Google Launches ‘Flex’ UPI Credit Card on RuPay Network.
Google Pay has announced the launch of Flex by Google Pay, a new UPI-powered digital credit card designed to simplify everyday credit usage for Indian consumers. Built on the RuPay network and launched initially in partnership with Axis Bank, Flex aims to bridge the gap between traditional credit cards and India’s rapidly growing UPI-based digital payments ecosystem.
Over the years, Google Pay has focused on making digital credit in India more accessible, transparent, and easy to use. Its efforts include introducing AI-powered credit education tools and expanding access to loans through partnerships with trusted financial institutions. Recently, Google Pay onboarded IDFC First Bank, L&T Finance, PayU Finance, and SMFG India Credit, helping extend formal credit access to over 15,000 PIN codes, with a strong presence in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
With personal loans addressing long-term financial needs, Google Pay is now turning its attention to everyday transactional credit—a segment that remains significantly underpenetrated in India. Despite rapid growth in digital payments, the country has only around 50 million credit card users, highlighting a major opportunity to reinvent how Indians access and use credit for daily expenses.
Flex by Google Pay: A New Kind of Credit Card
Flex by Google Pay is a co-branded digital credit card that brings the simplicity and familiarity of UPI payments to the credit card experience. Fully integrated within the Google Pay app, Flex allows users to make seamless payments while enjoying enhanced control, flexibility, and real-time rewards.
Launched on the RuPay credit card network, the first offering—the Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card—underscores Google Pay’s strategy of working closely with India’s banking and fintech ecosystem. The company plans to expand Flex to additional issuing bank partners in the near future.
Flex is designed to deliver a frictionless, mobile-first credit experience with features tailored to India’s digital-first consumers:
- Instant Digital Application: Users can apply for the Flex card directly within the Google Pay app in minutes, with zero paperwork. The card is fully digital and accessible on the smartphone at all times.
- Pay Anywhere with UPI and RuPay: Flex works across millions of offline merchants via QR code scanning and supports online payments across popular apps and websites.
- Real-Time Rewards: Users earn reward “Stars” on every transaction, with 1 Star equal to ₹1, instantly redeemable without waiting for monthly statements.
- Flexible Repayment Options: Track spending, view bills, pay in full, or convert transactions into EMIs directly within the app.
- Advanced In-App Controls: Users can set spending limits, block or unblock the card, reset PINs, and manage card security instantly through Google Pay.
Availability and Rollout
The Flex by Google Pay credit card is available exclusively through the Google Pay app and comes with zero joining or application fees. Eligible users can apply from anywhere and start transacting within minutes. Google Pay has begun a phased rollout, with plans to expand access to all users in the coming months. Interested customers can join the waitlist on Google Pay.
With Flex, Google Pay aims to redefine digital credit cards in India, combining the scale of UPI, the reach of RuPay, and the trust of regulated banking partners to deliver a smarter, more inclusive credit experience for everyday use.
