Best Credit Cards in India 2026: Top Rewards, Lifetime-Free Picks
Best in Overall Cashback
SBI Cashback Credit Card
The value prop is simple: 5% cashback on most online spends and 1% on offline spends.
Cashback is auto-credited, so no points math or redemption headaches.
Best in Shopping and Cashback
HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card
Targets “modern” spends: 5% cashback on select big online brands + 1% on other spends.
Cashback comes as CashPoints that you can redeem against statements, vouchers, or travel on SmartBuy.
Best in Lifetime Free
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card
Lifetime free card issued by Federal Bank and AU Small Finance Bank.
No joining/annual fees, with standout 5% back on weekend spends across popular categories + 0.5% on weekdays.
Best in Travel Rewards
Axis Atlas Credit Card
Earns EDGE Miles: typically 5 miles/₹100 on airlines & hotels, 2 miles/₹100 on other eligible spends.
Miles transfer to multiple airline/hotel partners at good ratios; value can be strong if you redeem smartly.
Best in Fuel Credit Cards
IndianOil RBL Bank XTRA Credit Card
15 Fuel Points/₹100 at IndianOil.
Roughly 7.5% value back, plus fuel surcharge waiver (~1%).
Best in Rewards
HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card
A strong “premium-lite all-rounder”: 4 RP/₹150 on regular spends (~1.3% value if redeemed on travel via SmartBuy).
Accelerated rewards on partner brands (Myntra, Nykaa, etc.) can push returns meaningfully higher.
Best in Beginner Cards
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card
Issued by both Federal Bank and AU Small Finance Bank.
No fee pressure. Lifetime-free with simple earn rules; built for common lifestyle spends (dining, movies, grocery, shopping).
Best in Lifestyle / Dining
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card
High base rewards: 5 RP/₹150 (~3.3% return when redeemed for travel on SmartBuy).
Accelerated rewards on dining platforms (like Swiggy/Zomato via offers/SmartBuy) + premium lifestyle privileges.
Best in Premium
HDFC Infinia Credit Card
5 RP/₹150 across most spends including categories that other cards exclude (utilities/insurance/education often still earn).
Up to 10X rewards on SmartBuy, making travel and voucher redemptions insanely valuable if you route bookings through it.
BEST CREDIT CARDS IN INDIA BY CATEGORY
Last updated: December 19, 2025
Best Lifetime-Free Credit Cards in India (No Joining & Annual Fee)
Lifetime-free credit cards offer rewards without any annual fees, making them ideal for no-cost primary use or targeted lifestyle spending.
Lifetime Free
Rewards
Beginner
Co-branded
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card
Salaried Professionals since they spend heavily on Weekends. (Issued by Federal Bank and AU Small Finance Bank)
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
20% OFF on Amazon, Zepto, Zomato, BookMyShow.
5% value back on weekend spends.
0.5% value back on weekday spends.
Most rewarding card for Weekend spends.
Lifetime Free
Beginner
Co-branded
Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card
People who shop frequently on Amazon and want effortless cashback forever.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Up to 5% cashback on Amazon for Prime users.
3% cashback on Amazon for non-Prime users.
1% cashback on other spends, auto-credited to Amazon Pay.
Great LTF card if your online life runs on Amazon.
Lifetime Free
Beginner
IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card
First-time cardholders who want LTF rewards with no expiry.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Reward points never expire.
Accelerated rewards on select lifestyle categories.
Simple redemption and easy approval tier.
Solid "first credit card" choice with no fee pressure.
Lifetime Free
Rewards
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card
Users who want a zero-fee upgrade over starter cards.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Never-expiring rewards continue in this tier.
Better lifestyle offers versus Millennia.
Works well as a premium-starter LTF card.
No renewal fees ever.
Lifetime Free
AU LIT Credit Card
Users who want LTF + customisable benefits.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Customisable "packs" (shopping, travel, dining, etc.).
Toggle packs on/off based on your month's spends.
Good option for changing lifestyles.
Zero cost to keep it long term.
Lifetime Free
FD-Backed
Kotak 811 Dream Different Credit Card
People with low/limited credit history who want guaranteed approval via FD.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Secured against fixed deposit, easier approval.
Helps build credit score safely.
Ideal for students, first-jobbers, thin-file users.
