Best Credit Cards Are you looking for the right credit card in India to meet your needs in 2024? You have come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for cashback, lounge access, complimentary hotel stays, or business/first class tickets, you’ll find it all here.
After analyzing over 200 credit cards from various banks in India, I have compiled a list of top credit cards for 2024 to suit different user segments.Best Credit Cards
I have over 10 active credit cards in my wallet, the list below includes most of the cards I personally use, and then some.Best Credit Cards
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Entry Level Credit Cards-Best Credit Cards
Recommended Income: 5 Lakh+
Recommended Spend: ₹1 Lakh+
Entry level credit cards, also called credit cards for beginners, are for individuals who are using a credit card for the first time.
1. SBI Cashback Card
– Best for: Up to 5% cashback on online spending
– Review and Application: SBI Cashback Card Review
– The attractive 5% cashback on online spending has made this card a popular choice among entry-level cardholders. Even after the recent changes, the maximum limit of Rs 5,000 per month makes it suitable for people with monthly expenses of Rs 1 lakh.
2. Axis Ace
– Reward rate: 2% – 5% (as cashback on card)
– apply Now
– Axis Bank ACE Credit Card offers flat 2% cashback in the form of statement credit, making it one of the highly rewarding entry-level credit cards. However, it can only be applied online with a pre-approved offer and is not available through other application channels.
3. Amex MRCC (American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card)
– Best for: gold collection and points transfer
– Review & Application: American Express MRCC Review
– American Express MRCC is a great way to enter the world of Amex. With a monthly bonus of 2000 MR points, users can easily get 6% returns on spending. Additionally, cardholders have access to Amex offers, which are often quite beneficial.
4. ICICI Amazon Pay
– Best for: 5% returns on Amazon spending
– Apply from Amazon App
– ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card offers 5% returns on Amazon spends and is a must-have for frequent Amazon shoppers, especially Amazon Prime customers. Moreover, it comes with lifetime free status.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Premium credit card-Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Recommended Income Range: 12 Lakh+
Recommended Spending Limit: 6 Lakh+
Premium credit cards cater to individuals with lifestyles that include elements of luxury. They offer advanced travel benefits like domestic and international lounge access, better reward rates, etc.
1. HDFC Regalia Gold
– Best for: airport lounge access and Milestone benefits
– Review: HDFC Regalia Gold Review
– Apart from rewards and merchant offers, the HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card offers Priority Pass access for all members of the family, sharing complimentary lounge access limit with the primary cardholder. This is an excellent option for those who cannot qualify for the HDFC Super Premium Credit Card, especially for lounge access.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
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2. Amex Gold Charge (American Express Gold Charge Card)
– Best for: High credit limits and gold collection rewards
– Reviews & Applications: American Express Gold Charge Card Review
– The Amex Gold Charge Card offers a higher credit limit, which may not be available with other credit cards. Cardholders also earn rewards on fuel/utility spends, making it a valuable addition, especially when paired with the Amex MRCC for instant 24K gold redemptions.
3. Yes First Reserve (YesBank Reserve Credit Card)
– Best for: Online/Travel expenses with 3X/5X subscription
– Review: Yes First Reserved Review
– YesBank’s rebranded Reserve Credit Card, formerly known as Yes First Exclusive, offers an attractive product coupled with a membership plan that offers 3X/5X rewards on select categories depending on membership.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
HDFC Tata New Infinity RuPay Credit Card
Best for: UPI spending and utility payments
Apply Now (Review Coming Soon)
If you are looking for a single UPI credit card, the HDFC Bank Tata New Infinity RuPay Credit Card is for you.
It not only offers good rewards on UPI spends but also offers attractive returns of 5% on utility bills. Additionally, you receive targeted offers from Tata Neu, such as recent promotions offering discounts on booking your car with Tata Motors.
IDFC First Wealth Credit Card
Best for: Spending more than Rs 1 lakh in a billing cycle.
Review: IDFC First Wealth Credit Card Review
If your monthly spend is high, you should not ignore this card, especially if you prefer non-travel benefits like cashback or Amazon/Flipkart vouchers on credit card statements as redemption options.
Access to airport lounges is an added benefit, although the expense requirement for this has recently been added and removed.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
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Travel credit card-Best Credit Cards in Bharat
When your life involves a good deal of travel, that’s when you need these special travel credit cards.
