Festive shopping has a familiar routine: fill the cart, wait for the sale, hunt for a bank offer, check out. Lately, plenty of shoppers have added a fourth step: routing the order through a rewards app to get a little something back.

With the Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra sales in full swing, three platforms are trying to earn a spot in that routine, each in its own way. One is running a treasure-hunt-style contest, one is pushing high rates on fashion and beauty stores, and one is betting on reach across the big marketplaces.

Here’s a look at what each of them has lined up this festive season.

GoSats

For anyone who’d rather their rewards grow than sit in a wallet, GoSats is an interesting pick. Founded in Bengaluru in 2020, it pays rewards in Bitcoin or gold, earned through its prepaid card, gift vouchers and gold purchases.

What’s on this Diwali: “The Golden Quest”, a contest running until 11 November. Every ₹500 spent on the GoSats card, eligible vouchers or gold (SIPs included) earns a Gem, and hitting ₹2,000 in any of those unlocks a Gold Chest. Referring four friends earns one too. Each Gem holds a bit of Bitcoin or gold, and the chests open on 13 November, with prizes ranging from digital gold to an iPhone, a PlayStation 5 and AirPods.

Good to know: Every chest holds a reward, with the devices going to randomly selected winners. The contest is open to KYC-verified users aged 18 and above living in India, and it counts spends on the card, vouchers and gold (wallet loads, wallet-style vouchers and SuperCoin portions aren’t included). Bitcoin rewards follow the market price, and users can switch between Bitcoin and gold to suit their preference.

Hyyzo

Simplicity is the pitch at Hyyzo: users shop through it, earn cashback in rupees and withdraw it straight to a bank account. Founded in 2022, it covers more than 200 online stores.

What’s on this Diwali: The homepage has gone full festive, and the rates are worth a look for carts heavy on clothes and skincare. As of 27 October, it lists up to 10.8% on AJIO, up to 9% on Myntra and up to 8% on Shopsy, with Dot & Key at up to 12.5% and Zandu Care at a flat 14.4%. [Confirm with Hyyzo: are these festive rates, and until when?]

Good to know: Rates vary by category and between new and existing users, so each store page shows exactly what an order will earn. Nykaa isn’t offering cashback on Hyyzo right now. Cashback is confirmed once the retailer’s return window closes.

CashKaro

Having been around since 2011, CashKaro is something of a veteran in this space. Its strength is reach, especially across the big marketplaces.

What’s on this Diwali: Up to 7% in rewards on Amazon during the Great Indian Festival (such as beauty and apparel), and up to 6.5% on Flipkart’s Big Billion Days, with fashion at 5.2%. It also lists up to 6.5% on Myntra, 6% on Ajio and 7% on Nykaa, valid until 31 October.

Good to know: Rates differ by category. On Flipkart, fashion earns the most, electronics are capped at ₹130 per order and most mobile phones aren’t included. Amazon rewards are credited as Amazon Pay balance, ready to use on the next order. Myntra cashback is confirmed within 75 days.

Before going cashback hunting

• The app comes first. Orders are tracked only when the store is opened through the rewards platform.
• Store pages have the details. Rates can vary by category and for new users, and the store page shows the exact rate.
• The final price is what counts. Rewards stack on top of sales and bank offers, so the total paid matters more than the reward rate.
• Rewards are a bonus. They take a few weeks to confirm, so they’re best kept out of the Diwali budget.
• The shopping list still rules. Rewards work best on things that were already on it.

So, which one?

It all comes down to the shopping list. GoSats suits those looking to build gold or Bitcoin savings. Hyyzo’s store rates are worth checking for fashion and beauty buys. And for carts split between Amazon and Flipkart, CashKaro covers both.