How to Choose the Best Credit Card in India - Key Factors to Consider
Here are key factors to consider before selecting the credit card that best suits your needs:
- Credit Score: A higher credit score improves your chances of approval and allows for a higher credit limit.
- Interest Rates: Different cards offer varying interest rates, so it is important to compare rates before making your decision.
- Fees: Be mindful of any annual or joining fees associated with the card, and ensure you understand the total cost.
- Offers and Benefits: Look for perks like reward points, air miles, cashback, instant discounts, and welcome offers to maximize your card's value.
- Features: Look for features like contactless payments, virtual cards, mobile wallets, and fraud protection for a seamless experience.
- Charges: Consider late payment fees, over-limit charges, foreign transaction fees, and cash withdrawal charges before selecting a card.
- Higher credit limit: A higher credit limit provides flexibility but also increases the temptation to overspend. Choose a card that aligns your spending capacity and repayment ability.
Features & Benefits of Top 10 Credit Cards in India
We have shortlisted a few credit cards that offer a variety of exciting features and benefits. You can read about them below:
RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card
The RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card is a lifetime-free card, with no annual or joining fees. It is designed to make everyday spending more rewarding, offering benefits across various categories. Maximise your savings and enjoy exclusive perks tailored to your needs. Whether for shopping, dining, or daily expenses, this card ensures you get more value from every transaction without the hassle of extra charges.
Benefits and Features:
Explore the exclusive benefits of the RBL Bank SaveMax Credit Card listed below:
- 5x Reward Points on Groceries: Earn 5x reward points on all your grocery purchases, capped at 1,000 reward points per month.
- General Spending Rewards: Get 1 reward point for every Rs.100 spent (excludes Fuel & Auto, Utilities, Insurance, Railways, Real Estate/Rentals, Wallets/Service Providers, Government Services, and EMI conversion for retail transactions).
- Cashback on Zomato and BookMyShow: Enjoy 10% cashback, up to Rs.100 per month on both.
- Free Monthly Credit Advisory Report: Stay informed with a credit report from BankBazaar.
- Multiple Networks: Available on MasterCard and VISA.
FinBooster: YES Bank - BankBazaar Co-branded Credit Card
The YES Bank BankBazaar Co-Branded Credit Card with is a lifetime-free card with no joining or annual fees. Enjoy accelerated reward points on daily spending, a real-time dashboard to track transactions, and secure, contactless payments via MasterCard SecureCode and NFC technology for faster, safer purchases.
Note: This card is not available to individuals who already hold a YES Bank credit card.
Benefits and Features:
Discover the exceptional benefits that come with the Yes Bank Finbooster Credit Card:
- Complimentary CreditStrong Report: Track and improve your credit score with monthly reports.
- Lifetime-Free Credit Card: No annual or renewal fees for this card.
- Accelerated Reward Points: Earn 5X points on dining, 3X on groceries and apparel, and 2X on other retail spending.
- Contactless Transactions: Make fast and secure payments using NFC technology.
- Insurance Coverage: Rs.2.50 lakh credit shield cover in case of accidental death of the primary cardholder.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% surcharge waived on fuel purchases between Rs.400 to Rs.5,000.
- Instant EMI and Quick Loan Options: Convert purchases to EMIs and access loans.
- Eligibility: Available for salaried or self-employed individuals aged 21-60, with a minimum salary of Rs.25,000/month or ITR of Rs.7.50 lakh.
- Zero Membership Fees: No first-year or renewal fees.
- Interest Rate: 3.99% per month on revolving credit.
- Additional Charges: Forex markup of 1%, and utility, education, and fuel transaction charges will be applied starting from 1 October 2024.

Federal Bank VISA Signet Credit Card
The Federal Bank Visa Signet Credit Card offers travel, lifestyle, and entertainment benefits. Earn reward points on every transaction, redeemable for exclusive offers. Enjoy discounts on flights, hotels, shopping at select retailers, and premium entertainment. With no joining or renewal fees, enjoy these perks without extra costs
Features and benefits:
- Annual Percentage Rate (APR): Starting from 0.69% per month (8.28% p.a.)
- Rewards: Earn 3x rewards on spends in Electronics and Apparel categories, 2x rewards on Entertainment, and 1x reward for other categories.
- Welcome Benefit: Receive an Amazon Pay e-Voucher worth Rs.200 after a minimum spend of Rs.3,000 within the first 30 days.
