Best Credit Cards in India

Quick Picks - Best Cards by Category

•       1.  Best Overall: HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card

•       2.  Best Cashback: Axis Bank Ace Credit Card

•       3.  Best for Travel: HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Credit Card

•       4.  Best for Beginners: SBI Simply CLICK Credit Card

•       5.  Best for Shopping: Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card

•       6.  Best for Fuel: BPCL SBI Card Octane

•       7.  Best Lifetime Free: IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card

•       8.  Best Premium: Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

•       9.  Best for Groceries/Online: Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

•       10.  Best for Professionals: ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

Introduction

Over the past three years, the Indian credit card market has expanded greatly. There are estimated to be over 105 million credit cards in circulation as of early 2025, which now means there are also a significantly greater number of different types of credit cards available (than in the past), some very different from each other (including ones that are cashback-oriented for salaried employees or ones for individuals who frequently travel or simply want first time) and thus confusing to individuals trying to select an appropriate credit card based on specific financial needs and personal situation; we have created this guide to help you with your selection for a credit card.

The following completes a comparison of 10 top credit cards in India based on all of the key metrics used to determine selection of a credit card, including annual fees, effective rewards, welcome bonus, fuel surcharge waived, lounge access available, and minimum yearly income for a loan.

How We Chose These Cards

To compare each card, we used the following framework: The annual cost (true costs - offsettable benefits), the rewards for everyday purchases across the different categories, flexibility to redeem your rewards in real-life situations, and whether or not the requirements to qualify match the card's intended marketing strategy.

All dollar amounts mentioned on this site are valid as of June 2025. It is possible for cards to change their reward programs; therefore, please check with your bank prior to applying for any of these cards for current terms..

Top 10 Best Credit Cards in India (2025)

#1 Best Overall  HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card  (HDFC Bank)  [Editor's Choice]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  12 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (Visa / Priority Pass)

•       ✓  Up to 5x reward points on dining, groceries, and travel bookings

•       ✓  Annual fee waiver on spending ₹4 lakh or more in a year

•       ✓  Milestone bonus: 10,000 Reward Points on spending ₹5 lakh annually

•       ✓  Comprehensive travel and purchase protection insurance

Best for: Working professionals who want a well-rounded card for an airport lounges, solid rewards, and an achievable fee waiver.

#2 Best Cashback  Axis Bank Ace Credit Card  (Axis Bank)  [Top Cashback]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  5% cashback on Google Pay utility bill payments (electricity, gas, broadband)

•       ✓  4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola rides

•       ✓  2% flat cashback on all other spends no category restriction

•       ✓  Annual fee waived on spends above ₹2 lakh per year

•       ✓  Fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 - ₹4,000

Best for: Anyone who wants no-fuss, automatic cashback without managing reward points or redemption portals.

#3 Best for Travel  HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Credit Card  (HDFC Bank)  [Premium Travel]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access worldwide (Priority Pass)

•       ✓  10x reward points on SmartBuy portal, flights, and hotel bookings

•       ✓  Club Marriott membership worth ₹8,000 included

•       ✓  No pre-set spending limit - flexible based on usage

•       ✓  Golf privileges at 20+ courses across India

Best for: Frequent business travelers who spend heavily and want true premium perks and this card can offset its own fee in lounge and concierge value.

#4 Best for Beginners  SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card  (SBI Card)  [Easy Approval]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  10x reward points on Amazon, Book My Show, Clear-trip, Lenskart, and Swiggy

•       ✓  5x reward points on all other online transactions

•       ✓  Annual fee reversed on spends of ₹1 lakh per year

•       ✓  Fuel surcharge waiver (1% on transactions up to ₹3,000)

•       ✓  Easy approval and ideal for first credit card applicants

Best for: First-time credit card users and online shoppers who want solid rewards without a steep fee or high income requirement.

#5 Best for Shopping  Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card  (ICICI Bank × Amazon Pay)  [Lifetime Free]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  5% cashback on Amazon.in purchases for Prime members (3% for non-Prime)

•       ✓  2% cashback on Amazon Pay partner merchants

•       ✓  1% cashback on all other transactions

•       ✓  Cashback credited as Amazon Pay balance , instant, no redemption hassle

•       ✓  No joining fee, no annual fee ever

Best for: Regular Amazon shoppers and Prime members. The zero-fee structure means any cashback earned is pure profit.