Travel and airline credit cards are designed to provide travel vouchers/points/miles rather than cashback.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Axis Atlas Credit Card
Best for: ITC and other airline transfer partners
Read Reviews & Apply: Axis Atlas Credit Card Review
The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card not only offers an amazing reward rate on regular spends, but also allows you to enjoy airport meet and greets and luxury airport transfer services.
Instant rewards on airlines and hotel expenses are certainly useful for some. It is a hot pick for 2024 due to its attractive reward rate, but it could devalue at any time.
Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card
Best for: Taj vouchers and access to premium airport lounges
Read Reviews & Apply: Amex Platinum Travel Review
The American Express Platinum Travel Card is the best travel credit card in the country! It has retained its name and fame for almost a decade.
I personally enjoy using this card as it helps me stay at a unique Taj property every year using the complimentary Taj vouchers that come with it.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
HDFC Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card
Best for: Its attractive engagement/renewal benefits
Review: HDFC Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Review
While HDFC Bank’s Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card has a poor reward rate on ongoing spends, it stands out for its incredible welcome and renewal benefits, which can easily yield two or three times the value of the joining fee.BBest Credit Cards in Bharatest Credit Cards in Bharat
RBL World Safari Credit Card
Best for: 1 year worldwide travel insurance, 0% forex markup fee
Review: RBL World Safari Credit Card Review
The RBL World Safari Credit Card is a hidden gem for frequent travelers as it not only offers 1 year international travel insurance but also comes with 0% markup fee on international spends.
This solves the need of most international travelers without the need for super-premium credit cards or other foreign currency cards.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Airline credit card-Best Credit Cards in Bharat
If you travel frequently, you may need to get one or more of the best airline credit cards. Airmiles/airlines credit cards make sense if you fly frequently with specific airlines. Here are some of the best:Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Vistara Infinite Credit Card
Best for: Flying Vistara Business Class
Read Review & Apply: Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Review
This best airline credit card in the country is still giving great returns after many years of its existence.
This is a must-have credit card for those who fly frequently with Vistara due to its Gold tier benefits (first year only) and for those who prefer the business class experience as it offers 1% discount on every ~2.5L spent. Provides complimentary business class tickets.
If you already have 3 Axis cards, you can opt for the IndusInd Vistara Explorer Credit Card, which has similar benefits with slightly higher spending requirements.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
IDFC Vistara Credit Card
Best for: Flying Vistara Premium Economy
Apply Now (Review Coming Soon)
If you don’t want to fly business class or don’t find enough availability, the IDFC Vistara Credit Card can help you get a complimentary premium economy ticket at credit card spend.
If you are okay with less customer support, you can also choose the SBI Vistara Prime Credit Card which has similar features.
SBI Air India Signature Credit Card
Best for: Flying Air India and select Star Alliance partners
Review (to be updated): SBI Air India Signature Credit Card Review
If your travel involves flying on Air India for any reason, you should not skip this credit card. It demands more expenditure but gives very good returns on most types of expenses.
Also, with the change in ownership and merger of airlines, I expect things to improve with Air India in 2024 and beyond.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Indusind tiger card
Best for: Transferring points to Vistara
Review: IndusInd Tiger Credit Card Review
Although it’s not technically an airline credit card, the earning rate for CV points on the card is much higher than any other airline card, thanks to its quick earning rate
Expenses more than Rs 5 lakh in a year.
Super Premium Credit Card-Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Recommended Income Range: 20 Lakh+
Recommended Spending Limit: Rs 10 Lakh+
Super-premium credit cards come with higher reward rates, higher credit limits, unlimited lounge access, better card-linked benefits and many other features you will need to enjoy a luxury lifestyle.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Axis Magnus Credit Card
Best for: Airport meet and greet services, meal transfers
Axis Magnus Review
Axis Magnus for Burgundy is an improved version of the previous “Magnus”, with the ability to transfer points to airline/hotel partners at 5:4.
It also gives you a new airport experience with their complimentary airport meet and greet service, which is useful for many people.
If your spending exceeds Rs 2 or 3 lakh per month even for a few months in a year, this is probably the only card you will ever need. Best Credit Cards in Bharat
HDFC Infinia Credit Card
Best for: 5X rewards with good reward rate on regular spend
Updated review coming soon
Infinia has been everyone’s dream for centuries without any exception. If you are seeking a single credit card for all your expenses beyond Axis Magnus, Infinia will meet your needs.