- Lounge Access: Enjoy complimentary lounge access once per quarter at domestic airports.
- BOGO Offers: Get Buy One Get One (BOGO) offers on INOX movie tickets once a quarter.
- Swiggy Vouchers: Avail complimentary Swiggy vouchers on quarterly spends of Rs.20,000.
- Visa Offers: Access a wide variety of Visa offers and deals, including travel, food and dining, shopping, sports, entertainment, lifestyle, and more.
- No membership fees: These credit cards are lifetime free, with no membership or joining fees.
HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card
The HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card comes with no joining or annual charges along with multiple offers and benefits. Key benefits include converting reward points into air miles, earning 5X rewards on subsequent purchases, and saving up to Rs.3,000 annually on fuel surcharges. Additional advantages include zero liability on lost cards, emergency card replacement, and extensive insurance coverage.
Benefits and Features:
Here are the key advantages of the HSBC Platinum Credit Card:
- No Joining or Annual Fees: Enjoy a lifetime free credit card with no charges.
- Air Miles Conversion: Convert reward points into air miles with major airlines like Air India and British Airways.
- Latest offers: Offers Amazon e-gift voucher worth Rs.100 when applied online.
- Offers rs.500 cashback on downloading HSBC India Mobile app and spending at least Rs.5000 within 30 days of receiving the card.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Save up to Rs.3,000 annually on fuel surcharges.
- Reward Points on Transactions: Earn 2 reward points for every Rs.150 spent.
- Accelerated Reward Points: Earn 5X reward points on purchases after spending Rs.4 lakh, capped at 15,000 points per anniversary year.
- Zero Liability on Lost Cards: Get insurance coverage for any misuse of your card up to Rs.3 lakh when reported lost.
- Balance Transfer: Transfer outstanding balances from other credit cards to your HSBC card at a lower interest rate.
- Emergency Card Replacement: Quick replacement of your lost card anywhere in the world within 3 days.
- Google Pay Compatibility: Use your card for secure online payments through Google Pay.
- 24/7 Online Access: Manage your account and access cash advances anytime.
SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card
The SimplySAVE SBI Card combines affordability with rewards. Get 2,000 bonus Reward Points on spending Rs.2,000 in the first 60 days. Enjoy 10x Reward Points on select categories, a 1% fuel surcharge waiver, and the chance to waive the annual fee based on spending. With global acceptance, contactless payments, and utility services, it offers a seamless and rewarding experience.
Benefits and Features:
The key advantages and features of the SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card are outline below:
- Bonus Reward Points: 2,000 bonus points for spending Rs.2,000 or more in the first 60 days.
- 10X Reward Points: 10X points per Rs.150 on dining, movies, departmental stores, and groceries. Earn 1 reward point for every Rs.150 spent on other categories.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver on fuel transactions between Rs.500 to Rs.3,000. (Maximum waiver is capped at Rs.100 per statement cycle).
- Annual Fee Reversal: Spend Rs.1 lakh or more annually for a fee waiver.
- Contactless Payments: Fast, secure transactions without handing over the card.
- Worldwide Acceptance: Accepted at 24 million global outlets, including 3,25,000 in India.
- Add-On Cards: Available for family members aged 18 and above.
- Cash on the Go: Withdraw cash from over 1 million Visa or MasterCard ATMs worldwide.
- Utility Bill Payments: Pay electricity, phone, and other utility bills easily.
- Balance Transfer: Transfer dues from other credit cards at lower interest rates.
- Flexipay: Convert purchases of Rs.2,500 or more into monthly instalments.
- Fees: The SimplySAVE SBI Card has a one-time annual fee of Rs.499 and a renewal fee of Rs.499 per annum.
Amazon ICICI Pay Credit Card
The Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card offers exclusive privileges and savings, including a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on every refuel. With no joining or annual fees, enjoy benefits like rewards that never expire, flexible redemption options, and no-cost EMI on Amazon purchases. Earn 1 Reward Point for every Rs.1 spent, automatically credited as Amazon Pay Balance, making every transaction rewarding.
Benefits and Features:
The features of the Amazon ICICI Pay Credit Card include:
- Amazon Prime Members: Earn 5% cashback on purchases made on Amazon India if you are an Amazon Prime member.
- Non-prime Members: Earn 3% cashback on your spendings even if you are not an Amazon Prime member.
- Amazon Pay Partner Sites: Enjoy 2% cashback on payments across 100+ merchant websites that accept Amazon Pay.
