Hunting for the best credit card in India? You’ve landed at the right place. Cashback, airport lounge access, free hotel nights, business and first class redemptions, whatever you’re after, you’ll find it here.
After analysing 300+ credit cards across banks, I’ve put together this list of the best cards for 2026, grouped by spend range.
I personally hold 10+ active cards in my wallet, and most of them feature below, along with a few others that deserve a spot.
Table of Contents
Entry Level Credit Cards
- Suggested income: 6 Lakhs+
- Suggested spend: 2 Lakhs+
Entry-Level credit cards, also called as credit cards for beginners are those cards that are targeted at first-time credit card users.
SBI Cashback Card
- Best for: 5% Cashback on Online spends
- Read Review (or) Apply Now
SBI Cashback Credit Card is one of the most simple yet generously rewarding cashback credit card that suits well for beginners, as it offers 5% Cashback on online spends (upto 40K/month) which is good even after the recent devaluation.
*** Best Cashback Credit Card ***
Federal Scapia
- Best for: Domestic Lounge Access & Airport benefits
- Read Review (or) Apply Now
While the rewards on Scapia Credit Card is comparatively low at 2% it comes with complimentary airport lounge access & shopping benefit which is quite useful if you’ve frequent domestic travel.
*** Best Lifetime FREE Card ***
HSBC Live+
- Best for: All Dining/Grocery spends
- Apply Now
With HSBC Live+ you get 10% cashback (up to INR 1,000 a month) on all dining, food delivery and grocery spends, and 1.5% unlimited cashback on other spends. This is must have card for those living in metro cities.
*** Best Card for Groceries ***
HDFC Swiggy BLCK
- Best for: 10% Cashback on Swiggy food/grocery spends
- Read Review of older version (or) Apply Now
HDFC Swiggy BLCK is the successor of the old Swiggy card with slightly higher fee now. If you’ve significant spends on Swiggy, then you’ll enjoy the 10% cashback on all Swiggy spends, including food delivery & Instamart along with 5% cashback on a wide range of online shopping portals.
Axis Cashback Card
- Best for: Upto 5.6% Cashback on Online spends
- Read Review (or) Apply Now
While SBI Cashback & HDFC Swiggy Credit Cards are better cashback cards with less restrictions, Axis Cashback serves the need when your spends are more so you can stack it with other cashback cards.
Other noteworthy cards in this segment: SBI Phonepe Select Black & HDFC Millennia
Premium Credit Cards
- Suggested income range: 12 Lakhs+
- Suggested spend range: 6 Lakhs+
Premium credit cards comes into picture when your lifestyle has pinch of luxury factor to it. It comes with more travel benefits like domestic and international lounge access, better reward rate, etc.
BOB Eterna
- Best for: Online spends upto ~40K INR a month
- Full Review: BOB Eterna Review (Limited Period Offer: Lifetime Free)
If most of your spends are online and are not exceeding 40K a month, you shouldn’t be missing BOB Eterna as it gives upto 3.75% as direct cashback to the card account.
*** Best Lifetime Free Premium Card ***
HDFC Regalia Gold
- Best for: Airport Lounge access & Points transfers
- Read Review (or) Apply Now
Regalia Gold Points transfer at 2:1 (including Accor) and the newly added benefits are worth exploring. USP of Regalia Gold is that you can get Priority Pass even for add-on cardholders and it shares the same annual lounge access limit.
However, note that domestic lounge access now has a spend requirement.
IDFC Mayura
- Best for: 0% Forex Markup & Travel Spends
- Read Review (or) Apply Now
IDFC Mayura is a wonderful card when you have significant forex spends as the 0% forex + rewards is quite lucrative which is as good as other super premium cards.
Equitas Selfe
While it’s an entry level card, it unleashes it’s real value when you spend >1L a month for a quarter, in 5X categories that increases the reward rate to 10% (as point value becomes 1 INR) and also has other Privilege program benefits like complimentary Flight/hotel vouchers – Apply Online.
This might be a temporary sweet spot as it’s designed to be devalued soon. Also, as it’s from a new issuer, things might not be smooth.