No annual fee while you establish history.
Lifetime Free
IndusInd Legend Credit Card
Light-to-moderate spenders wanting a forever-free backup card.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
True LTF structure.
Decent lifestyle privileges for a free card.
Good secondary card for broad acceptance.
Simple rewards/benefits setup.
Lifetime Free
Beginner
HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card (LTF)
Anyone wanting a mainstream LTF Visa with steady offers.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Officially no joining/annual fee.
Seasonal HSBC dining and retail offers.
Widely accepted Visa network.
Great starter + backup combo.
Why MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card is the smartest LTF choice
Choose the MagniFi Credit Card (issued by Federal Bank and AU Small Finance Bank) if:
-
Most of your spending happens on weekends
If you're salaried, your travel, dining, movies, shopping, and grocery spends often pile up on Saturdays and Sundays. This card gives excellent weekend rewards, sometimes even better than paid cards.
-
You want a true lifetime-free card
There are no joining fees and no annual fees, ever.
-
You like extra brand discounts
You regularly use brands like Amazon, Zepto, Zomato, and BookMyShow, and want ongoing discount offers on them.
Common LTF tradeoffs (including MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card)
Rewards have monthly caps
Weekend rewards are capped each month:
- ₹500 from the 5% weekend cashback [Max out at spend of ₹10,000 on weekends, which is ~ 8 days in a month]
- ₹500 from the 0.5% weekday cashback [Better than base reward rate of some cards from one category above like Amex membership rewards etc.]
- On top of this, you can get up to 20% discounts on select brands, so the total guaranteed value can go up to about ₹1,400/month.
Premium Perks are limited
Expect fewer luxury benefits like large lounge access quotas or elite memberships compared to high-fee premium cards.
Best Rewards Credit Cards
Rewards cards are for users who want maximum value back through points and are willing to redeem smartly (often via travel portals or partners). You should look for a strong base earn rate, frequent accelerators, and meaningful redemption options.
Rewards
HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card
Mass-premium users who want high points plus travel/lifestyle perks.
JOINING FEES
₹2,500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹2,500 + taxes
~2% base rewards on spends.
High-value redemptions through HDFC travel/SmartBuy routes.
Complimentary travel or lifestyle memberships depending on offer.
Good lounge access stack for frequent flyers.
Rewards
Lifestyle
Axis Select Credit Card
Users who want a premium-lite rewards + lifestyle blend in Axis ecosystem.
JOINING FEES
₹3,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹3,000 + taxes
EDGE Rewards points on everyday spends.
Strong dining, shopping and BookMyShow-style privileges.
Lifestyle add-ons like spa/golf benefits (offer-based).
Great for users who like Axis partner offers.
Lifetime Free
Rewards
Beginner
Co-branded
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card
Anyone wanting high weekend rewards without paying a fee.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
5% value back on weekend spends. [Better than 2-3% offered by paid premium cards without any online/offline restrictions]
0.5% valueback on weekdays.
Redeem Fi-Points for cash, vouchers, or miles in Fi.
Rare LTF card that still feels "premium" on weekends.
Rewards
Premium
Travel
Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
Very high spenders chasing top-end reward value.
JOINING FEES
₹12,500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹12,500 + taxes
High EDGE Miles earning on regular and travel spends.
Strong airline/hotel transfer value.
Premium lounge access and concierge.
Best ROI when annual spends are very high.
Rewards
Premium
SBI Prime Credit Card
Premium SBI users wanting rewards + travel/lifestyle perks.
JOINING FEES
₹2,999 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹2,999 + taxes
Rewards program with milestone benefits.
Lounge access and travel privileges.
SBI's wide partner-offer network.
Good for users already banking with SBI.
Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card
Users who value flexible points and partner redemptions.
JOINING FEES
₹1,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹4,500 + taxes
Membership Rewards points on spends.
Excellent voucher and travel partner redemption options.
Strong milestone-based bonuses.
Best in cities with higher AmEx acceptance.
Lifetime Free
Rewards
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card
Points lovers who want LTF + never-expiring rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Never-expiring reward points.
Better tier perks than Millennia.
Easy redemption across categories.
A strong LTF rewards alternative to paid cards.
