Best Credit Cards in India — October 2026 (Every Category)
The best credit cards in India for October 2026: top picks for cashback, online shopping, dining, fuel, travel, lounge access and more, ranked by net annual value after fees and caps.
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK leads on a typical profile at about ₹6,300 a year
The best credit card in India for October 2026 depends on what you spend on, but on our standard monthly profile the highest net value comes from PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK, at about ₹6,300 a year after fees and caps. Below, we rank the top cards in each category, using the same reward engine that powers every card page, and we show the assumptions so you can check them against your own spending.
Best credit cards in India by category (October 2026)
| Our pick | Best for | Est. net / year | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK | Everyday spending | ~₹6,300 | ₹1,499/yr |
| PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK | Online shopping | ~₹9,000 | ₹1,499/yr |
| Axis Bank ACE | Dining and food delivery | ~₹8,000 | ₹499/yr |
| SBI Card PRIME | Groceries and supermarkets | ~₹3,100 | ₹2,999/yr |
| YES ACE | Fuel | ~₹7,600 | ₹499/yr |
| ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip | Travel and miles | ~₹4,700 | ₹999/yr |
| ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip | Airport lounge access | ~₹4,000 | ₹999/yr |
| PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK | UPI payments (RuPay credit cards) | ~₹5,000 | ₹1,499/yr |
| slice | No-annual-fee cards | ~₹3,200 | None |
| slice | First-time applicants | ~₹3,200 | None |
Estimates after annual fee and reward caps, on the profile described below. Your own number will differ.
How we picked these cards
Each ranking is a net annual value: the rewards a card pays on the monthly profile below, minus its annual fee and foreign-currency costs, after applying the monthly caps and the exclusions in its terms. Sign-up bonuses and travel insurance are left out, so a one-off bonus cannot outrank a card that pays every year. We assume a typical earner in India, around ₹45,000/mo, and leave out cards that need much more. Brand-linked cards (for example a fuel or e-commerce co-brand) are valued with an assumed share of spend at their partner, which is flagged in the "watch out for" column. All amounts are in Indian rupees. Card details in this edition were last verified between June 2026 and September 2026.
| Category | Per month |
|---|---|
| Groceries | ₹5,000 |
| Dining and food delivery | ₹3,500 |
| Fuel | ₹3,000 |
| Online shopping | ₹8,000 |
| Travel | ₹3,000 |
| Bills and utilities | ₹3,500 |
| International spend | ₹1,000 |
| Everything else | ₹4,000 |
| Total per month | ₹31,000 |
Category lists re-weight this profile so the category being ranked is a large share of spend, as described in each section.
Best credit card for everyday spending in India
If you want one card for most of your spending in India, rank on what it earns across groceries, dining, online, bills and everything else, after fees and caps. This is the most "typical wallet" view, and it is where flat-rate and broad-bonus cards do best.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK | ~₹6,300 | ₹1,499/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Counted without its PhonePe bonus tier; worth more if you spend there. Cap: 500 insurance + 1,500 other pts/mo (Jul 2026). Fee waived at ₹3,00,000/yr spend. |
| Axis Bank ACE | ~₹5,800 | ₹499/yr | ₹20,000/mo | Cap: ₹500/mo combined with 4% tier. Fee waived at ₹2,00,000/yr spend. |
| SBI Cashback | ~₹5,500 | ₹999/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Cap: ₹2,000/statement cycle. Fee waived at ₹2,00,000/yr spend. |
For everyday spending, PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK leads at about ₹6,300 a year, with Axis Bank ACE next at ₹5,800 and SBI Cashback at ₹5,500. The three finish within 12% of each other, so treat this as a shortlist and let your caps and merchants decide. Check the monthly cap on the bonus rate and whether the card needs a minimum monthly spend before it pays out.
If you earn more than the typical income we assume, a higher-income card is worth a look: HSBC Live+ (asks for ₹50,000/mo) would net roughly ₹15,000 a year.
Everyday picks on CardHungry
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹6,697
Fee
₹1,499
Top
10%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹6,697/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for phonepe app spends — 10%, up to 500 insurance + 1,500 other pts/mo (Jul 2026).
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹5,759
Fee
₹499
Top
5%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹5,759/yr net — roughly ₹938 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for gpay utilities & recharge — 5%, up to ₹500/mo combined with 4% tier.