HDFC Tata Neu Infinity
- Best for: UPI Spends & utility/insurance payments
- Read Review (or) Apply Now
If you’re looking for a single UPI Credit Card, HDFC Bank Tata Neu Infinity Rupay Credit Card is the one that you need.
It not only gives decent rewards on UPI spends, but also offers lucrative 5% return on utility bill payments and more. On top of that, you may also purchase gift cards with 5% reward rate.
Travel Credit Cards
When your life has good amount of travel, that’s when you need to have these exclusive Travel credit cards.
Travel & airline credit cards are designed in such a way that you get travel vouchers/points/miles instead of cashback.
HSBC Travel One
- Best for: Accor & other airline transfers partners
- Read Review (or) Apply Now
With the newly added airport transfer and the accelerated rewards on travel spends, HSBC Travel One is a rewarding travel credit card.
It’s a must have credit card in 2026, especially because it serves as an Axis Atlas replacement, as Axis dropped the Accor transfer partner recently.
*** Best Travel Card ***
Amex Reserve
- Best for: Accor Plus Membership, monthly milestones.
- Read Review & Apply: Amex Platinum Reserve Credit Card
Improved monthly milestone benefit will now give 2% return (+ MR points) on spends upto 50K INR a month, on “any” spend. And on top of it is the Accor Plus benefit that’s good for dining at Accor hotels across Asia.
Equitas Powermiles
Equitas Powermiles Credit Card is a great card for international spends as it comes with sweet 9% reward rate (3X), while otherwise offers 3% return, especially when you can spend >1L a month for a quarter, thanks to the Privilege Program’s Diamond Status.
However, their popular 1:1 points transfer partners program is yet to go live. It’s a hit if Accor/Aeroplan also gets added to the list partners list – Apply Now.
HDFC Marriott Bonvoy
- Best for: for its lucrative joining/renewal benefits
- Read Review (or) Apply Now
While HDFC Bank’s Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card has poor reward rate on ongoing spends, it stands good for its incredible welcome and renewal benefits which can easily fetch twice or thrice the value of the joining fee.
Apart from the joining benefit, it’s particularly useful for domestic & international lounge access, even for add-on cardholders.
BOB Etihad Premium
The BOB Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card is a new and noteworthy launch, especially thanks to its limited period offer of 15,000 miles on spending 75,000 INR within 60 days.
Etihad Guest Gold tier status and 0% forex markup on international transactions are some of the other valuable benefits on this card.
Etihad Guest Miles shine on partner redemptions, and the best sweet spot for most Indians is flying from India to Colombo for just 6K miles from most cities.
*** Best Airline Credit Card ***
Super Premium Credit Cards
- Suggested income range: 25 Lakhs+
- Suggested spend range: 10 Lakhs+
Super premium credit cards are those that comes with higher reward rate, higher credit limit, unlimited lounge access, better card linked benefits & many more perks that you would need to enjoy a luxury lifestyle.
HDFC Diners BizBlack
- Best for: 5X Rewards on Income Tax/GST payments
- Read Review (or) Apply Now
If you’re into business, close your eyes and go for the HDFC Diners BizBlack Credit Card as it earns lucrative rewards not only on tax but also on bill payments.
An alternative Card is the Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card, which is still a great pick who can’t get hands on Infinia or the Bizblack.
Only downside though is the lower acceptance of Diners cards in India compared to Visa/MasterCard, which means you have to keep a backup card handy.
Yes Bank Marquee
- Best for: 4.5% return on Online Spends
- Review: Yes Bank Marquee
Yesbank’s Marquee Credit Card is a pretty good Super Premium Credit Card especially if your spends are largely focused online, as it gives you amazing rewards (redeemable for travel) on online spends.
Stan Chart Ultimate
- Best for: any spend, rewards as shopping vouchers
- Review: Standard Chartered Ultimate
Just like HDFC Infinia/Diners Black, Stan. C Ultimate card too comes with sweet 3.3% reward rate. The USP of this card is that you get reward points on almost ANY spend, lower rewards on select categories but still good.
Though the pain point with this card is the lack of good redemption options. Decent vouchers available now are: ITC, Titan, Starbucks, Fabindia & few more.
