What do you want the card to do?
Rewards Credit Cards
Earn points on everything you spend, redeemable against flights, vouchers or statement credit.
6 cardsCashback Credit Cards
Straight money back on your spending, credited to your statement. No points, no redemption games.
4 cardsTravel Credit Cards
Lounge access, air miles and travel insurance for people who fly more than twice a year.
4 cardsFuel Credit Cards
Surcharge waivers and accelerated rewards at petrol pumps, for heavy drivers.
1 cardLifetime Free Credit Cards
No joining fee, no annual fee, ever — the sensible first card or a spare.
3 cardsShopping Credit Cards
Accelerated rewards on Amazon, Flipkart and everyday online spending.
4 cardsEvery card we compare
Fees and reward rates are indicative and set by the issuer — always confirm current terms before you apply.
HDFC Millennia Credit Card
HDFC Bank- 5% cashback on Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato, Myntra, Uber and other partners
- 1% cashback on all other spending
- 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits a year
SBI Cashback Credit Card
SBI Card- 5% cashback on all online spending, with no merchant restriction
- 1% cashback offline
- Cashback credited automatically to the statement
Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card
ICICI Bank- Lifetime free — no joining or annual fee
- 5% back for Amazon Prime members on Amazon, 3% for non-members
- 2% back on partner merchants, 1% everywhere else
HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card
HDFC Bank- 5X reward points at Marks & Spencer, Myntra, Nykaa and Reliance Digital
- 12 complimentary domestic and 6 international lounge visits a year
- Complimentary Swiggy One and MMT Black membership on joining
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
Axis Bank- 5% cashback on electricity, gas, mobile and DTH bills paid through Google Pay
- 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola
- 2% cashback on everything else, uncapped
SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card
SBI Card- 10X reward points on Amazon, BookMyShow, Cleartrip, Netmeds and Apollo 24/7
- 5X points on all other online spending
- ₹500 Amazon voucher on joining
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank- Lifetime free — no joining or annual fee
- 10X reward points on spending above ₹20,000 in a month
- Reward points never expire
HDFC Infinia Credit Card
HDFC Bank- Unlimited complimentary lounge access worldwide with Priority Pass, including guests
- 10X points on SmartBuy for flights, hotels and vouchers
- Complimentary Club Marriott membership and golf access
Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
Axis Bank- Complimentary domestic and international lounge access with guest visits
- 5,000 bonus points on monthly spending above ₹1 lakh
- Complimentary annual membership benefits and airport concierge
BPCL SBI Card Octane
SBI Card- 25 reward points per ₹100 spent at BPCL pumps, worth about 7.25% back
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹100 per statement cycle
- 10X points on dining, groceries and departmental stores
Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card
Kotak Mahindra- Lifetime free with no joining or annual fee
- Issued against a fixed deposit, so no income proof is required
- Builds a credit history from scratch
Lifetime free cards
These cost nothing to hold, which makes them a sensible first card — and worth keeping open, since closing your oldest card shortens your credit history.
Credit card questions
There is no single best card — it depends on where you spend. Heavy online shoppers do best with a 5% cashback card, frequent flyers with a lounge-access travel card, and anyone wanting simplicity with a lifetime free card. Match the card to your largest spending category.
Most issuers want 750 or above for premium cards and around 700 for entry-level ones. If you have no score at all, a secured card against a fixed deposit is issued without one and builds your history in about six months.
A formal application creates a hard enquiry, which causes a small temporary dip. Several applications in a short window do real damage. Checking eligibility here does not touch your credit file.
Interest is charged monthly, typically 3.5% to 3.75% a month — which is 42% to 45% a year. It applies from the transaction date once you carry any balance forward, and the interest-free period is lost entirely until the balance is cleared in full.
No. Paying only the minimum keeps the balance revolving at 42% a year and removes the interest-free period on new purchases. It is one of the most expensive habits in personal finance — always clear the statement in full.