Best Cashback / Shopping Cards
Cashback and shopping cards are built for online deals, app spends, groceries, and brand purchases where instant savings matter more than point math. Look for high flat cashback, strong partner rates, and simple statement credit.
Cashback
Beginner
YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card
Users wanting cashback-style savings via Paisabazaar partner offers.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹499 + taxes
Cashback-forward rewards on everyday categories.
Extra value through Paisabazaar-linked offers.
Simple, beginner-friendly savings model.
Best for users who shop across partner merchants.
Cashback
Beginner
SBI Cashback Credit Card
People who want flat cashback on most online spends.
JOINING FEES
₹999 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹999 + taxes
5% cashback on online spends.
1% cashback on offline spends.
Automatic statement cashback (no redemption work).
Great everyday e-commerce card.
Cashback
Beginner
Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card
Heavy Flipkart and Myntra shoppers.
JOINING FEES
₹500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹500 + taxes
High cashback on Flipkart spends.
Strong Myntra cashback value.
Simple statement credit model.
Best if most shopping is in the Flipkart ecosystem.
Lifetime Free
Rewards
Beginner
Cashback
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card (Weekend Shopping Booster)
Built for the Weekend shoppers with rewards on both offline & online spends
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
5% weekend return on Shopping spends (Online or offline, everything is rewarded).
20% off on Amazon on Weekends
Issued by Federal Bank and AU Small Finance Bank
Best for Working professionals who shop mostly on Weekends
Cashback
Co-branded
Shopping
Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card
Tata ecosystem loyalists (Neu, BigBasket, 1mg, Titan).
JOINING FEES
₹1,499 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹1,499 + taxes
High NeuCoins on Tata brands.
Bonus earned via Tata Neu UPI spends.
Strong value for groceries + shopping within Tata apps.
Best returns inside Tata universe.
Cashback
Lifetime Free
Shopping
Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card
Amazon-first online shoppers who want unlimited cashback.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Up to 5% cashback on Amazon for Prime members.
3% cashback for non-Prime users.
1% cashback elsewhere.
Perfect for Amazon sale seasons.
Cashback
Shopping
HDFC Millennia Credit Card
Online shoppers wanting cashback on a curated set of brands.
JOINING FEES
₹1,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹1,000 + taxes
Cashback on select major online merchants.
1% base cashback on other expenses.
Decent lifestyle + fuel surcharge basics.
Great for HDFC ecosystem users.
Best Travel Credit Cards
Travel cards are for people who value lounge access, miles, travel portal boosts, and low forex markup. Look for strong airline/hotel transfer partners, milestone bonuses, and meaningful lounge coverage.
Travel
Axis Atlas Credit Card
Frequent travelers wanting high miles earn and transfers.
JOINING FEES
₹5,000 + GST
ANNUAL FEES
₹5,000 + GST
Accelerated EDGE Miles on travel spends.
1 Mile ≈ ₹1 value on travel redemptions.
Tier-based milestone bonuses.
Good lounge and partner conversions.
Travel
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
Users wanting one travel card with multiple partners.
JOINING FEES
₹4,999 + GST
ANNUAL FEES
₹4,999 + GST
Miles-style rewards with airline/hotel partners.
Travel spend accelerators.
Strong redemption ecosystem for flights/stays.
Great for international travelers.
Travel
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
Milestone-driven travelers who redeem to premium partners.
JOINING FEES
₹3,500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹5,000 + taxes
Big milestone bonuses on annual spends.
Strong hotel and airline partner redemptions.
Premium travel insurance benefits.
High value if you hit spending targets.
Travel
Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card
Mid-premium travelers needing miles plus lounges.
JOINING FEES
₹3,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹3,000 + taxes
EDGE Miles rewards focused on travel.
Lounge access for frequent flyers.
Travel portal multipliers.
Solid Atlas alternative.
Travel
Co-branded
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card
Users who book most travel on MakeMyTrip.
JOINING FEES
₹999 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹999 + taxes
MMT booking discounts/vouchers.
Bonus rewards on MMT spends.
Milestone travel vouchers.
Best for OTA-heavy travelers.
Travel
Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card
Burgundy customers wanting ultra-premium travel returns.
JOINING FEES
₹30,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹30,000 + taxes
Enhanced EDGE Miles earning.
Premium partner transfer ratios.