Other noteworthy cards in the super premium segment for select set of users: RBL Insignia & SBI Aurum for movie benefits, ICICI Times Black for travellers with good amount of spends on Klook.
HNI Cards
The HNI cards either demands high banking relationship or a lifestyle of a High Net-Worth individual.
- Suggested spend range: 30 Lakhs+
Axis Magnus Burgundy
- Best for: >10% Reward rate on higher monthly spends
- Review: Axis Magnus Burgundy (Metal)
If your spends are over 3 Lakhs a month even for few months in a year, Axis Magnus Burgundy is perhaps the ONLY credit card you would ever need. it has everything you can dream of and even more.
Axis Olympus Credit Card is a good alternate if you already hold one, not open for new applications.
HSBC Premier
- Best for: Rewards on all kinds of spends
- Review: HSBC Premier (Metal)
HSBC Premier Credit Card with its upgraded features and benefits is certainly useful for those who prefer to enjoy rewards on all kinds of spends.
With it’s 1:1 points transfer program and accelerated rewards on travel, it’s a wonderfully rewarding card in the segment.
HDFC Infinia
- Best for: 5X Rewards with decent reward rate on regular spends
- Review: HDFC Infinia (Metal)
HDFC Infinia is everyone’s dream for ages without an exception. If you are looking for a single credit card for with great support and rewards, then Infinia will serve the need.
ICICI Emeralde Private
- Best for: Welcome benefit & decent ongoing rewards
- Review: ICICI Emeralde Private (Metal)
ICICI Bank’s Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card, is perhaps the first ever credit card in the history of ICICI Bank credit cards to carry a good reward rate of 3% on regular spends.
And with the recent launch of iShop, and 100% point redemptions allowed for travel, it’s one of the best super premium credit card, better than Infinia for those looking for simplicity.
Amex Platinum
- Best for: hotel tier benefits & Marriott redemptions
- Review: Amex Platinum
Amex Platinum Charge Card has degraded a lot in the recent times, yet it still holds it’s value at-least for the first year, as you get much more benefits than what you pay for, thanks to the signup bonus.
Choosing the Card
Choosing the best credit card is lot simpler than how it used to be in the past, thanks to all the aggressive credit card offers around.
#1 If you’re a beginner to the game and have relatively low annual spends (<5L) with significant online spends, get the SBI Cashback or HDFC Swiggy BLCK Card along with Scapia, so you’re covered with best in class cashback + lounge access.
#2 If you have significant travel spends, get HSBC Travel One Credit Card, serves as a premium travel card.
#3 If you spend >20 Lakhs a year, get HDFC Infinia and your entire family is taken care for lounge access, domestic and abroad, apart from rewards.
#4 If you spend >40 Lakhs a year, consider exploring Axis Magnus Burgundy or HSBC Premier as per your profile.
While that’s the easy way to put it, if you have higher spends, you may need a personalized strategy and that’s where my 1-on-1 credit card consultation might come handy.
FAQ’s
Which is the best credit card in India for 2026?
Calculate your annual spend and choose the cards from the list above. The best card varies from one person to another.
How many Credit Cards can I have?
As many as you need. Start with 2 cards if you’re new to the system and increase the count gradually based on your spends. 5 cards is sufficient for most.
Which Credit Card has best customer service?
Amex is known for their premium customer support. You may also enjoy a similar treatment with any bank, as long as you take their super-premium cards.
Which is the best fuel credit card?
There is a modern method to save well over 10% on fuel spends, checkout Best Fuel Cards article for a detailed coverage on “HP Pay” method.
Bottom line
We’re in the golden age of credit cards in India, especially for beginners, with 5% cashback across multiple cards that started in 2025 and is still going strong in 2026. That said, things are tightening up lately, the upper caps are getting smaller and smaller.
On the super premium side, the Axis Magnus Burgundy is keeping things lucrative for now, but a correction could come any day. Once that happens, we’ll be back to the stone age. 😀
Until then, enjoy the game!
What are your thoughts on the above list of best credit cards for 2026? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below, and I’ll amend the list if needed.
