As per Statista, India had over 42 million active credit cards at the end of 2022. The numbers are expected to increase, even though its alternatives have increased competition, such as BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later). The need for a credit card differs from one individual to another. While a customer may look for the best travel credit card, their friend may seek one that offers them the best online shopping offers. So, while looking for the best credit card in India, you need to understand your financial needs and make a credit card comparison. This article lists 10 of the best credit cards in India based on different features.
Best for salaried individuals: SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card
- Joining fee – ₹499, excluding taxes
- Annual fee – ₹499, excluding taxes (returned on spending over ₹1 lakh)
Key benefits:- Offers 10x rewards on shopping with partner brands
- And 5x rewards on all online transaction
- Amazon gift card worth ₹500 on welcome
Best for travel: HDFC Regalia Credit Card
- Joining fee – ₹2500, excluding taxes
- Annual fee – ₹2500, excluding taxes
Key benefits:- 12 complimentary airport lounge access within India and 6 outside the country
- 10,000 bonus points on spending ₹5 lakhs and 5,000 reward points, too, on spending ₹8 lakhs in a year
- 2% foreign currency markup on international spends
Best in premium category: HDFC Diners Club Black
- Joining fee – ₹10,000, excluding taxes
- Annual fee – ₹10,000, excluding taxes
Key benefits:- Get 5 reward points for every ₹150 you spend
- Complimentary vouchers from partner brands for spending over ₹80,000 in a month
- Annual memberships of Amazon Prime, Times Prime, Club Marriott, Forbes, MMT BLACK, and Zomato Pro
Best free credit card: IDFC FIRST Millenia
- Joining fee – None
- Annual fee – None
Key benefits:- Free for a lifetime
- Interest-free cash withdrawal for up to 48 days
- 10x rewards on special days and milestones
Best for beginners: HDFC MoneyBack
- Joining fee – INR 500
- Annual fee – INR 500
Key benefits:- 2 reward points for every ₹150 spent offline (double for online shopping)
- E-voucher of ₹500 for spending ₹5,000 in a quarter and upto ₹2,000 in a year
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver on spending more than ₹400 on fuel
Best with zero annual fee: IndusInd Pioneer Legacy
- Joining fee – ₹45,000
- Annual fee – None
Key benefits:- Up to 3 movie tickets for free every month
- 1.5 reward points on every ₹100 spent
- 6,000 additional reward points if card spending exceeds ₹6 lakhs in a year
Best for shopping on Amazon: Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card
- Joining fee – None
- Annual fee – None
Key benefits:- 3% cashback even for non-Amazon Prime customers on Amazon shopping
- 2% cashback on shopping with Amazon Pay partner merchants
- 1% cash back on other payments
Best for shopping on Flipkart: Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card
- Joining fee – ₹500
- Annual fee – ₹500, waived off on spending more than ₹2 lakhs
Key benefits:- Up to 5% cashback on shopping with Flipkart and Myntra
- Flat 4% unlimited cashback on transactions with partner sites
- 4 complimentary airport lounge access
Best rewards credit card in India for business: ICICI Business Advantage Black Card
- Joining fee – ₹1500, excluding taxes
- Annual fee – ₹1000, excluding taxes
Key benefits:- Up to 1% cashback on all eligible transactions
- A minimum of 5% discount on dining bills with the ICICI Bank Culinary Treats Programme
- 2 complimentary airport lounge access per quarter
Best overall: Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
- Joining fee – ₹499, returned on spending ₹10,000 within 45 days of getting the card
- Annual fee – ₹499, waived off on spending more than ₹2 lakhs annually
Key benefits:- 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits annually
- 5% cashback on bill payments and recharging mobile and DTH via Google Pay
- 20% discount on dining at more than 4000 partner restaurants
Wrap up
Given the plethora of credit card options, choosing India’s best credit card becomes difficult. But irrespective of the choice, one thing that sets them apart is that they partner with a capable payment gateway for seamless transactions. At PayU India, we offer easy-to-integrate APIs and SDKs with complete online onboarding for our customers. Click here to learn why you should partner with PayU India.
FAQs
The best credit card list depends on the user’s needs. These vary from getting the most reward points to airport lounge access. Compare to know which credit card is the best for your spending habits.
If you have multiple credit cards, you can spread your expenses to keep credit line utilisation below 30% for each, enabling you to maintain a superior credit score.
Many banks offer instant approval for credit cards in India. The approval process is easier at banks where you have a savings account or fixed deposit. HDFC Bank is known for its quick approval of credit cards upon meeting its standards.