#6 Best for Fuel  BPCL SBI Card Octane  (SBI Card × BPCL)  [Fuel Specialist]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  7.25% value back on BPCL fuel (25x reward rate)

•       ✓  1% surcharge waiver on fuel transactions at BPCL pumps

•       ✓  5x reward points on dining, movies, and grocery spends

•       ✓  Contactless payment with Visa payWave technology

•       ✓  Annual fee reversible on ₹2 lakh+ spend per year

Best for: Anyone who fills up at BPCL regularly the 7.25% value back is one of the highest fuel reward rates in India.

#7 Best Lifetime Free  IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card  (IDFC FIRST Bank)  [Zero Fee]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  Lifetime free no annual or joining fee, ever

•       ✓  10x reward points on first 90 days from card issuance

•       ✓  4 complimentary domestic lounge access per quarter

•       ✓  Interest-free cash withdrawal for up to 48 days

•       ✓  Rewards never expire and no pressure to redeem by a deadline

Best for: Cost-conscious users who still want meaningful rewards and lounge access without paying a rupee in annual fees.

#8 Best Premium Card  Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card  (Axis Bank)  [Premium Pick]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  Unlimited complimentary international lounge access (Priority Pass)

•       ✓  35x EDGE Miles on travel booked via Axis Bank Travel Edge portal

•       ✓  EDGE Miles transfer to airline and hotel partners at 1:1 ratio

•       ✓  Magnus Concierge , 24/7 travel, dining, and lifestyle assistance

•       ✓  Complimentary Taj Inner Circle Silver Membership

Best for: High spenders who want to convert everyday spend into business class flights EDGE Miles partnerships make this one of the best travel cards available.

#9 Best for Online Shopping  Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card  (Axis Bank × Flipkart)  [No Fee Option]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  5% cashback on Flipkart, Myntra, and 2GUD purchases

•       ✓  4% cashback on Swiggy, Uber, and PVR Cinemas

•       ✓  1.5% unlimited cashback on all other online/offline purchases

•       ✓  4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year

•       ✓  Annual fee waived on spends above ₹2 lakh per year

Best for: Flipkart loyalists and Big Billion Day shoppers for the 5% back stacks well with existing sale discounts.

#10 Best for Professionals  ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card  (ICICI Bank)  [Rewards + Travel]

Key Highlights:

•       ✓  Complimentary Priority Pass membership with 2 international lounge visits per year

•       ✓  2 complimentary golf lessons and 1 golf round per month

•       ✓  1% fuel surcharge waiver at HPCL pumps

•       ✓  Insurance cover: travel accident (₹1 crore), lost card, and purchase protection

•       ✓  EMI facility on minimum ₹2,500 purchases at 2,000+ partner merchants

Best for: Senior professionals and business owners who want a balanced package of travel perks, golf access, and strong insurance protection.

Quick Comparison: All 10 Cards at a Glance

How to Choose the Right Card for You

There's no single 'best' credit card in India and the right card depends entirely on how you spend. Here's how to think through the decision:

Step 1: Match Your Spending Pattern

Review your bank statements over the last three months to track where your money went. If fuel is the largest non-essential expense, a BPCL Octane fuel savings plan may outperform a generic travel savings plan. If you typically order food from Swiggy and Zomato 4 times per week, you will earn 4% back on those purchases with the Axis Ace.

Step 2: Calculate the Real Annual Cost

The equation to determine what a card's actual price is, is as follows: Annual fee - the total amount you will actually use in benefits = true price. An example would be if you had a ₹2,500 card that provides you with a benefit of ₹3,000 in lounge access & cash back versus a ₹500 card with merchant offers that you will not use, you will pay ₹590 after GST.

Before applying for any credit card, you should verify what your average spend amount is so that you can get the most benefit from any annual fee waiver offers provided by other issuers.

Step 3: Check Eligibility Honestly

When you apply for a credit card, this action will leave a hard inquiry on your credit file with the CIBIL score. If you apply for a premium credit card but your income and/or credit score do not qualify, you will be denied, and your CIBIL score will be lowered slightly at the same time.

Step 4: Consider How You'll Redeem

The value of reward points and cashback lies in how you use them. An airline mile card will not be worth as much if you do not travel frequently enough to use the miles you earn. For instance, cashback cards, like the Axis Ace and Amazon Pay ICICI, allow you to convert your cash into account credits or wallet balances - there is no need for a portal.

 Disclaimer: Card fees and benefits are subject to change. Always verify current terms with the issuing bank before applying. This only and does not constitute financial advice.