I used to love your blogs, but now updates are very old
For example – Axis M4B, HSBC Premier etc.
In this way many instagram pages will take over soon.
Hi @Sid,
I have a Regalia Gold from HDFC and my Imperia RM is only interested in signing me up for some Insurance or ULIP like schemes. I have tried so many times to get my card card upgraded to either DCB or Infinia. But it never happened. I don’t know if I am missing something. My TRV with HDFC is decent enough. I dont know if I am stuck with one RM who has different agenda or I am missing something.
Standard chartered Beyond card is much better that ultimate
Hi Siddharth,
Thanks for this page and all the information.
I’m using Axis Infinite Vistara Card, which don’t carry any weight now post the merger with Air India Maharaja. My annual CC spendings stand around 16-24 lpa. Can you recommend me go to card right now in the market? My expenses breakdown, Fligts 5-7 lpa, Stays 3-4 lpa, Dining 2-2.5 lpa, Shopping 4-5 lpa (Out of all this Forex spendings 6-7 lpa). Quite confusing to catch the right fit.
ALSO A SUGGESTION/REQUEST; Is it possible to design a tool to filter the BEST CC based on categories spent? Will make life easier.
Thanks again,
SBI Cashback card offers 5% cashback on all online spending (without merchant restrictions) and 1% on all offline spending.
It features a maximum cashback limit of ₹5,000 per statement cycle (effective April 2026)
So Please correct the description. It no longer gives upto 40K/month.
It guess it’s correct here, the dedicated article needs an update though, will do that sometime.
Hi Siddharth, thanks for the amazing list. Very helpful.
One thing that i have been struggling with post the merger of Vistara is that Air India does not seem to have made any tie ups with any banks for the Maharaja Club membership. Any ideas around that one?
IndusInd Tiger Card serves the purpose at sweet 3% earn rate until the Air India cards comes to life. I’ll probably add it to the list.
You are missing a few for beginners and premium customers like the BOI Rupay Select and upcoming BOI Celestia. Idfc power for fuel. Mayura is not so great as simply zero forex is not worth it. I’ll choose AU Ixigo instead. Even though Celestia is upcoming, PNB Luxura and UBI Nexteria are already launched on brand new Rupay Ikka platform. Do mention them too. Amex MRCC is still great in 2026. SBI Elite still do not have spent criteria for lounge and two movie tickets per month with milestone benefits are still worth considering.
Lots of new names. Would appreciate if you could as well mention the use case of these cards. Let me see if I could add a few of them to the list.
Other than HDFC bizblack , which are the best 3 cards for GST and tax payments ?
Was any self-employed person able to get HSBC Live+? If yes, what is the process? They want a savings account, plus ITR of 12L which is double the requirement for salaried 6L plus they want a GST so self-employed professionals like doctors can’t get it
For utility payment Tata Neu started to charge additional amount. Can you help with the decision factor to pay that additional fee or not?
Hi Sid,
My honest suggestion based on my experience and how things are in India, please drop suggesting Amex cards
They are not even worth mentioning or publicising about. We have so much better cards in list.
Amex cards carry just brand. Are they really sincere in India ? Or they are really comparable to other Indian cards ?
Ask yourself.
True they have devalued a lot also offline it is difficult to transact except it’s usage is only in luxury hotels fee are high now to use it we used to load it to wallet and use the funds to pay. Now from March 2026 even this is removed on mobikwik…
Hi Sid, thanks for the updated list.
Currently I am using HSBC premier and HDFC Bizz Black as my go to cards.
One question: since is already have premier, should I also go for HSBC Travel one?
The link for HSBC Live+ takes you to Scapia card, pls correct it Thanks for the detailed post.
Also is it not better that latest comments appear in top,. i e reverse chronological order. The entire site, oldest comments appear on top. Give a thought pls.
Hi Raj, both taken care. Thank you very much.
@Sid
You may like to add ‘Metal’ in the name of ICICI Emeralde Private in the list and heading here. The link is opening fine.
PS: Too many people are already confused on plain Emeralde Private and Emeralde Private Metal.
Ah understood, updated the content to make it more clear.
