Test of the free cashback credit cards by Swisscard: Cashback Cards Review 2025
- Aljoscha Moser
- May 5
- 6 min read
Updated: May 6
In this review, we show you how you can get money back on every purchase with the free Cashback Cards from Swisscard and why the Cashback Cards are currently the best credit cards in Switzerland.
📖 Overview
Welcome offer 🚀 CHF 50 starting credit + 5% welcome cashback With the promo code CB50BeWE you will receive CHF 50 + 5% welcome cashback. |
☝️ At a glance The Cashback Cards from Swisscard are convincing in the test:
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Introduction: Why free credit cards are usually the best choice
In Switzerland, chargeable credit cards are still the norm. However, free credit cards such as Swisscard's Cashback Cards are on the rise. For most users, a free credit card - i.e. a credit card with no annual fee - is the best choice.
You may be wondering how such an offer is worthwhile for credit card companies. Credit card companies earn money from every payment you make with your credit card. On the one hand, the merchant you buy from has to pay a fee to the credit card issuer. On the other hand, there can be steep fees for late payment, instalments, transactions abroad or withdrawing money from ATMs. However, if you are aware of these fee traps, it is possible to use a credit card completely free of charge and even benefit thanks to cashback.
What are cashback credit cards?
In order to make credit cards more attractive to customers and encourage them to use them regularly, so-called cashback credit cards have been launched on the market. The customer receives a refund on purchases made. In other words, you get back part of the fees that the retailer has to pay to the credit card company. For you, cashback is like a discount that you receive with every purchase.
Let's take an example: If you shop at Migros for CHF 100 and pay for your purchase with the Amex Cashback Card from Swisscard, you will receive 1% of the purchase amount - i.e. CHF 1 - refunded to your credit card account.
Review of Swisscard Cashback Cards
The most attractive offer at the moment is the Cashback Cards Duo from Swisscard. You receive a credit card from American Express and either a Visa or Mastercard card.
The Cashback Cards are issued by Swisscard AECS. When paying with American Express, you will receive 1% cashback on every purchase (in the first three months with our promo code CB50BeWE even 5% up to a cashback amount of CHF 100), when paying with Visa or Mastercard 0.25%. The accumulated cashback amount will be credited directly to your credit card bill once a year.
AMEX: 1% cashback
Visa / Mastercard: 0.25% cashback
AMEX - the first choice when paying with 1% cashback
As you can see, it pays to use American Express as often as possible. American Express is now accepted at around 150,000 points of sale in Switzerland, including Coop, Migros, IKEA, SBB and Manor. Nevertheless, there are (especially smaller) shops that do not accept American Express cards. We therefore recommend that you always have your Visa or Mastercard with you. To avoid having to carry several cards around, you can also simply deposit the cards with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay and leave the physical card at home.
How a Become Wealthy editor uses his cashback credit card
"The big advantage of a cashback credit card is that I can benefit from a discount every time I make a payment without any major effort. In everyday life, I always pay first with my Amex Cashback Card, as I receive the highest cashback of 1%. If the payment is declined by the terminal, which happens especially in smaller shops, I simply use my Mastercard.Thanks to Apple Pay, it's very convenient and over time I knew exactly which of my everyday shops accept AMEX"
Tips
💡 Tip 1: Benefit twice with loyalty programmes
If you take part in a loyalty programme, such as Cumulus from Migros or Supercard from Coop, you can show your loyalty card at the checkout as usual and collect additional points.
Example
If you buy 100 francs at the Coop and pay for your purchase with your Amex Cashback Card, you will receive 1 franc cashback. If you also show your Supercard, you will receive an additional 100 Superpoints, which also have an equivalent value of 1 franc. So you get 2% of your purchase amount back. Over time, this adds up to a tidy sum without any effort.
💡 Tip 2: Deposit American Express with PayPal
If an online shop does not accept your American Express card, there is a solution for cashback hunters. Simply deposit your American Express with PayPal and collect 1% cashback in all online shops that accept PayPal as a payment option. Otherwise there is always the Mastercard or Visa Card, with which you still receive 0.25% cashback.
Cashback Cards Fees
Cashback Cards are free credit cards; there are no fees for issuing the card or for using it in Switzerland. However, you must ensure that no additional fees are charged. You should therefore only use the cards in Switzerland. Abroad and in foreign online shops - as with practically all credit cards - high foreign currency fees of 2.5% plus an exchange rate surcharge of 1-2% apply. You should also always pay your bill on time to avoid high interest rates for using the instalment facility or reminder fees.
Annual fee | CHF 0 |
|---|---|
Paying in CHF in Switzerland(also applies to online purchases) | CHF 0 |
Payments in foreign currencies in Switzerland & abroad (also applies to online purchases) | 2.5% + Exchange rate premium |
Cash withdrawal in CHF in Switzerland | 4% (min. 10.-) |
Cash withdrawals abroad | 4% (min. 10.-) |
Replacement card in the event of loss, defect or theft | CHF 25 |
Paper invoice (e-invoice free of charge) | CHF 1.95 |
Instalment (annual interest) | 13% |
The best option is to pay by direct debit (LSV), which allows Swisscard to debit the invoice amount from your bank account automatically. Make sure that the account has sufficient funds at the end of the month to pay the credit card bill. Alternatively, you can also receive and pay your bill via eBill. You should also avoid using your Cashback Cards to withdraw cash from ATMs, as this incurs a fee of 4% or at least CHF 10. If you are aware of the above fees and avoid them, your Cashback Cards will remain completely free of charge.
Swisscard App - keep track of bills and transactions easily
The Cashback Cards can be conveniently managed in the Swisscard app. Payments are displayed there in real time and you can activate push notifications if required. If online payments need to be authorised, this is also done via the app (using the 3-D Secure procedure). Your current balance and invoices are also displayed there. You also have the option of managing the card in the app, temporarily blocking it or reporting it lost or stolen. The app therefore gives you full control and a good overview of your current spending.
Our conclusion: Are the Cashback Cards worth it?
For your purchases in Switzerland - whether in-store or online - we can highly recommend the Cashback Cards. In our credit card comparison, the Cashback Cards perform very well. If you are currently still paying a fixed annual fee, you should consider whether the costs are justified for you or whether a change would pay off.
You will benefit most if you pay for your everyday purchases with the American Express Cashback Card, as you will then receive 1% cashback. For merchants who do not accept American Express, you can use a second card (Mastercard or Visa) with a cashback of 0.25%.
For transactions abroad, however, you should get another card, as the processing fees of 2.5% and the additional exchange rate surcharge of around 1-2% are expensive, as with all credit cards. Cards from neobanks, which pass on an attractive exchange rate and do not charge any processing fees, are particularly suitable here.
Welcome offer 🚀CHF 50 starting credit + 5% welcome cashback With the promo code CB50BeWE you will receive CHF 50 + 5% welcome cashback. |
Frequently asked questions about the Cashback Cards
How do I receive the cashback?
Why do I receive two credit cards?
Who is Swisscard AECS?
