Leading credit card issuers in India, such as HDFC Bank, SBI Card, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank, offer various cards to meet different needs, including fuel, online shopping, dining, movies, groceries, and more. To find the right card for you, compare the options and choose one that matches your spending habits and maximizes rewards.
This guide presents some of the best credit cards in India, highlighting their annual fees and top features. The best credit card for you depends on your unique financial needs and lifestyle. By comparing different cards and their benefits, you can find the one that offers the most value based on your spending patterns.
Cashback Credit Cards
Cashback credit cards are a type of credit card that gives you a percentage of your purchases back as cash rewards. For example, if a card offers 2% cashback and you spend Rs100, you’ll get Rs2 back. These rewards can often be redeemed for statement credits, direct deposits, or gift cards.
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashback SBI Card | ₹999 | ₹999 | 5% cashback on all online spends 1% cashback across all offline spends |
| Axis Bank ACE Credit Card | ₹499 | ₹499 | 5% cashback on utility bill payments and recharges via Google Pay 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola |
Reward Points Credit Cards
Rewards credit cards are types of credit cards that offer incentives for using them. These incentives can include cashback, points, or miles for each dollar spent. You can then redeem these rewards for things like travel, merchandise, gift cards, or statement credits. Essentially, they give you a bit of extra value for your everyday purchases.
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card | ₹2500 | ₹2500 | 5X reward points on Nykaa, Myntra, Marks & Spencer, and Reliance Digital 4 reward points per ₹150 on all retail spends |
| SBI Prime Credit Card | ₹2999 | ₹2999 | 5X reward points on dining, groceries, departmental stores, and movies 2 reward points per ₹100 on all retail purchases |
Travel Credit Cards
Travel credit cards are designed to help you earn rewards, such as points or miles, that can be used for travel-related expenses like flights, hotels, and car rentals. They often offer benefits like travel insurance, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees. Essentially, they make traveling cheaper and more convenient by rewarding you for spending on travel.
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card | ₹4999 | ₹4999 | 6,000 CV Points on spending ₹30,000 per month in the first 3 months Up to 5 Premium Economy tickets as milestone benefits |
| Axis Atlas Credit Card | ₹5000 | ₹5000 | 2.5X EDGE Miles on travel spends Up to 12 international lounge access every year |
Premium Credit Cards
Premium credit cards are high-end credit cards that offer exclusive benefits and rewards, such as travel perks, higher cashback rates, access to airport lounges, and luxury concierge services. They typically come with higher annual fees and are aimed at individuals with good to excellent credit scores.
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition | ₹12500 | ₹12500 | Unlimited airport lounge access for primary and add-on members. 10X reward points on travel and shopping spends on Smartbuy. |
| HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card | ₹10000 | ₹10000 | Unlimited airport lounge access for primary and add-on members High base rewards rate of 3.33% with 5 reward points per ₹150 spent |
Co-branded Benefits Credit Cards
Co-branded benefits credit cards are credit cards that are issued by a bank or credit card company in partnership with a specific retailer or brand. These cards offer special rewards, discounts, or perks related to that brand. For example, a co-branded airline credit card might give you extra miles, free checked bags, or priority boarding when you fly with that airline.
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPCL SBI Card Octane | ₹1499 | ₹1499 | 7.25% value back on BPCL fuel expenses. 10X rewards on dining, movies, groceries, and departmental store spends. |
| ICICI HPCL Super Saver Credit Card | ₹500 | ₹500 | Up to 6.5% savings on HPCL fuel spends. 5% back on grocery, utilities, and departmental store spends. |
Credit Cards for Salaried Individuals
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Chartered Platinum Rewards Card | ₹0 | ₹0 | 5X rewards point on spending ₹150 on fuel and dining. 1X rewards points on all other categories. |
| Axis Bank Insta Credit Card | ₹500 | ₹500 | Earn a reward point of 100 with every online transaction. Waiver of 2.5% for fuel-related transactions within ₹400 – ₹4000. |
Credit Cards for Students
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Instant Platinum Card | ₹0 | ₹0 | 2 PAYBACK Points for every ₹100 spent. Rs 100 off on up to 2 tickets per month at bookmyshow.com |
| SBI Student Plus Advantage Card | ₹0 | ₹0 | 2.5% fuel surcharge waiver 10X reward points on utility bill payments |
Credit Cards for Shopping and Online Purchases
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Chartered Manhattan Credit Card | ₹999 | ₹999 | 5% cashback on groceries 3X rewards points on all other expenses |
| SBI Simply Click Credit Card | ₹499 | ₹499 | 10X reward points on Amazon, Cleartrip, Foodpanda, Lenskart, Bookmyshow, and UrbanClap. 5X reward points on other online shopping. |
Best Credit Card for students with zero fee
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Instant Platinum Card | ₹0 | ₹0 | 2 PAYBACK Points for every ₹100 spent. Rs 100 off on up to 2 tickets per month at bookmyshow.com |
| SBI Student Plus Advantage Card | ₹0 | ₹0 | 2.5% fuel surcharge waiver 10X reward points on utility bill payments |
best credit card for airport lounge access
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition | ₹12500 | ₹12500 | Unlimited airport lounge access for primary and add-on members. 10X reward points on travel and shopping spends on Smartbuy. |
| HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card | ₹10000 | ₹10000 | Unlimited airport lounge access for primary and add-on members High base rewards rate of 3.33% with 5 reward points per ₹150 spent |
best credit card for online shopping
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card | ₹2500 | ₹2500 | 5X reward points on Nykaa, Myntra, Marks & Spencer, and Reliance Digital 4 reward points per ₹150 on all retail spends |
| SBI Prime Credit Card | ₹2999 | ₹2999 | 5X reward points on dining, groceries, departmental stores, and movies 2 reward points per ₹100 on all retail purchases |
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