Top 20 Best Credit Cards in India 2026

List of 20 Best Credit Cards in India

Before applying for a credit card, consider the benefits you expect from your new card. Are you signing up to save on daily expenses, or as a frequent flyer, do you aim to earn extra AirMiles and enhance your travel experience with complimentary airport lounge access? Having clear answers to these questions is crucial, as different categories of credit cards cater to various customer niches, as mentioned earlier.

People looking for a new and rewarding credit card can refer to this list and select the card of their choice.

Compare India’s Best Credit Cards

Here are the most important features of the best credit cards in India.

Features	HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card	Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card	Cashback SBI Credit Card
Joining/Renewal Fees	₹1,000 + GST	Nil	₹999 + GST
Welcome Benefits	1,000 CashPoints	Worth ₹2,500	N/A
Reward Rate	5% Cashback at Select Online Partners (Flipkart, Myntra, and Zomato) and 1% Cashback on All Other Spends	5% Rewards on Spends Made on Amazon (For Prime Members) and 3% for Non-Prime Members. 1% for All Other Spends Except Rent	5% Cashback for Online Transactions and 1% for Offline Transactions
Reward Type	CashPoints (1 CashPoint = ₹1)	Cashback is Received as Amazon Pay Balance	Cashback Against Statement
Renewal Fee Spend-Based Waiver	On Spends of ₹1 Lakh	N/A	N/A

Review of the Top Credit Cards in India

Card Insider has compiled detailed features and reviews of the top credit cards in India to help you make the best choice.

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card

The HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card is widely considered to be one of the most rewarding credit cards in India. It is especially suitable for young people who prefer to shop online for everything, including food. By using this card, you can get a straight 5% cashback on your purchases from popular merchants and platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, cult.fit, Zomato, Swiggy, BookMyShow, and many others.

This credit card can help you save money on expenses such as food, shopping, fitness, and movies. However, the amount of cashback you can earn is capped at ₹1,000 per statement cycle. For those who wish to get more premium credit cards from HDFC Bank, this is the go-to choice.

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

This co-branded offering is best for those who often shop with Flipkart. Whether you buy mobile phones or books, with the Flipkart Axis Credit Card, you can earn unlimited 5% cashback on all purchases made with the online shopping giant. Apart from cashback on Flipkart, this card also offers 4% cashback on spends made with Swiggy, PVR, cult.fit, and Uber. Available at a joining and annual fee of ₹500, this card offers welcome benefits worth ₹350.

Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

The Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card is a travel-focused credit card designed for frequent travelers. It offers EDGE Miles rewards on spends, accelerated rewards on travel bookings, and benefits like complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access along with a fuel surcharge waiver. Cardholders can also receive welcome benefits such as bonus EDGE Miles after activation, making it a useful option for those who regularly spend on flights, hotels, and travel-related expenses.

Scapia Credit Card

The Scapia Credit Card is a travel-focused, lifetime free credit card issued in partnership with Federal Bank and BOBCARD. It offers zero forex markup, unlimited domestic lounge access on meeting spend criteria, and rewards in the form of Scapia Coins, making it attractive for frequent travellers. Cardholders can earn 20% Scapia Coins on travel bookings through the Scapia app and 10% on other eligible spends, which can be redeemed directly for flights and hotel bookings on the platform.

Cashback SBI Credit Card

The SBI Cashback Credit Card has stood the test of time and proven itself to be, as many call it, a truly no-nonsense cashback credit card. These days, everyone can order anything online in an instant through shopping, payments, and food deliveries. In an era of comfort and online spending, the SBI Cashback Card reigns supreme.

You can earn 5% cashback on most online transactions and 1% cashback on offline transactions.

Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card

One of India’s most popular shopping credit cards, the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Card offers a 5% cashback on shopping from Amazon for Amazon Prime members, 3% cashback on shopping from Amazon for all non-Prime members, 2% cashback on payments made to over 100 Amazon Pay partner merchants and 1% cashback on every other category of transactions made with the card.

When you receive your credit card for the first time, you will also receive benefits worth ₹2,500. As this credit card is a lifetime-free card (no annual or renewal charges), these benefits are very valuable. By simply making a few bill payments, you can get ₹2,500. Not only that, but non-Prime members can also enjoy a 3-month Amazon Prime membership as a joining benefit. Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Cards offer a wide range of benefits, from shopping to paying utility bills. The Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card is a must for everyone’s wallet.

Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card

Considered to be one of the best cards for utility bill payments, the Airtel Axis Credit Card offers up to 25% cashback on bill payments. You can get 25% cashback up to ₹250 for Airtel recharges, 10% cashback up to ₹250 for utility bill payments like electricity, and 10% cashback for orders placed on Swiggy, BigBasket, and Zomato. These various cashback offers on utility, food, and grocery deliveries make this one of the best credit cards in India. This is a must-have card for every household and comes at an affordable fee of ₹500, offering welcome vouchers worth the same amount.

BPCL SBI Card Octane

The BPCL SBI Card Octane is an excellent fuel credit card that offers a fantastic reward program and several other exciting benefits. You can earn reward points at an accelerated rate of 10X (10 reward points for every ₹100 spent) on dining bills at selected restaurants, with a maximum of 7,500 Reward Points every month.

Additionally, you can earn 25X reward points (25 reward points every time you spend ₹100) on fuel transactions at BPCL fuel stations using the BPCL SBI Card Octane, with a maximum of 2,500 Reward Points per billing cycle. This card basically offers you a 7.25% value back on fuel purchases from BPCL petrol pumps.

PhonePe SBI SELECT BLACK Credit Card

The PhonePe SBI Select Black Credit Card is a rewarding co-branded credit card designed for users who frequently make payments through the PhonePe app. It offers 10 reward points per ₹100 on PhonePe spends such as bill payments, recharges, insurance, and travel, along with 5 reward points per ₹100 on online spends and 1 reward point per ₹100 on other transactions. With benefits like domestic airport lounge access, complimentary Priority Pass membership, and milestone rewards, the card provides strong value for users who rely on PhonePe for everyday payments.

IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card

The IDFC First Select Credit Card is a feature-packed offering designed for customers seeking a combination of rewards, travel benefits, and lifestyle perks. With no joining or renewal fees, it offers value through benefits like up to 10x reward points on specific spending categories, complimentary domestic lounge access, and exclusive dining and entertainment discounts. Additionally, the card provides useful travel insurance coverage, fuel surcharge waivers, and low forex markup fees for international transactions. Its flexible reward redemption options and lifetime-free membership make it a compelling choice for frequent shoppers and travelers alike.

IDFC First Bank Ashva Metal Credit Card

The IDFC First Bank Ashva Metal Credit Card is a unique offering with a luxurious metal design and a joining fee of ₹2,999. It provides a range of benefits, including 10X reward points on spends above ₹20,000, complimentary domestic and international lounge access, free railway lounge visits, and golf privileges. With a low Forex fee of 1%, travel insurance, and free movie tickets on BookMyShow, it’s well-suited for frequent spenders and travelers. However, many benefits are tied to meeting spend thresholds, making it ideal for those who spend consistently but less appealing for irregular spenders.

Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card

The Tata Neu Infinity Credit Card is one of the most rewarding cards currently being offered. At an annual/joining charge of ₹1,500, cardholders can take advantage of numerous benefits, including international and domestic airport lounge access. With the Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card, cardholders can earn up to 10% cashback as NeuCoins on spends made with the Tata Neu app. This includes spends across Air India, BigBasket, Tanishq, and more Tata brands. Those who opt for the RuPay variant can even get 1.5% on UPI spends via the Tata Neu app.

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card

The HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card is a premium metal card packed with top-class benefits for travel, dining, shopping, and more. With unlimited airport lounge access (both in India and abroad), 6 free golf games every quarter, and great rewards on spending, it’s ideal for people who enjoy luxury experiences. You also receive welcome gifts, including Amazon Prime memberships, Club Marriott memberships, and Swiggy One, upon spending ₹1.5 lakh within the first 90 days. You earn 5 reward points per ₹150 spent and up to 10X points on SmartBuy purchases.

HDFC Bank INFINIA Metal Credit Card

One of the most famous and premium credit cards in India, the Infinia Credit Card offers a higher reward rate of 5 points for every ₹150 spent, with each reward point valued at ₹1 when redeemed for travel-related expenses such as flight bookings and hotel reservations. This card offers travel benefits such as lower foreign currency markup charges, complimentary Club Marriott membership, and unlimited complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access with Priority Pass membership. Furthermore, the insurance benefits include personal air accident cover worth ₹3 crore.