Luxury lounge and concierge benefits.
Massive value for high annual spends.
Travel
Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card
IndiGo loyalists who fly often.
JOINING FEES
₹2,500
ANNUAL FEES
₹2,500
6E Rewards point earning and redemption.
IndiGo booking benefits.
Travel vouchers on milestones.
Best for frequent domestic flyers.
Best Fuel Cards
Fuel cards are designed for commuters who want high returns at a specific fuel chain plus fuel surcharge waiver. Look for your nearest pump brand, high multiplier, and monthly waiver limits.
Fuel
BPCL SBI Card Octane
BPCL regulars wanting maximum fuel savings.
JOINING FEES
₹1,499 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹1,499 + taxes
25X rewards at BPCL outlets.
Fuel surcharge waiver on eligible spends.
Bonus points and renewal benefits.
Best suited for heavy BPCL fuel users.
Fuel
Co-branded
IndianOil RBL Bank XTRA Credit Card
IndianOil users who want IOC-linked rewards and waivers.
JOINING FEES
₹1,500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹1,500 + taxes
High rewards on IndianOil fuel.
Fuel surcharge waiver.
Extra merchant offers through RBL.
Best only if IOC is your main pump.
Fuel
ICICI HPCL Super Saver Credit Card
HPCL loyalists seeking pump-first savings.
JOINING FEES
₹500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹500 + taxes
HPCL-focused fuel rewards multiplier.
Fuel surcharge waiver.
Extra returns on daily categories.
Great for HPCL-dominant routes.
Fuel
IDFC FIRST Power+ Credit Card
Drivers wanting fuel savings plus everyday rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹499 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹499 + taxes
Fuel rewards focus with a decent earn rate.
Surcharge waiver on eligible fuel spends.
Utility/everyday acceleration.
Good for mixed fuel + bills users.
Fuel
IndianOil Axis Bank Credit Card
Axis users fueling mostly at IndianOil.
JOINING FEES
₹500
ANNUAL FEES
₹500
IndianOil fuel rewards.
Surcharge waiver.
Axis merchant offers.
Best for IOC-first commuters.
Fuel
IndianOil HDFC Bank Credit Card
HDFC users who refuel regularly at IOC pumps.
JOINING FEES
₹500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹500 + taxes
IOC fuel multiplier rewards.
Fuel surcharge waiver.
HDFC merchant offers.
Strong savings if IOC is your default pump.
Fuel
IndianOil Kotak Credit Card
Kotak users who fuel primarily at IOC.
JOINING FEES
₹449 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹449 + taxes
IOC fuel points/cashback.
Eligible surcharge waiver.
Kotak offers an ecosystem.
Best value at IndianOil outlets.
Best Lifestyle / Dining / Entertainment Cards
Lifestyle cards shine when your spending is on dining out, movies, experiences, and premium brands. Look for dining accelerators, entertainment offers, weekend multipliers, and strong lifestyle partner programs.
Lifestyle
Premium
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card
Premium lifestyle users who want high dining and travel rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹10,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹10,000 + taxes
High base rewards plus SmartBuy multipliers.
Premium dining privileges.
Strong domestic/international lounge access.
Great premium lifestyle anchor card.
Lifestyle
EazyDiner IndusInd Bank Credit Card
Restaurant lovers who want maximum dining discounts.
JOINING FEES
₹1,999 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹1,999 + taxes
High dining discounts at partner restaurants.
EazyDiner membership benefits.
Cashback/points on dining spends.
Best for frequent fine-dining users.
Lifetime Free
Rewards
Beginner
Lifestyle
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card (Weekend Lifestyle Specialist)
Built for Weekend diners, movie-goers, and leisure spenders (Issued by Federal Bank, AU Small Finance Bank)
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
5% value back on every spend on Weekends like dining/movies/outings/travel.
20% discounts on Amazon, Zepto, Zomato & BookMyShow
Best free card for Weekend rewards
Zero Fee card built for Weekend centric lifestyles of young working professionals
Lifestyle
IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card
Users wanting everyday lifestyle offers with simple rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Lifestyle-leaning rewards.
Merchant discounts run frequently.
Never-expiring points philosophy.
Good entry lifestyle card.