- Other Transactions: Earn 1% cash back on all other payments such as dining, shopping, travel and insurance payments.
- No Expiry: Your cashback earnings never expire.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver on fuel transactions across all petrol pumps.
- Annual Fee: No joining or annual fees, lifetime free credit card.
- Easy reward redemption: Rewards can be redeemed to shop from over 10 crore products on Amazon India and with more than 100 Amazon Pay partner merchants.
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card is a versatile financial solution packed with a range of benefits. Cardholders can earn cashback on bill payments, recharges, and everyday purchases.
Additional perks include access to airport lounges, fuel surcharge waivers, and dining discounts. The option to convert purchases into EMIs adds financial flexibility. With no joining or annual fees, this card is tailored to meet practical financial needs, making it a great choice for those seeking comprehensive credit card experience.
Benefits and Features:
Here are the benefits and key features of the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card:
- Cashback on Every Spend: 5% Cashback on bill payments (electricity, internet, gas, and more) & DTH and mobile recharges via Google Pay; 4% Cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola; and 1.5% Cashback on all other purchases.
- Lounge Access: The card offers 4 complimentary lounge visits per calendar year at select domestic airports with your ACE Credit Card.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel purchases at all stations across India. Applicable on fuel transactions between Rs.400 to Rs.5,000, with a maximum benefit of up to Rs.500 per statement.
- Dining delights: Offers 15% discount at more than 4000 partner restaurants.
- Convert Purchases to EMI: Convert any transaction of Rs.2,500 or more into easy EMIs by contacting customer support at just 1.5% per month at a monthly reducing balance.
- Joining Fee: The joining fee is Rs.499, but it is waived for select channels.
- Annual Fee: The annual fee is Rs.499 from the second year onwards, which can be waived if annual spending exceeds Rs.2 lakh; however, rent transactions and wallet load transactions are not eligible for the fee waiver.

IndusInd Bank Platinum Aura Edge Credit Card
The IndusInd Bank Platinum Aura Edge Credit Card offers 1% cashback on retail purchases and comprehensive insurance coverage for travel-related financial security. Enjoy a 1% waiver on fuel and railway surcharges, adding more value to your spending. Choose from tailored plans like the Shop, Home, Travel, and Party Plans for personalised benefits that suit your lifestyle.
Benefits and Features:
The exclusive advantages offered by the IndusInd Bank Aura Edge Credit Card are highlighted below:
- Contactless Payment: Fast, secure, and convenient transactions by simply waving the card at merchant locations.
- Reward Plans: Flexibility to choose from four different reward plans.
- Reward Points: Earn up to 8x reward points on select merchants for every Rs.100 spent.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver on fuel surcharge for purchases made at all fuel stations in India.
- Maximum Reward Points: Cash redemption for reward points capped at 2,500 per calendar month (effective from 1 September 2024).
- Discount Vouchers: You can get discount vouchers from brands like Amazon, Flipkart, Big Bazaar, Zee5, Apollo Pharmacy, Uber, Ola, and more under Vouchagram and discount voucher from brands Pantaloons, Bata, Raymond, Hush Puppies, and more under Vouchagram premium.
- Travel insurance offers insurance coverage of Rs.1 lakh for lost baggage; Rs.25,000 for delayed baggage, lost ticket, and missed connection; and Rs.50,000 for loss of passport.
- Platinum Aura Edge Assurance: Offers ‘Total protection’ in case of counterfeit fraud or loss of card and air accident coverage of Rs.25 lakh.
- Online and E-commerce Security: Assurance of safe online shopping and e-commerce transactions.
- Global Acceptance: Use at over 10 lakh merchant outlets in India and 30 million outlets worldwide.
- Additional Features: Instant access to cash withdrawals in India and globally.
- Shop Plan Savings: Earn savings points on Rs. 100 spent across various categories: 4 points for shopping in department stores, 2 points for consumer durables or electronics, 1.5 points for restaurant bills and books, and 0.5 points for all other spending.

IDFC First Millennia Credit Card
The FIRST Millennia Credit Card is specially crafted to align with the dynamic lifestyle of millennials. This lifetime-free card comes packed with exciting benefits tailored to enhance everyday spending.
Cardholders can earn up to 10X Reward Points on eligible transactions, enjoy low-interest rates, and access exclusive discounts across various merchants. Beyond its financial perks, the card also makes a statement, reflecting the unique style and individuality of its holder.