This is an invite-only card and is offered to high-net individuals.

Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card

The Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card is the most premium card offering by ICICI Bank, even surpassing the Emeralde Private Credit Card. From unlimited airport lounge access to luxurious and unheard-of airport transfers, this card offers it all. It comes at an annual charge of ₹20,000 + GST and is suited for ultra-high net individuals. With several milestone benefits, complimentary memberships, and a high reward rate of 2% on domestic spends, this card is most useful for those who frequently travel and make high spending.

What to Keep in Mind While Applying for a Credit Card?

You must have a particular set of criteria in mind before applying for a new credit card. The criteria may be different for different individuals depending upon their needs, income, financial habits, and, most importantly, the reason for applying for the card. This is how you can compare the best credit cards in India and choose one for yourself.

Your Spends

For example, suppose you are searching for a credit card that can save you on travel spends. In that case, you will give more importance to travel-related benefits like AirMiles, membership in frequent flyer programs, or complimentary air tickets. Consider complimentary lounge access at airports if you are also concerned about making your travel experience a pleasurable one. In contrast, other benefits like discounts on dining bills or complimentary golf games might not matter to you that much.

Annual Charges

The annual membership fee is another very important parameter to look for in a credit card. Many credit cards are free for a lifetime, while some premium credit cards are issued with an annual fee as high as over ₹2 lakh per annum; for example, the annual fee of the American Express Platinum Credit Card is ₹66,000 per year. Rather than looking for a card that is lifetime free or a card with a lesser annual fee, what you should consider instead is whether the benefits that a card offers outweigh its annual fee and by what margin.

Rewards

This is the very first and the most obvious thing to look for when applying for a new credit card. You must know whether a credit card earns you cashback (which is later adjusted against your card’s statement balance) or rewards you with Reward Points. In the latter case, another point that becomes very important is the redemption of reward points.

Milestone Benefits

Many credit cards reward you for achieving a certain spend-based milestone, i.e., on spending a certain minimum amount with the card within a given time period, which may be one statement cycle, calendar quarter, or calendar year (or any other time period specified by the card issuer). Any milestone benefit that a card offers is beneficial for you only if you are able to achieve the stipulated milestone. You must evaluate your spends in order to understand the utility of the milestone benefits that the card offers.

Lounge Access

Many credit cards (in fact, all credit cards in the mid to premium and super-premium segment) offer some additional privileges like complimentary lounge access at airports/railway stations, on top of the regular Reward Points/cashback benefit. Before making up your mind about a particular credit card, it is essential to know whether it offers any additional benefits and, if yes, what the utility of the benefit is for you. For example, if you frequently fly overseas, a value-added benefit like complimentary lounge access at international airports might be important for you.

Forex Mark-Up Fee

International transactions made with credit cards attract a markup fee known as a foreign currency markup fee or forex markup fee. The standard is to charge a 3.5% forex markup fee on the transacted amount for international transactions. However, some credit cards in the premium and super-premium categories charge a lower foreign markup fee on international transactions. For someone who plans to use the card for international transactions frequently, a lower foreign mark-up fee becomes an important feature.

Process Behind Selecting the Best Credit Cards in India

The team at Card Insider has spent a lot of effort researching different cards offered by issuers and banks in India to compile a list of the top credit cards available in the country. Our list includes the best credit cards for the masses, fuel credit cards, and credit cards for high-income individuals. We have curated the most popular and literally the best cards available in the country. Everyone can find a card on our list that suits their needs.

Bottom Line

Choosing the most beneficial credit card in India can be a daunting task unless you are very clear about your spending needs. But if that is not the case, you must first evaluate your spending habits. For that, you should determine what portion of your credit card bill the various categories of spends account for. This data will make choosing the best credit card easier for you. It’ll obviously be better to go for a card that gives you maximum benefit in your favorite spending category.

With our list of the best credit cards in India, you can easily choose the best-suited credit card for yourself and apply for it through our website. Card Insider allows you to compare the various credit cards available in India. You can also read detailed credit card reviews and apply for the one that suits your needs the best.

Share your thoughts on our list of the top cards in India. Did we miss any? Tell us in the comments below.