Lifestyle
Axis Bank My Zone Credit Card
Entry lifestyle users seeking movie/dining offers.
JOINING FEES
₹500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹500 + taxes (2nd year onwards)
Popular movie/dining offers.
Lifestyle merchant discounts.
Easy approval tier.
Great for young earners.
Lifestyle
Co-branded
Food Ordering
Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card
Users who spend heavily on food, dining, and Instamart.
JOINING FEES
₹500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹500 + taxes
10% cashback on Swiggy orders.
5% cashback on online spends beyond Swiggy.
Complimentary Swiggy One welcome value.
Great dining + grocery lifestyle hub card.
Lifestyle
Rewards
HDFC Diners Club Privilege Credit Card
Mid-premium Diners users wanting dining plus rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹2,500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹2,500 + taxes
Diners dining and lifestyle perks.
Rewards boosters via HDFC channels.
Lounge access in the tier.
Good stepping stone to DCB.
Lifestyle
Axis Bank SELECT Credit Card
Lifestyle users who also want solid rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹3,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹3,000 + taxes
Dining and shopping offers.
Entertainment perks like BOGO formats.
EDGE rewards base program.
Strong lifestyle bundle for its tier.
Lifestyle
PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card
Frequent movie-goers at PVR/INOX.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹499 + taxes
Movie ticket offers/BOGO.
Snack and booking benefits.
Rewards on entertainment spend.
Great for weekend theatre users.
Lifestyle
RBL Play Credit Card
Users wanting entertainment deals at an entry tier.
JOINING FEES
₹500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹500 + taxes
Entertainment platform offers.
Rewards on lifestyle spending.
App/online discounts.
Good beginner lifestyle add-on.
Best Beginner / Entry-Level Cards
Beginner cards prioritise easy approval, low fees or LTF pricing, and straightforward rewards. Look for broad acceptance, simple earn rules, and benefits that match common entry spending like online shopping and bills.
Lifetime Free
Rewards
Beginner
Co-branded
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card (LTF)
India's 1st Credit Card built specifically for Salaried professionals with Weekend Centric lifestyle
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
5% Back on EVERY Weekend spend (Online and offline, all spends are rewarded)
20% Off on Amazon, Zepto, Zomato & BookMyShow
Issued by Federal Bank, AU Small Finance Bank
Unmatched 5% reward rate on Weekends
Beginner
SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card
New online shoppers wanting SBI acceptance + entry rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹499 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹499 + taxes
Rewards on online categories.
SBI e-commerce partner offers.
Wide acceptance across merchants.
Good approval odds for salaried users.
Lifetime Free
Beginner
Co-branded
Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card (LTF)
Beginners who shop on Amazon and want simple cashback.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Simple Amazon cashback model.
No redemption steps.
Great online-first beginner card.
Helps build credit without fees.
Cashback
Beginner
SBI Cashback Credit Card
Beginners who want flat cashback on online spends.
JOINING FEES
₹999 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹999 + taxes
5% online cashback.
1% offline cashback.
Statement credit simplicity.
Great first paid cashback card.
Lifetime Free
Beginner
IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card (LTF)
First-jobbers wanting lifetime-free points.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Never-expiring points.
Good lifestyle offers.
Easy redemption.
Clean LTF entry card.
Beginner
ICICI Platinum Chip Credit Card
Users wanting a basic ICICI starter card.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Simple rewards.
Broad acceptance.
ICICI merchant offers.
Good for credit history.
Beginner
Premium
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
Beginners who want cashback on bills and essentials.
JOINING FEES
₹499
ANNUAL FEES
₹499
Strong utilities/essentials cashback.
Good everyday savings.
Simple redemption.
Great "first cashback card."
Cashback
Beginner
Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card
First-time users who shop a lot on Flipkart/Myntra.
JOINING FEES
₹500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹500 + taxes
High Flipkart cashback.
Strong Myntra cashback value.
Easy statement credit.
Best if Flipkart is your main store.
Lifetime Free
Beginner
HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card (LTF)
Beginners wanting an LTF, widely accepted Visa.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
LTF structure.
Seasonal HSBC offers.
Great backup worldwide.
Simple for first-timers.
Best Premium Credit Cards
Premium cards are for high-income users who want top rewards, luxury travel benefits, and concierge services. Look for strong base earn rates, big multipliers, premium lounge access, and milestone accelerators.
