Non-member | ₹15,000 or less | 0.8% | 0.4% |
The threshold changes the rate applied to the cycle’s eligible spending; it is not a bonus paid only on the amount above ₹15,000. Stars are promotional rewards valued at ₹1 each. You cannot convert them to bank cash or redeem them outside Google Pay.
#1 Best Overall
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
- Just the app you’re looking for: Millions of apps means millions of ways to get things done, learn something new, and maybe even meet someone special.
How the ₹15,000 reward cycle works
- Check the cycle dates: transactions are measured from the 16th through the 15th.
- Check whether your Google One status qualifies for the member table. Family-group members and people billed through third-party partners do not receive the member-specific rates.
- Add eligible Flex spending during the cycle. Crossing the ₹15,000 mark determines the higher base rate for that cycle.
- Check the previous cycle’s total. A total below ₹100 invokes the lower rate shown in the final column.
- Add any qualifying category milestones, subject to the overall 1,500-Star cycle ceiling.
Extra milestones for Google One members
Utilities, telecom, transit, OTT and recharges
Spend at least ₹3,000 in one cycle across eligible utility bills, telecom, transit, OTT and recharge transactions to receive 15% back in Stars, capped at ₹450.
Food and grocery
Spend at least ₹5,000 through UPI at the named eligible merchants to receive 5% back, capped at ₹250. The listed merchants are Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Blinkit, BigBasket, Jiomart, Instamart, DMart, Flipkart Minutes, Amazon Now, Swiggy Dineout and District.
Rank #2
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
- Just the app you’re looking for: Millions of apps means millions of ways to get things done, learn something new, and maybe even meet someone special.
These milestone rewards are for Google One members. Their caps count toward the 1,500-Star maximum for the entire cycle, so category bonuses cannot be stacked above that limit.
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| Cycle spending pattern | Google One member | Non-member |
|---|---|---|
| ₹25,000 total, including ₹5,000 food/grocery and ₹3,000 utility spending | ₹1,500 in Stars: ₹800 base at 3.2% + ₹250 food/grocery + ₹450 utility | ₹400 in Stars at 1.6% |
| ₹10,000 total, including ₹5,000 food/grocery and ₹3,000 utility spending | ₹860 in Stars: ₹160 base at 1.6% + ₹250 food/grocery + ₹450 utility | ₹80 in Stars at 0.8% |
The ₹25,000 member example reaches the 1,500-Star ceiling. The ₹10,000 example shows that the category milestones can materially increase returns even when base spending stays below ₹15,000.
Rank #3
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
- Just the app you’re looking for: Millions of apps means millions of ways to get things done, learn something new, and maybe even meet someone special.
Posting times, exclusions and expiry
- Google Pay RuPay transactions may generate Stars instantly, but instant earning is limited to 300 Stars per day.
- Other payments can take 24–48 hours after settlement.
- Stars expire one year after they are earned if you do not redeem them.
- No rewards accrue for insurance, cash withdrawals, rent, wallet loads, educational or government services, jewelry, or transactions converted to EMIs.
- Converting a payment to an EMI cancels rewards for the entire payment. The Axis card has additional exclusions beyond the general list.
Welcome, referral and Google ecosystem offers
Issuer welcome rewards
Google’s help terms list welcome rewards of up to ₹2,500 for the SBI Card variant and up to ₹2,000 for the Axis Bank variant. Separate task-based promotions can provide ₹1,000 in bonus Stars across the first and second months when the specified payment conditions are completed.
Referral reward
The Times of India has reported a planned ₹1,000 reward for each successful friend or family referral with no stated cap. Treat that amount as forthcoming rather than guaranteed until Google publishes live referral terms.
Rank #4
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
- Just the app you’re looking for: Millions of apps means millions of ways to get things done, learn something new, and maybe even meet someone special.
Google One AI Plus and device discounts
From 15 November 2026, Flex users may receive up to ₹3,960 off Google One AI Plus at a 50% discount. Flex users may also receive up to ₹10,000 off selected Google Pixel and Fitbit devices bought from select offline stores. Google says the device offer is live for the Flex Axis Bank card and coming soon for Flex SBI.
Axis and SBI variants: what is established
| Feature | Axis Bank Flex | SBI Card Flex |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome reward | Up to ₹2,000 | Up to ₹2,500 |
| Pixel/Fitbit offline-store discount | Live, up to ₹10,000 on selected devices | Coming soon, according to Google |
| Additional exclusions | Yes; Google says extra exclusions apply | Not stated |
The available terms do not establish card fees or a different base-reward formula by issuer. Check the specific issuer disclosure before comparing the net value of either variant.
Best Value
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- New finds, old favorites, one card. Choose a unique gift card design featuring your favorite games or apps. This card can also be used for anything else on Google Play. There’s something for everyone, so find what’s yours. Go Play.
- Easy to use: With a Google Play gift code, you never have to worry about expiration dates or fees.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
Is Flex worth using with Google One?
It is most attractive for a member who can reliably spend more than ₹15,000 per cycle and meet both category thresholds. In Google’s ₹25,000 example, the member earns the full 1,500-Star cap, while the non-member earns ₹400. A member who spends less than ₹15,000 can still benefit from the ₹450 utility and ₹250 food milestones, provided the thresholds and merchant conditions are met.
The proposition is weaker for irregular users who spend below ₹100 in a cycle, because the next cycle’s base rates are halved. It is also less useful if most spending falls into excluded categories, if Stars are likely to expire unused, or if the cost of any required Google One membership and card fees exceeds the value of the rewards and discounts. Those costs are not specified in the revised reward terms, so calculate them separately for your plan and issuer.
Google Pay Senior Director of Product Management Sharath Bulusu described the product this way: “Flex offers a simplified experience that enables users to pay with the card everywhere with instant reward redemption and flexible repayment options.” The practical qualification is that instant earning applies only to eligible RuPay transactions within the daily limit, while other transactions wait for settlement.
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