SBI Cashback Credit Card
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹5,520
Fee
₹999
Top
5%
- ✓Worth a look — ₹5,520/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for online spends — 5%, up to ₹2,000/statement cycle.
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹5,759
Fee
₹499
Top
5%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹5,759/yr net — roughly ₹938 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for gpay utilities & recharge — 5%, up to ₹500/mo combined with 4% tier.
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹6,697
Fee
₹1,499
Top
10%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹6,697/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for phonepe app spends — 10%, up to 500 insurance + 1,500 other pts/mo (Jul 2026).
SBI Cashback Credit Card
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹5,520
Fee
₹999
Top
5%
- ✓Worth a look — ₹5,520/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for online spends — 5%, up to ₹2,000/statement cycle.
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK₹6,697#1PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK₹6,697
- #2Axis Bank ACE Credit Card₹5,759#2Axis Bank ACE Credit Card₹5,759
- #3SBI Cashback Credit Card₹5,520#3SBI Cashback Credit Card₹5,520
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
Best credit card for online shopping in India
Online-shopping cards in India look similar on the headline and diverge on the details: which merchants count, whether the rate covers every e-commerce site or only named partners, and where the monthly cap bites. We weighted this profile so online shopping is about 40% of spend.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK | ~₹9,000 | ₹1,499/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Top rate needs PhonePe spend. Cap: 500 insurance + 1,500 other pts/mo (Jul 2026). Fee waived at ₹3,00,000/yr spend. |
| SBI Cashback | ~₹8,000 | ₹999/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Cap: ₹2,000/statement cycle. Fee waived at ₹2,00,000/yr spend. |
| Axis Bank Flipkart | ~₹6,200 | ₹500/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Top rate needs Flipkart / Myntra / Cleartrip spend. Cap: ₹4,000/quarter. Fee waived at ₹3,50,000/yr spend. |
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK keeps the most on this profile, roughly ₹9,000 a year; SBI Cashback comes in at ₹8,000, Axis Bank Flipkart at ₹6,200. The 30% lead is wide enough that you would need a very different spending mix to flip it. Confirm that the sites you actually use are covered. Wallet top-ups, gift cards and EMI conversions are usually excluded.
Online shopping picks on CardHungry
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹6,697
Fee
₹1,499
Top
10%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹6,697/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for phonepe app spends — 10%, up to 500 insurance + 1,500 other pts/mo (Jul 2026).
SBI Cashback Credit Card
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹5,520
Fee
₹999
Top
5%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹5,520/yr net — roughly ₹1,177 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for online spends — 5%, up to ₹2,000/statement cycle.
Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹5,142
Fee
₹500
Top
5%
- ✓Worth a look — ₹5,142/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for flipkart — 5%, up to ₹4,000/quarter.
SBI Cashback Credit Card
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹5,520
Fee
₹999
Top
5%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹5,520/yr net — roughly ₹1,177 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for online spends — 5%, up to ₹2,000/statement cycle.
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹6,697
Fee
₹1,499
Top
10%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹6,697/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for phonepe app spends — 10%, up to 500 insurance + 1,500 other pts/mo (Jul 2026).
Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹5,142
Fee
₹500
Top
5%
- ✓Worth a look — ₹5,142/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for flipkart — 5%, up to ₹4,000/quarter.
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK₹6,697#1PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK₹6,697
- #2SBI Cashback Credit Card₹5,520#2SBI Cashback Credit Card₹5,520
- #3Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card₹5,142#3Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card₹5,142
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
Best credit card for dining and food delivery in India
Dining cards are where reward caps matter most, because a restaurant-heavy month can blow through a monthly ceiling quickly. We weighted this profile so dining is about 40% of spend and ranked cards by what is left after the cap.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Bank ACE | ~₹8,000 | ₹499/yr | ₹20,000/mo | Cap: ₹500/mo combined with 4% tier. Fee waived at ₹2,00,000/yr spend. |
| Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank | ~₹7,700 | ₹1,000/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Top rate needs Swiggy / Instamart spend. Cap: ₹1,500/mo cashback. Fee waived at ₹2,00,000/yr spend. |
| Axis Bank Airtel | ~₹7,500 | ₹500/yr | ₹20,000/mo | Top rate needs Airtel / Zomato / Blinkit spend. Cap: ₹250/mo. Fee waived at ₹2,00,000/yr spend. |
Expect around ₹8,000 a year from Axis Bank ACE, against ₹7,700 for Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank and ₹7,500 for Axis Bank Airtel. With only ₹480 a year between first and last, the better card is the one that matches how you pay. Check whether delivery apps count as dining, and whether the bonus needs a minimum monthly spend.