Premium
HDFC Infinia Credit Card (Metal Edition)
Ultra-high spenders wanting HDFC's flagship value.
JOINING FEES
₹12,500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹12,500 + taxes
Premium rewards plus SmartBuy multipliers.
Unlimited lounge access.
Luxury concierge and travel privileges.
Best value when redeemed for travel.
Premium
Axis Reserve Credit Card
Luxury lifestyle and top-tier travel users.
JOINING FEES
₹50,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹50,000 + taxes
Premium lounges and concierge.
High-tier rewards ecosystem.
Luxury dining/travel offers.
Best for affluent frequent travelers.
Premium
American Express Platinum Card
Status-seeking users wanting premium global privileges.
JOINING FEES
₹66,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹66,000 + taxes
Elite hotel/airline statuses.
Concierge and luxury experiences.
Strong partner redemption value.
Great for premium international travel.
Premium
ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card
ICICI private banking customers wanting luxury travel + lifestyle.
JOINING FEES
₹12,499 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹12,499 + taxes
Luxury lounges and concierge.
Premium reward rates.
Elite lifestyle privileges.
Best for ICICI HNI users.
Rewards
Premium
SBI Prime Credit Card
Premium SBI users wanting points + privileges.
JOINING FEES
₹2,999 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹2,999 + taxes
Premium rewards with milestones.
Lounge and travel benefits.
Strong SBI partner offers.
Solid mass-premium option.
Lifestyle
Premium
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card
Premium diners/travelers wanting high rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹10,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹10,000 + taxes
High reward earn rate.
Premium dining benefits.
Strong lounge access.
SmartBuy boosters.
Premium
Yes Private Credit Card
YES Bank premium segment customers.
JOINING FEES
₹50,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹10,000 + taxes
Premium travel and concierge.
High-tier rewards setup.
Lifestyle privileges.
Best for YES relationship users.
Beginner
Premium
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
Premium-lite users wanting high cashback essentials.
JOINING FEES
₹499
ANNUAL FEES
₹499
Strong cashback on utilities.
Great everyday savings.
Simple redemption.
More "mass premium cashback" than luxury.
Best Co-branded Credit Cards
Co-branded cards are best when you're loyal to a specific platform, travel OTA, food app, telco, fuel chain, or hotels. Look for maximum value within that brand rather than a generic rewards structure.
Co-branded
Yatra SBI Card
Yatra loyalists wanting booking vouchers and savings.
JOINING FEES
₹499 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹499 + taxes
Yatra booking discounts.
Travel vouchers on milestones.
SBI rewarding ecosystem.
Best for OTA-heavy travelers.
Co-branded
Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card
EaseMyTrip frequent bookers.
JOINING FEES
₹350 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹350 + taxes
EMT flight/hotel discounts.
Bonus rewards on EMT spends.
Travel vouchers on milestones.
Best for EMT-first users.
Lifetime Free
Rewards
Beginner
Co-branded
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card
Fi users who want rotating weekend partner offers.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Weekend partner discounts.
Category-boosted weekend value.
LTF co-benefits without cost.
Great inside Fi ecosystem.
Lifestyle
Co-branded
Food Ordering
Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card
Swiggy ecosystem loyalists (food + Instamart).
JOINING FEES
₹500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹500 + taxes
10% cashback on Swiggy.
Swiggy One welcome benefit.
Online cashback beyond Swiggy.
Perfect co-brand for food households.
Lifetime Free
Beginner
Co-branded
Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card
Amazon loyalists seeking maximum Amazon value.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
5%/3% cashback on Amazon (Prime/non-Prime).
Auto-credit to Amazon Pay.
Unlimited Amazon returns.
Best Amazon co-brand option.
Travel
Co-branded
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card
Users who book most travel on MMT.
JOINING FEES
₹999 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹999 + taxes
MMT booking offers and vouchers.
Bonus rewards on MMT spends.
Milestone travel vouchers.
Best as a dedicated OTA card.
Fuel
Co-branded
IndianOil RBL Bank XTRA Credit Card
IndianOil exclusive commuters.
JOINING FEES
₹1,500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹1,500 + taxes
IndianOil fuel rewards.
Surcharge waiver.
RBL partner offers.