Wow..
Will be going through in details, in coming days..
Much awaited article and I see some very new entrants..
At last 🙂 . Thank you for your effort!!
1) I wonder why Mayura is in 6L+ spend when it doesnt gice milestone till 8 and 15? I see that they do charge annual fee for add on card as well (plastic or metal option different cost) . I was following that card recently due to 0 forex. But ecentually took scapia. Can you help on how to make sense of Mayura card with that annual fee for spend less than 8L? I assume it as primary card.
2) In the review of Axis cashback card , we saw that Azis may nkt honor reward points. Still ok?
1. Easy access + accelerated rewards on travel + good reward rate on travel redemptions + 0% forex
So the combo is useful for those who can’t get Infinia, especially going forward. But if many feel it’s not worth it, we could remove it.
2. So in my case, they credited the points in under a week I guess, had to call support. So I feel it’s worth adding. Will check the situation now and update the article accordingly.
Thanks.
Reg. Mayura, I dont need it be removed , I was looking for convincing reasons on value prposotion to use if family disagree on new card :p . But with the comment looks like it shall be positioned little above RG (8L+ spend)
Going with the current trend, which is the one Dhurandhar card that your would recommend – The one that basically tells every other card “Chal mein tujhe Fanta pilata hu”?
If I could relive the entire CC journey,
I would take simple cashback card like SBI, Axis, BOB; spend with peace, invest the cashback and time spend for calculating points and rewards to best use and live peaceful. (Not being an HNI )
You forget to mention another best cc for cashback from daily spends, bils, recharge which is Amazon ICICI CC I am using for last 2 yrs. Unlimited cashback, no capping.
2ndly you did not mention any fuel cc which is a must cc for everyone having 4 or 2 wheeler.
3rd, there is another rupay version cc Axis supermoney which one of the best cc for daily needs.
Amazon Pay Vouchers via SBI Cashback takes care of bills/recharges and HPPay route via Fastag via Amazon Pay takes care of fuel. This method works for almost half a decade now. 🙂
Hey Sid
Any review comments for PNB Luxura card.
Not exciting on rewards front. But looks good for lounge access given it’s fee waiver option for first year.
Hi Siddharth, how come Amex plat travel card is missing in this list? I am surprised.
Because it’s not open for direct application yet. Might add once they’re up.
Thoughts on Axis Olympus?
Good if you’ve. Not open for new applications. They won’t open anytime soon and if they do, might ask for at-least Burgundy status or beyond, given the generous caps on it.
Hello Siddarth,
I am in a bit of a dilemma so figured you might be able to point me in the right direction. I currently have the Amex Platinum (about ₹40L annual spend) and intend to keep that as my primary card as long as I can keep getting good value out of it. I also have an Axis Rupay card that I typically use for UPI transactions and places where Amex does not get accepted (₹6-7L annual spend). Additionally, I have access to ICICI Emeralde through my wife.
I still wanted to get a 3rd card for myself that ideally provides benefits that are different than the ones I already get with Amex. So the options that I was thinking about are: Infinia or Magnus (₹12,500 version)
Even within Magnus, I have the option of either upgrading my current Rupay card to the Magnus Rupay OR then get the MasterCard Magnus seperately. Rupay variant will allow me to move all my current UPI transactiona to this card.
What would you do?
The list is honest & aptly compiled. However I am surprised with inclusion of Yes Marquee card in super-premium list. With current features, it is not worth to be included with other great cards in the list, that’s what I feel.
Easy access for most + generous reward rate on online spends helped the card to find it’s place there. 🙂
Hey Sid, thanks a lot for the updated list.
Few questions, I can see you have added equitas bank credit cards.
Can you please add their detailed review?
Also I mean is it trustworthy to jump into Equitas cards?
Are there offerings reliable enough?
or should we wait for it to mature?
As mentioned, it’s essentially a hit-or-miss card. But when it works in your favor, it can be quite lucrative, which is why I included both cards in the list.
I’ll review Powermiles in some time.
That said, if it matures, it will likely cease to be as lucrative. It’s best suited for highly active credit card users and may not be ideal for everyone.