Benefits and Features:
The features and benefits of the IDFC First Millennia Credit Card are as follows:
- Lifetime Free Card: No annual fees for life.
- Unlimited Reward Points: Points never expire.
- UPI can be activated on this card for just Rs.199.
- Offers 3X reward points on UPI spending.
- Offers 100% cashback up to Rs.200, which is Rs.50 each on the first four UPI transactions.
- Convenient Redemption: Use reward points for online or in-store purchases; redemption incurs a small fee of Rs.99 plus GST.
- Joining Benefits: Receive a welcome voucher worth Rs.500 upon spending Rs.5,000 or more within 30 days of card issuance.
- Enjoy 5% cashback (up to Rs. 1,000) on the value of your first EMI transaction made within 30 days of card issuance.
- Easy EMI Conversion: Easily convert all transactions above Rs.2,500 into convenient EMIs directly through your mobile app.
- Movie Discount: Get a 25% discount on movie tickets (up to Rs.100) via the District by Zomato mobile application (valid once per month).
- Complimentary Lounge Access: Enjoy four complimentary railway lounge visits per quarter.
- Railway lounge benefits: Railway lounge benefits can be accessed the following month on spending Rs.20,000 within the current calendar year.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Get 1% waiver at all fuel stations across India, capped at Rs.200 in a month. (Applicable for transaction values between Rs.200 and Rs.5,000).
- Merchant offer: Offers 20% discount at more than 1500 restaurants and 15% off at more than 3000 health and wellness outlets.
- Insurance coverage: Offer personal accident cover and lost card liability cover of Rs.2 lakh and Rs.25,000, respectively, which is valid on making at least one transaction using this card in the last 30 days.
- Roadside assistance: Complimentary roadside assistance will be offered four times a year which is worth Rs.1,399.
SBI Cashback Card
The SBI Cashback Card offers 5% cashback on online transactions and 1% cashback on offline purchases. The renewal fee can be waived with annual spends of Rs.2 Lakh, making it ideal for active users. Enjoy a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at petrol stations across India, along with global acceptance and contactless payments for added convenience and security. Additional features include add-on cards, EMI balance transfers, utility bill payments, and cash withdrawal options.
Benefits and Features:
The benefits of the SBI Cashback Card are detailed in the following section:
- Cashback Benefits: Earn 5% cashback on online expenditure without any merchant restriction and 1% cashback on offline spends.
- Hassle-Free Auto-Credits: Cashback is auto-credited within two working days of your next statement generation.
- Spend-Based Renewal Fee Reversal: Renewal fee waived for annual spends of Rs.2 lakh.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver across all petrol pumps in India for transactions between Rs.500 and Rs.3,000 (exclusive of GST and other charges).
- Fees: One-time joining fee of Rs.999 and an annual renewal fee of Rs.999 from the second year onwards (waived if annual spends are Rs.2 lakh or more).
- Contactless Advantage: Easy tap-and-go transactions for daily purchases, enhancing security and convenience.
- Worldwide Acceptance: Usable at over 24 million outlets globally, including 325,000 in India.
- Add-On Cards: Option to issue add-on cards for family members above 18 years.
- Cash Withdrawals: Access cash from over 1 million VISA ATMs worldwide.
- Utility Bill Payments: Pay utility bills through the Easy Bill Pay facility.
- Balance Transfer on EMI: Transfer outstanding balances from other credit cards to avail of lower interest rates and pay in EMIs.
Best Credit Cards in India for Salaried Individuals
Salaried individuals in India have access to a variety of credit cards tailored to their financial needs and lifestyle. Depending on income and spending habits, these cards offer diverse benefits and features.
- Premium Credit Cards: For higher-income individuals, premium cards like the SBI Prime Card offer exclusive travel perks such as lounge access, dining privileges, and hotel discounts. This card is ideal for frequent travellers and those seeking rewarding benefits, including reward points on purchases.
- Cashback and Rewards Cards: For those looking to maximise savings, cashback and rewards cards like the Finbooster Credit Card offer attractive cashback on categories such as groceries, fuel, and dining, helping users save on everyday expenses.
- Budget-friendly Cards: The RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card caters to budget-conscious users, offering accelerated reward points on select categories and promotions like sign-up bonuses or discounts, making it an excellent choice for savvy shoppers.
Credit cards make payments easy for all expenses online and offline while offering various benefits