Best used only at IOC pumps.
Co-branded
Food Ordering
Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card
Airtel users wanting cashback on Airtel + partners.
JOINING FEES
₹500
ANNUAL FEES
₹500
Cashback on Airtel bills.
Extra cashback on partner apps.
Useful utilities savings.
Great if Airtel is your main telecom.
Co-branded
IRCTC SBI Card Premier
Heavy rail travelers booking via IRCTC.
JOINING FEES
₹1,499 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹1,499 + taxes
IRCTC booking rewards.
Rail travel milestone perks.
SBI offers an ecosystem.
Best for frequent train travel.
Co-branded
Premium
Lifestyle
HSBC Taj Credit Card
Taj loyalists for stays and dining.
JOINING FEES
₹1,10,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹1,10,000 + taxes
Taj stay/dining rewards.
Hotel tier perks.
Premium lifestyle privileges.
Best for Taj regulars.
Best FD-Backed Credit Cards
FD-backed cards are the easiest way to get a card without income proof or prior credit history. They're best for building or rebuilding credit while still enjoying basic rewards.
FD-Backed
SBI Unnati Credit Card
Users wanting a secured SBI credit-builder card.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹499 + taxes from the 5th year onwards.
FD-backed approval route.
Helps build credit score.
SBI merchant offers.
Great secured starter.
FD-Backed
IDFC FIRST WoW Credit Card
Users wanting a secured card with decent rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
Secured credit line against FD.
Rewards on spending.
Good for thin-file users.
Easy approval tier.
FD-Backed
Axis Insta Easy Credit Card
Users who want a secured Axis card quickly.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
FD-backed approval.
Axis offers an ecosystem.
Helps build a credit profile.
Good secured alternative.
FD-Backed
ICICI Instant Platinum Credit Card
ICICI customers needing a secured build-credit route.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
FD-backed ICICI approval path.
Simple rewards.
Wide acceptance.
Credit history builder.
Lifetime Free
FD-Backed
Kotak 811 Dream Different Credit Card
Beginners wanting a minimal-stress secured approval.
JOINING FEES
₹0 (FD-backed LTF variant)
ANNUAL FEES
₹0 (FD-backed LTF variant)
Guaranteed FD-backed approval.
Zero fees.
Builds credit safely.
Great secured beginner choice.
FD-Backed
Bank of Baroda Assure Card
BoB customers who want a secured card.
JOINING FEES
₹500
ANNUAL FEES
₹500
Secured credit against FD.
Basic rewards.
Easy approval.
Ideal credit-builder.
Best Credit Cards for Food Ordering
Food ordering cards are best if dining, Swiggy, or Zomato make up a big slice of your monthly spend. Look for high app cashback, weekend boosts, and grocery add-ons like Instamart.
Lifestyle
Co-branded
Food Ordering
Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card
Heavy Swiggy users who want direct app savings.
JOINING FEES
₹500 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹500 + taxes
10% cashback on Swiggy orders.
5% cashback on online spends beyond Swiggy.
Swiggy One welcome value.
Best dedicated food-ordering card.
Co-branded
Food Ordering
Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card
Users ordering a lot on Zomato + paying Airtel bills.
JOINING FEES
₹500
ANNUAL FEES
₹500
Cashback on Airtel bills.
Cashback on partner apps including food.
Great utilities + dining hybrid.
Strong value if Airtel is primary telecom.
Food Ordering
Lifetime Free
Co-branded
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card
Weekend dining/ordering specialists wanting LTF.
JOINING FEES
₹0
ANNUAL FEES
₹0
5% weekend return on dining and food apps.
Weekend partner offers stack on spends.
Perfect for Sat-Sun ordering spikes.
Zero cost to keep.
Food Ordering
HSBC Live+ Credit Card
Users wanting strong dining/essentials rewards.
JOINING FEES
₹999 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹999 + taxes
Dining-focused rewards.
Good essentials coverage.
HSBC partner offers.
Great for family food budgets.
Food Ordering
HDFC Bank Millennia Card
Users ordering across multiple apps and spending online.
JOINING FEES
₹1,000 + taxes
ANNUAL FEES
₹1,000 + taxes
Cashback on select food/online brands.
1% base cashback elsewhere.
Simple statement credit.
