16 Best Credit Cards in India for 2024 – Compare & Apply

Best Credit Cards in India 2024

Every year, we compile a list of the best credit cards in India for a variety of reasons. As credit cards evolve, their rewards and benefits rarely remain the same. Unless you keep track of a few credit cards, it is difficult to keep up with these changes. Indian consumers now have over 150+ options for credit cards. This is a good thing, but it also makes it more difficult to find the best credit cards. So which credit cards offer you the most benefits and rewards during your spending? We present you with a list of the best credit cards in India. Whether it’s cashback, miles, lounge access, or free vacations, we have a credit card for you.

Best Credit Cards in India: Entry-Level

This list is for someone starting off with credit cards and looking for something simple. Entry-level credit cards are best suited for annual spends of less than Rs 2 Lakh. The credit cards in this segment feature:

LTF IndusInd Bank Credit Cards
  • Easy approval
  • Low or zero annual fee
  • Low salary requirements for eligibility
  • Rewards such as cashback, statement credit or Amazon gift vouchers

SBI Cashback Credit Card

SBI Cashback credit card is one of the best cards in the cashback segment. We get 5% cashback on any e-commerce spends like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Tata CLiQ etc. If most of your spends are online (which is the case nowadays), the SBI Cashback credit card will give you effortless 5% cashback every month in your credit card statement. The cashback is automatically credited within 3 days of statement generation. This makes the card a highly recommended option from our side.

SBI Cashback Credit Card
  • Joining/Annual Fee: ₹ 999+GST
  • Cashback: 1% to 5%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: ₹ 2 Lakh spend
  • Best Use: 5% cashback on online spends
  • Airport Lounge Access: Not Available
  • Con: SBI Cashback card is not eligible for 10% instant discount online sales.

HSBC Cashback Credit Card

HSBC Cashback credit card is a new addition in the list of best credit cards in India for 2024. HSBC Cashback credit card was recently relaunched with revised rewards and is a must-have option in the cashback segment. We get 10% cashback on dining, food delivery and grocery spends. So any spend on Swiggy, Zomato, Bigbasket etc. gets an easy 10% value back. On other spends, we get 1.5% cashback.

HSBC Cashback Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India for Cashback
  • Joining/Annual Fee: ₹ 999+GST
  • Cashback: 1.5% to 10%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: ₹ 2 Lakh spend
  • Best Use: 10% cashback on dining, food delivery and grocery spends
  • Airport Lounge Access: 4 visits/year to airport lounges in India
  • Con: Applications are limited to few cities

Axis Bank Ace Credit Card

With online spends sorted, it is time to find an option for getting cashback for offline spends. Axis Bank Ace credit card continues to be the best option for this. We get 2% unlimited cashback on offline spends and 5% cashback on utility bill payments with Google Pay. The only con is that Google Pay bill payments using this card are not available on iOS yet. So, iOS users lose out on 5% cashback. This card is invite-only from Google Pay for now.

LTF IDFC First Bank Credit Cards
Axis Bank Ace Credit Card
  • Joining/Annual Fee: ₹ 499+GST
  • Cashback: 2% to 5%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: ₹ 2 Lakh spend
  • Best Use: 2% cashback on offline and online spends
  • Airport Lounge Access: 8 visits/year to airport lounges in India
  • Con: 5% cashback on utility bills is limited to only Android devices

Amex Membership Rewards Credit Card

Amex MRCC is an entry-level credit card that can give rewards on par with some of the premium cards. We get 1000 bonus MR points each on Rs 1500 X 4 transactions and Rs 20000 spent every month. With the Gold Collection redemption, the reward rate is between 5% to 8%. For achieving the milestone benefits, one of the options is to buy Amazon Pay gift vouchers from Amex Reward Multiplier.

American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) - Best Credit Cards in India for Rewards
  • Joining Fee: Zero
  • Annual Fee: ₹ 1500+GST
  • Rewards: 1% to 8%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: ₹ 1.5 Lakh spend
  • Best Use: Online Spends and Wallet Loads
  • Rewards Redemption: 18K and 24K Gold Collection
  • Airport Lounge Access: Not Available
  • Con: Offline acceptance can be an issue

Best Credit Cards in India: Premium Segment

This list is for cards that offer reward points along with some lifestyle benefits. These offer more value than entry-level credit cards and are suitable if annual spends are more than 4 Lakhs. The cards in the segment will feature:

  • Higher salary eligibility criteria (preferably > Rs 6 Lakhs per annum)
  • Higher fee that may not have a waiver criteria
  • Lifestyle benefits with better rewards than entry-level credit cards

IDFC First Bank Wealth Credit Card

IDFC First Wealth credit card does not have the high rewards that few others on this list have. But, it is LTF without any strings. For the LTF pricing, we get up to 2.5% rewards with some good benefits. Some of the complimentary benefits are railway lounge access, roadside assistance, airport spa access and a BOGO movie offer. We also get domestic and international airport lounge access.