Dining and food delivery picks on CardHungry
Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹6,468
Fee
₹500
Top
25%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹6,468/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for airtel bills (thanks app) — 25%, up to ₹250/mo.
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹5,759
Fee
₹499
Top
5%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹5,759/yr net — roughly ₹709 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for gpay utilities & recharge — 5%, up to ₹500/mo combined with 4% tier.
Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank Credit Card
HDFC Bank
Net / yr
₹4,746
Fee
₹1,000
Top
10%
- ✓Worth a look — ₹4,746/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for swiggy / instamart / dineout — 10%, up to ₹1,500/mo cashback.
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹5,759
Fee
₹499
Top
5%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹5,759/yr net — roughly ₹709 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for gpay utilities & recharge — 5%, up to ₹500/mo combined with 4% tier.
Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹6,468
Fee
₹500
Top
25%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹6,468/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for airtel bills (thanks app) — 25%, up to ₹250/mo.
Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank Credit Card
HDFC Bank
Net / yr
₹4,746
Fee
₹1,000
Top
10%
- ✓Worth a look — ₹4,746/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for swiggy / instamart / dineout — 10%, up to ₹1,500/mo cashback.
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card₹6,468#1Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card₹6,468
- #2Axis Bank ACE Credit Card₹5,759#2Axis Bank ACE Credit Card₹5,759
- #3Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank Credit Card₹4,746#3Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank Credit Card₹4,746
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
Best credit card for groceries in India
Grocery bonuses are common but often narrow: some cards pay only at named supermarkets, others cap the reward at a few hundred a month. We weighted groceries to about 40% of spend and looked at what the best cards keep.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBI Card PRIME | ~₹3,100 | ₹2,999/yr | ₹45,000/mo | Dining / grocery / dept stores / movies: 5X reward points. Fee waived at ₹3,00,000/yr spend. |
| SBI SimplySAVE | ~₹2,900 | ₹499/yr | ₹18,000/mo | Dining, movies, grocery, department stores: 10 RP/₹150 (1.7%). Fee waived at ₹1,00,000/yr spend. |
| HDFC Bharat Cashback | ~₹2,800 | ₹500/yr | ₹15,000/mo | Cap: ₹150/month combined. Reward value is our estimate; confirm the points table. Fee waived at ₹50,000/yr spend. |
SBI Card PRIME tops the groceries and supermarkets list (₹3,100 a year), ahead of SBI SimplySAVE (₹2,900) and HDFC Bharat Cashback (₹2,800). The three finish within 10% of each other, so treat this as a shortlist and let your caps and merchants decide. Confirm the store types that count and the monthly cap, since groceries are a high-frequency, low-ticket category.
Groceries and supermarkets picks on CardHungry
HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card
HDFC Bank
Net / yr
₹3,240
Fee
₹500
Top
5% cashback
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,240/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for fuel, groceries, bill payments, recharges, irctc — 5% cashback, up to ₹150/month combined.
SBI Card PRIME
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹1,900
Fee
₹2,999
Top
5X reward points
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹1,900/yr net — roughly ₹1,340 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for dining / grocery / dept stores / movies — 5X reward points.
SBI SimplySAVE
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹1,650
Fee
₹499
Top
10 RP/₹150 (1.7%)
- ✓Worth a look — ₹1,650/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for dining, movies, grocery, department stores — 10 RP/₹150 (1.7%).
SBI Card PRIME
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹1,900
Fee
₹2,999
Top
5X reward points
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹1,900/yr net — roughly ₹1,340 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for dining / grocery / dept stores / movies — 5X reward points.
HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card
HDFC Bank
Net / yr
₹3,240
Fee
₹500
Top
5% cashback
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,240/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for fuel, groceries, bill payments, recharges, irctc — 5% cashback, up to ₹150/month combined.
SBI SimplySAVE
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹1,650
Fee
₹499
Top
10 RP/₹150 (1.7%)
- ✓Worth a look — ₹1,650/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for dining, movies, grocery, department stores — 10 RP/₹150 (1.7%).