If you couldn’t get Infinia, Diners Black (PVC) is equally good with a similar reward rate, although with a lower capping on instant rewards.
HDFC Diners Black Metal Credit Card
Best for: 5X rewards with quarterly milestone benefits
review coming soon
The primary difference from the older Diners Black (PVC) is the metal form factor as well as higher smart purchase capping and additional quarterly milestone benefits, useful for those who are regular high spenders.
The only downside is the lower acceptance of Diners Card in India compared to Visa/MasterCard, which means you’ll need to carry a backup card. Best Credit Cards in Bharat
ICICI Emerald Private Credit Card
Best for: welcome benefits and good ongoing rewards
review coming soon
ICICI Bank’s Emerald Private Credit Card is probably the first credit card in the history of ICICI Bank to offer a good reward rate of 3% on regular spends.
This card can only be applied as an upgrade at the moment and not everyone is eligible. Upgrade requests are usually made for existing Saffiro/Emeralde credit card holders with higher credit limits.
This bank marquee credit card
Best for: Rewards in the form of shopping vouchers
Read Review: Yes Bank Marquee Credit Card Review
Yes Bank’s newly launched Marquee Credit Card is a very good super premium credit card, especially if your spending is largely focused online, as it gives you a reward rate of 4.5% on online spending.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
However, the downside is that Yes Bank does not have the ability to transfer points to international airlines/hotels. So if you are not interested in airmiles and are just looking for vanilla rewards, the Yes Bank Marquee Credit Card can do wonders for you.
Ultra Premium/UHNI Card-Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Ultra-premium credit cards generally differ from other types of cards because these cards not only offer rewards but also intend to give you returns through card benefits.
Some of the benefits include hotel privileges, concierge, meet and greets, airport transfers, first class upgrades, premium assistance, etc.
Amex Platinum Charge Card
Best for: Hotel Benefits and Concierge
Read Reviews & Apply: Amex Platinum Charge Card Review
Most of the Amex Plat cardholders I know have this for the Marriott Bonvoy Gold membership benefit, which is quite useful in India.
In addition to the tangible benefits, their “Do Anything” Platinum Concierge is perfect for those who have the lifestyle to use it.
The expensive metal card makes sense if you know how to get value equal to the joining fee. The newly introduced luxury redemption options are quite useful in that case. Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Axis Burgundy Private Credit Card
Best for: heavy spending, miles transfer
review coming soon
If your spending is too high for Magnus and you can afford a Rs 5 crore relationship with Axis Bank, then Axis Burgundy Private is the option.
Although it requires a high NRV with the bank, the rewards and benefits that come with it for big spenders are phenomenal.
HSBC Premier Credit Card
Best for: Rewards on all types of spending
Read Review: HSBC Premier Credit Card Review
The HSBC Premier Credit Card, with its advanced features and benefits, is definitely useful for those who love to enjoy rewards on all types of spending.
While this is primarily a good card for existing HSBC Premier customers with moderate spending, it’s worth considering the Magnus for Burgundy if spending is high.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Choosing the Right Card-Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Choosing the best credit card in 2024 has become much easier than ever, thanks to all the aggressive credit card offers.
#1 If you are new to the game and have relatively low annual spend (<5 lakh) with significant online spends, get the SBI Cashback Credit Card and you are done.
#2 If you spend more than Rs 15 lakh per year, get one or two more cards with Axis Atlas that suit your lifestyle.
#3 If you spend more than 30 lakhs per year, you will need HDFC Infinia as well as Axis Magnus for Burgundy.Best Credit Cards in Bharat
Frequently Asked Question
Which is the best credit card in India for 2024?
Calculate your annual spend and choose a card from the list above. The best card varies from person to person.
How many credit cards can I have?
As much as you need. If you are new to the system then start with 2 cards and gradually increase the count depending on your spending. 5 cards is enough for most.
Which credit card has the best customer service?
Amex is known for its premium customer support. You can enjoy the same treatment with any bank as long as you have their super-premium cards.
Which bank has the best credit card in India?
HDFC Bank is the market leader and also has very good merchant offers. So start with HDFC and add others as per your requirement. Consider having an Amex card in the mix.
Which is the best fuel credit card?
You can use the Amex Gold Charge Card as described above. Or simply load your ICICI Fastag using Amazon Pay balance and enjoy 5%-15% off on fuel depending on the card you hold.
Read More:-Best Credit Cards in Bharat
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