Works well as a backup food card.
How this List is curated
To build this 2026 list of top credit cards in India, we look at:
- Reward value: points/cashback per ₹100 spent, and real redemption value.
- Fee vs benefit: whether joining fee / annual fee is justified, or whether a lifetime-free card is smarter.
- Use-case fit: shopping rewards, travel credit card needs, fuel surcharge waiver, lounge access, etc.
- Approval odds: we include beginner-friendly and FD-backed cards too.
On this page, you'll find two big buckets:
- Lifetime-free / no annual fee cards for low-cost, high-value everyday use, including MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card (issued by Federal Bank and AU Small Finance Bank), a lifetime-free card designed around weekend rewards.
- Rewards cards for people who want maximum points and perks.
Compare Best Credit Cards in India: Fees, Rewards & Perks
Here's a compact way to compare the best credit card in India picks across banks and use cases. Use this table as a map, not a verdict.
| Credit Card | Joining / Annual Fees | Reward Style | Best Spend Categories | Key Perks | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Infinia | High fee (premium) | Reward points | Travel, dining, premium spends | Top-tier rewards, SmartBuy boosts, lounge access | Very high spenders who redeem smartly |
| Axis Atlas | Mid-High fee (premium) | Travel Miles | Flights, hotels, international spending | EDGE Miles + airline/ hotel transfers, lounges | Frequent travellers |
| SBI Cashback | Low fee | Cashback | Online shopping across platforms | Flat 5% cashback, on online spends | Heavy e-commerce spenders |
| MagniFi Co-branded | ₹0, Lifetime Free | Fi-points (cash-value) | All Weekend spend | 5% Value back on all Weekend spends + 20% discount on top brands | Young salaried professionals, Weekend lifestyle, Weekend travellers |
| Amazon Pay ICICI | ₹0, Lifetime Free | Cashback | Amazon + daily online use | 5% cashback auto-credit to Amazon Pay | Amazon loyalists |
| IDFC FIRST Millennia | ₹0, Lifetime Free | Points | Movies, shopping, everyday spends | Never-expiring rewards, entry-level offers | First-time card users |
| AU LIT | Often LTF | Custom rewards | User-chosen categories | You can switch packs on/off | People who want flexibility |
How to read this table
- If annual fees feel risky, start with true lifetime-free cards like MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card or Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card.
- If you spend heavily every month, a paid rewards or travel card can beat LTF in net value fast.
- Always check reward caps, exclusions, and fee-waiver rules before applying. (Even great cards have limits.)
How to Choose the Best Credit Card in India
Think in terms of spend style, not brand:
- Weekend-heavy lifestyle spends → MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card
- Online shopping all week → SBI Cashback / Amazon Pay ICICI / Axis ACE
- High rewards + frequent redemptions → HDFC Diners Black / HDFC Infinia
- Frequent flyers & hotel stays → Axis Atlas
- Low-fee preference → LTF cards (MagniFi Co-branded, Amazon Pay ICICI, IDFC FIRST Millennia)
Fee vs Value Test (quick rule)
Ask yourself:
"Do I earn 2–3× my annual fee back every year?"
- If yes, a fee card is worth it.
- If not, go LTF.
MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card (issued by Federal Bank and AU Small Finance Bank) simplifies this because annual fee = ₹0. So even moderate use keeps you net-positive.
Eligibility & Documents required while applying for Credit Cards in India
Typical eligibility benchmarks:
- Age: 21–60 years
- Monthly income (commonly expected): ₹25,000+
- Credit score: 730+ improves approval odds
- Salaried/self-employed or FD-backed for beginners
For MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card (issued by Federal Bank and AU Small Finance Bank) specifically: Application is fully digital on the Fi app, with eligibility checked inside the app.
Fees, Charges & Reward Exclusions to Watch
Before you apply, scan these carefully:
- Joining/annual fee vs welcome value
- Fee-waiver thresholds
- Reward exclusions (wallet loads, rent, cash advances, government or gaming spends, etc.)
- Cashback/reward caps per month
For MagniFi Co-branded Credit Card specifically:
- No joining or annual fee.
- Weekend rewards are strong but capped monthly.
- Rewards apply only to eligible categories.
Safety tip: Apply only through official issuer channels.
FAQs