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card₹3,240#1HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card₹3,240
- #2SBI Card PRIME₹1,900#2SBI Card PRIME₹1,900
- #3SBI SimplySAVE₹1,650#3SBI SimplySAVE₹1,650
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
Best fuel credit card in India
Fuel cards live and die on which pumps they cover and the monthly spend ceiling on the bonus. With fuel at about 40% of spend, this list favours cards with a real fuel rate over generic cashback.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YES ACE | ~₹7,600 | ₹499/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Fuel: Accelerated. Fee waived at ₹50,000/yr spend. |
| IDFC FIRST HPCL Power+ | ~₹4,300 | ₹499/yr | ₹20,000/mo | Top rate needs HPCL spend. Cap: ₹12,000 spend/statement cycle. Fee waived at ₹1,50,000/yr spend. |
| SBI BPCL Octane | ~₹3,200 | ₹1,499/yr | ₹30,000/mo | Top rate needs BPCL spend. Cap: ₹10,000/mo fuel spend. Fee waived at ₹2,00,000/yr spend. |
For fuel, YES ACE leads at about ₹7,600 a year, with IDFC FIRST HPCL Power+ next at ₹4,300 and SBI BPCL Octane at ₹3,200. That lead of ₹4,500 a year is large, even with its ₹499/yr fee. The headline rate usually applies only at a named fuel brand, and the surcharge waiver has its own per-transaction limits.
Fuel picks on CardHungry
YES ACE Credit Card
YES Bank
Net / yr
₹3,990
Fee
₹499
Top
Accelerated
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,990/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for fuel — Accelerated.
IDFC FIRST HPCL Power+ Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank
Net / yr
₹2,376
Fee
₹499
Top
30 pts/₹150 (5%)
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹2,376/yr net — roughly ₹1,614 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for hpcl fuel — 30 pts/₹150 (5%), up to ₹12,000 spend/statement cycle.
SBI BPCL Octane
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹1,275
Fee
₹1,499
Top
25X points
- ✓Worth a look — ₹1,275/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for bpcl fuel — 25X points, up to ₹10,000/mo fuel spend.
IDFC FIRST HPCL Power+ Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank
Net / yr
₹2,376
Fee
₹499
Top
30 pts/₹150 (5%)
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹2,376/yr net — roughly ₹1,614 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for hpcl fuel — 30 pts/₹150 (5%), up to ₹12,000 spend/statement cycle.
YES ACE Credit Card
YES Bank
Net / yr
₹3,990
Fee
₹499
Top
Accelerated
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,990/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for fuel — Accelerated.
SBI BPCL Octane
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹1,275
Fee
₹1,499
Top
25X points
- ✓Worth a look — ₹1,275/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for bpcl fuel — 25X points, up to ₹10,000/mo fuel spend.
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1YES ACE Credit Card₹3,990#1YES ACE Credit Card₹3,990
- #2IDFC FIRST HPCL Power+ Credit Card₹2,376#2IDFC FIRST HPCL Power+ Credit Card₹2,376
- #3SBI BPCL Octane₹1,275#3SBI BPCL Octane₹1,275
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
Best travel and miles credit card in India
Travel cards trade higher fees for miles, lounge access and lower foreign-currency costs. This ranking puts travel and international spend at about 45% of the profile and values points at the rate in our catalog, so a card whose points you transfer at a better rate can do better than shown. Perks such as insurance are not in the numbers.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip | ~₹4,700 | ₹999/yr | ₹35,000/mo | Top rate needs MakeMyTrip spend. Fee waived at ₹3,00,000/yr spend. |
| Axis Bank Flipkart | ~₹4,600 | ₹500/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Top rate needs Flipkart / Myntra / Cleartrip spend. Cap: ₹4,000/quarter. Fee waived at ₹3,50,000/yr spend. |
| Axis Bank Magnus | ~₹4,100 | ₹12,500/yr | ₹1,00,000/mo | Cap: ₹2L/mo travel then 35/₹200. Fee waived at ₹25,00,000/yr spend. |
ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip keeps the most on this profile, roughly ₹4,700 a year; Axis Bank Flipkart comes in at ₹4,600, Axis Bank Magnus at ₹4,100. The three finish within 11% of each other, so treat this as a shortlist and let your caps and merchants decide. Check how points convert to miles or vouchers, and whether the lounge benefit needs a minimum spend.
Travel and miles picks on CardHungry
Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹5,142
Fee
₹500
Top
5%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹5,142/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for flipkart — 5%, up to ₹4,000/quarter.
ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip Credit Card
ICICI Bank
Net / yr
₹3,301
Fee
₹999
Top
6% myCash
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,301/yr net — roughly ₹1,841 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for mmt hotels — 6% myCash.
Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
-₹4,622
Fee
₹12,500
Top
12 EDGE pts/₹200
- ✓Worth a look — -₹4,622/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for all eligible spends — 12 EDGE pts/₹200.
ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip Credit Card
ICICI Bank
Net / yr
₹3,301
Fee
₹999
Top
6% myCash
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,301/yr net — roughly ₹1,841 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for mmt hotels — 6% myCash.
Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
₹5,142
Fee
₹500
Top
5%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹5,142/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for flipkart — 5%, up to ₹4,000/quarter.
Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
Axis Bank
Net / yr
-₹4,622
Fee
₹12,500
Top
12 EDGE pts/₹200
- ✓Worth a look — -₹4,622/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for all eligible spends — 12 EDGE pts/₹200.
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card₹5,142#1Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card₹5,142
- #2ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip Credit Card₹3,301#2ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip Credit Card₹3,301
- #3Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card-₹4,622#3Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card-₹4,622
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
Best credit card for airport lounge access in India
Lounge access is the benefit most often overstated. Many cards give a few visits a year, and several only unlock them after a quarterly or monthly spend. We list cards that include lounge access and rank them on the rest of their value, so a card that earns well and happens to include lounge visits comes out ahead of one that is only a lounge pass.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip | ~₹4,000 | ₹999/yr | ₹35,000/mo | Top rate needs MakeMyTrip spend. Fee waived at ₹3,00,000/yr spend. |
| Standard Chartered Ultimate | ~₹3,700 | ₹5,000/yr | ₹60,000/mo | All eligible spends: 5 RP/₹150. |
| IndusInd Bank Pinnacle | ~₹1,900 | ₹15,000 joining | ₹75,000/mo | Travel: 3X points/₹150. |
Expect around ₹4,000 a year from ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip, against ₹3,700 for Standard Chartered Ultimate and ₹1,900 for IndusInd Bank Pinnacle. The 52% lead is wide enough that you would need a very different spending mix to flip it. Look for the spend condition attached to the lounge visits and how many are domestic versus international.
Airport lounge access picks on CardHungry
Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card
Standard Chartered
Net / yr
₹3,460
Fee
₹5,000
Top
5 RP/₹150
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,460/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for all eligible spends — 5 RP/₹150.
ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip Credit Card
ICICI Bank
Net / yr
₹3,301
Fee
₹999
Top
6% myCash
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,301/yr net — roughly ₹159 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for mmt hotels — 6% myCash.
IndusInd Bank Pinnacle Credit Card
IndusInd Bank
Net / yr
₹2,010
Fee
Free
Top
3X points/₹150
- ✓Worth a look — ₹2,010/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for travel — 3X points/₹150.
ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip Credit Card
ICICI Bank
Net / yr
₹3,301
Fee
₹999
Top
6% myCash
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,301/yr net — roughly ₹159 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for mmt hotels — 6% myCash.
Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card
Standard Chartered
Net / yr
₹3,460
Fee
₹5,000
Top
5 RP/₹150
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,460/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for all eligible spends — 5 RP/₹150.
IndusInd Bank Pinnacle Credit Card
IndusInd Bank
Net / yr
₹2,010
Fee
Free
Top
3X points/₹150
- ✓Worth a look — ₹2,010/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for travel — 3X points/₹150.
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card₹3,460#1Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card₹3,460
- #2ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip Credit Card₹3,301#2ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip Credit Card₹3,301
- #3IndusInd Bank Pinnacle Credit Card₹2,010#3IndusInd Bank Pinnacle Credit Card₹2,010
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
Best credit card for UPI payments in India (RuPay)
Only RuPay credit cards can be linked to UPI, so this list is limited to cards that offer a RuPay variant. If most of your spending is scan-and-pay, the useful question is what the card earns on UPI itself, not on its other categories. We used a UPI-heavy month for this ranking.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK | ~₹5,000 | ₹1,499/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Counted without its PhonePe bonus tier; worth more if you spend there. Cap: 500 insurance + 1,500 other pts/mo (Jul 2026). Fee waived at ₹3,00,000/yr spend. |
| HDFC Bharat Cashback | ~₹4,200 | ₹500/yr | ₹15,000/mo | Cap: ₹150/month combined. Reward value is our estimate; confirm the points table. Fee waived at ₹50,000/yr spend. |
| PhonePe SBI Card PURPLE | ~₹3,600 | ₹499/yr | ₹25,000/mo | Counted without its PhonePe bonus tier; worth more if you spend there. Cap: 250 insurance + 750 other pts/mo (Jul 2026). Fee waived at ₹1,00,000/yr spend. |
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK tops the UPI payments (RuPay credit cards) list (₹5,000 a year), ahead of HDFC Bharat Cashback (₹4,200) and PhonePe SBI Card PURPLE (₹3,600). The 29% lead is wide enough that you would need a very different spending mix to flip it. Choose the RuPay variant at application. The Visa or Mastercard version of the same card cannot be used for UPI credit.