AU Bank Xcite Ace
IDFC First Bank Wealth Credit Card -  - Best Credit Cards in India
  • Joining and Annual Fee: Zero (Lifetime Free)
  • Rewards: Up to 2.5%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: Not Applicable
  • Best Use: Online Spends and Lounge/Spa Access
  • Rewards Redemption: Statement Credit
  • Airport Lounge Access: 4 visits/quarter to airport lounges in India and 4 visits/quarter to airport lounges outside India

HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card

Regalia Gold is the newest launch from HDFC Bank. It is an upgrade over the Regalia/Diners Club Privilege and also offers better milestone benefits. While the base reward rate might seem low, HDFC Bank has SmartBuy and other spending offers to boost the return. Get Regalia Gold especially if it is offered LTF and keep it for an upgrade to the future HDFC super-premium credit card.

HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India
  • Joining and Annual Fee: ₹ 2500+GST
  • Rewards: 1.3% to 13.3%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: ₹ 3 Lakh Spend
  • Rewards Redemption: SmartBuy Travel Bookings
  • Airport Lounge Access: 12 visits/year to airport lounges in India and 6 visits/year to airport lounges outside India

Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card

Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank credit card is one of the underrated options today. The RuPay variant is popular as a good UPI card but it does a lot more. We can earn up to 10% NeuCoins and more through promotional offers on the Tata Neu app.

Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card
  • Joining and Annual Fee: ₹ 1499+GST / LTF
  • Rewards: 1.5% to 5%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: ₹ 3 Lakh Spend for paid cards
  • Best Use: UPI, Bill Payments and Tata Neu spends
  • Rewards Redemption: Tata Neu partner brands
  • Airport Lounge Access: 2 visits/quarter to airport lounges in India and 1 visit/quarter to airport lounges outside India

Best Credit Cards in India: Super Premium Segment

These are the cards that everyone wants but few get them thanks to the stringent criteria. The super-premium credit cards can offer you every benefit that you wanted and more. For the cards in this segment:

  • The salary should be high (preferably > Rs 15 Lakhs per annum)
  • Annual spending should be close to 10 Lakhs

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

Axis Atlas under the super-premium credit card section? While it is surprising, Atlas very much belongs to the league of Infinia and DCB. At a fee of Rs 5000+GST, the Atlas provides great value for our spends. And it is easy to get compared to other options in this list.

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India for Airmiles
  • Joining and Annual Fee: ₹ 5000+GST
  • Rewards: 1% to 10%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: None
  • Rewards Redemption: Points transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Airport Lounge Access: 8 visits/year to airport lounges in India and 4 visits/year to airport lounges outside India

HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card

The HDFC Bank Infinia is in a league of its own when it comes to super-premium credit cards. 3.3% base rewards, up to 33% SmartBuy rewards, and many other offers ensure Infinia retains its crown. Till the much-rumoured Infinia Reserve/Galaxia is launched, Infinia will continue to be a good option.

HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India
  • Joining and Annual Fee: ₹ 12,500+GST
  • Rewards: 3.3% to 33%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: ₹ 10 Lakh Spend
  • Rewards Redemption: 1:1 redemption on SmartBuy, Points transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Airport Lounge Access: Unlimited for both Domestic and International

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card

Diners Club Black is the second card from HDFC Bank in the super-premium segment. The card is on par with Infinia with some minor differences in rewards and redemption. The recent relaunch in Metal form came in with revised milestone benefits and a higher SmartBuy cap bringing it closer to Infinia.

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India
  • Joining and Annual Fee: ₹ 10,000+GST
  • Rewards: 3.3% to 33%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: ₹ 8 Lakh Spend
  • Rewards Redemption: 1:1 redemption on SmartBuy, Points transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Airport Lounge Access: Unlimited for both Domestic and International

Yes Bank Marquee Credit Card

This is the first time we are featuring a Yes Bank credit card in the list of best credit cards in India. The Yes Bank Marquee credit card offers a return of 1.25% to 4.5% on spends. We can use the reward points for booking flights or transfer them out to Vistara. Marquee also features a great BMS BOGO offer along with unlimited visits to international airport lounges.

Yes Bank Marquee Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India
  • Joining Fee: ₹ 9999+GST
  • Annual Fee: ₹ 4999+GST
  • Rewards: 1.25% to 4.5%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: ₹ 10 Lakh Spend
  • Rewards Redemption: Flight bookings, Transfer to Vistara
  • Airport Lounge Access: 6 visits/quarter to airport lounges in India and unlimited visits to airport lounges outside India

Best Credit Cards in India: Travel

All the cards we covered till now are all-purpose cards for both earning and redeeming points. The redemption value depends on the option we choose – travel, gift vouchers, or cash back. Apart from this, we also have travel credit cards that offer better value if the rewards are used for flights/hotels.

Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card

Milestone benefits and Taj vouchers are the highlights of the Amex Plat Travel credit card. If Taj vouchers are not useful for you, then there are other options as well. We get at least 48000 MR points every year including regular and milestone MR points. These can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy or one of the airline travel partners as AirMiles.

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India
  • Joining Fee: ₹ 3500+GST
  • Annual Fee: ₹ 5000+GST
  • Rewards: Up to 8%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: None
  • Rewards Redemption: Taj Vouchers
  • Airport Lounge Access: 2 visits/quarter to airport lounges in India

Club Vistara IDFC First Bank Credit Card

The Club Vistara IDFC First Bank credit card is one of the better Vistara co-branded credit cards. It offers you up to 5 premium economy tickets on spends.

Club Vistara IDFC First Bank Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India
  • Joining and Annual Fee: ₹ 4999+GST
  • Rewards: Up to 4%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: None
  • Rewards Redemption: Vistara Tickets
  • Airport Lounge Access: 2 visits/quarter to airport lounges in India and 1 visit/quarter to airport lounges outside India

Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card

This is the first Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card in India. While the reward rate is low, this card is still a good bet just for the joining and renewal benefits. We get Bonvoy Silver Elite status with 10 night credits that help in reaching higher statuses like Gold/Platinum. The second benefit against the fee is a FNA credit worth up to 15K points.

Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India
  • Joining and Annual Fee: ₹ 3000+GST
  • Rewards: 0.8% to 3.2%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: None
  • Rewards Redemption: Marriott Bonvoy Hotel Stays
  • Airport Lounge Access: 12 visits/year to airport lounges in India and 12 visits/year to airport lounges outside India

Best Credit Cards in India: Fuel

BPCL SBI Credit Card

The BPCL SBI credit card is a good option for getting 3%+ return on fuel spends. We can meet the annual fee waiver with only fuel spends getting an overall reward rate of 3.25% plus a 1% fuel surcharge waiver. You can also explore the BPCL SBI Octane credit card for a higher fuel return. But that comes with a higher annual fee too.

BPCL SBI Credit Card - Best Credit Cards in India for Fuel
  • Joining and Annual Fee: ₹ 499+GST
  • Rewards: 0.25% to 3.25%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: On ₹ 50,000 spend
  • Rewards Redemption: Fuel/Statement Credit
  • Airport Lounge Access: Not Available

IDFC First Bank HPCL Power+ Credit Card

IDFC First Bank HPCL Power+ Credit Card is the best option for HPCL fuel spends. It has a low annual fee of ₹ 499+GST and offers 4% rewards for HPCL fuel spends. It also offers 5% for utilities & grocery spends. The card is available on the RuPay payment network and can be used for UPI spends too.

IDFC First Bank HPCL Power+ Credit Card
  • Joining and Annual Fee: ₹ 499+GST
  • Rewards: 0.5% to 5%
  • Annual Fee Waiver: On ₹ 1.5 Lakh Spend
  • Rewards Redemption: Statement Credit
  • Airport Lounge Access: 4 visits/year to airport lounges in India

Consolidated List of Best Credit Cards in India

SegmentCredit CardAnnual Fee
Entry-LevelAxis Bank Ace Credit Card₹ 499+GST
Entry-LevelSBI Cashback Credit Card₹ 999+GST
Entry-LevelHSBC Cashback Credit Card₹ 999+GST
Entry-LevelAmex Membership Rewards Credit Card₹ 1500+GST
PremiumIDFC First Bank Wealth Credit CardLTF
PremiumTata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card₹ 1499+GST
PremiumHDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card₹ 2500+GST
Super-PremiumYes Bank Marquee Credit Card₹ 4999+GST
Super-PremiumAxis Bank Atlas Credit Card₹ 5000+GST
Super-PremiumHDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card₹ 10,000+GST
Super-PremiumHDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card₹ 12,500+GST
TravelMarriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card₹ 3000+GST
TravelClub Vistara IDFC First Bank Credit Card₹ 4999+GST
TravelAmex Platinum Travel Credit Card₹ 5000+GST
TravelMarriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card₹ 3000+GST
FuelBPCL SBI Credit Card₹ 499+GST
FuelIDFC First Bank HPCL Power+ Credit Card₹ 499+GST
Consolidated List of Best Credit Cards in India

Final Thoughts

This is the list of the best credit cards in India that we think are worth checking out and applying for across all banks and credit cards. The decision to get a card depends on what you intend to use the rewards for and whether the card will help you do that. So, do check the redemption options to see if you are getting a good value out of your spending. The next thing to check would be the annual fee. The card should offer a good return on spending including the annual fee (if not waived).

Hope this list helps you in getting a card that gives you a rewarding experience. 🙂

Any other card you think should be a part of this best credit cards in India list? Do comment and let us know!

Frequently Asked Questions

Axis Bank My Zone Credit Card LTF
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