UPI payments (RuPay credit cards) picks on CardHungry
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹6,697
Fee
₹1,499
Top
10%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹6,697/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for phonepe app spends — 10%, up to 500 insurance + 1,500 other pts/mo (Jul 2026).
PhonePe SBI Card PURPLE
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹3,508
Fee
₹499
Top
3%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,508/yr net — roughly ₹3,189 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for phonepe app spends — 3%, up to 250 insurance + 750 other pts/mo (Jul 2026).
HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card
HDFC Bank
Net / yr
₹3,240
Fee
₹500
Top
5% cashback
- ✓Worth a look — ₹3,240/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for fuel, groceries, bill payments, recharges, irctc — 5% cashback, up to ₹150/month combined.
PhonePe SBI Card PURPLE
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹3,508
Fee
₹499
Top
3%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,508/yr net — roughly ₹3,189 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for phonepe app spends — 3%, up to 250 insurance + 750 other pts/mo (Jul 2026).
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK
SBI Card
Net / yr
₹6,697
Fee
₹1,499
Top
10%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹6,697/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for phonepe app spends — 10%, up to 500 insurance + 1,500 other pts/mo (Jul 2026).
HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card
HDFC Bank
Net / yr
₹3,240
Fee
₹500
Top
5% cashback
- ✓Worth a look — ₹3,240/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for fuel, groceries, bill payments, recharges, irctc — 5% cashback, up to ₹150/month combined.
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK₹6,697#1PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK₹6,697
- #2PhonePe SBI Card PURPLE₹3,508#2PhonePe SBI Card PURPLE₹3,508
- #3HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card₹3,240#3HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card₹3,240
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
Best no-annual-fee credit card in India
A card with no annual fee cannot lose you money to a fee, which makes it the safe default if you are unsure how much you will spend. We only include cards that have no annual fee and no joining fee in India.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| slice | ~₹3,200 | None | ₹15,000/mo | Base monies balance up to ₹3L: 1%. |
| ICICI Amazon Pay | ~₹2,600 | None | ₹25,000/mo | Counted without its Amazon bonus tier; worth more if you spend there. |
| IDFC FIRST Millennia | ~₹2,000 | None | ₹20,000/mo | Dining / travel / international: 10X from first txn. |
For no-annual-fee cards, slice leads at about ₹3,200 a year, with ICICI Amazon Pay next at ₹2,600 and IDFC FIRST Millennia at ₹2,000. The 39% lead is wide enough that you would need a very different spending mix to flip it. Free cards often cap the bonus rate lower. Compare the cap, not just the percentage.
No-annual-fee cards picks on CardHungry
ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card
ICICI Bank
Net / yr
₹3,793
Fee
Free
Top
5%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,793/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for amazon (prime) — 5%.
slice credit card
Slice
Net / yr
₹3,240
Fee
Free
Top
1%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,240/yr net — roughly ₹553 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for base monies balance up to ₹3l — 1%.
IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank
Net / yr
₹1,970
Fee
Free
Top
10X from first txn
- ✓Worth a look — ₹1,970/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for dining / travel / international — 10X from first txn.
slice credit card
Slice
Net / yr
₹3,240
Fee
Free
Top
1%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,240/yr net — roughly ₹553 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for base monies balance up to ₹3l — 1%.
ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card
ICICI Bank
Net / yr
₹3,793
Fee
Free
Top
5%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,793/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for amazon (prime) — 5%.
IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank
Net / yr
₹1,970
Fee
Free
Top
10X from first txn
- ✓Worth a look — ₹1,970/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for dining / travel / international — 10X from first txn.
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card₹3,793#1ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card₹3,793
- #2slice credit card₹3,240#2slice credit card₹3,240
- #3IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card₹1,970#3IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card₹1,970
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
Best first credit card in India
For a first card, approval odds and low cost matter more than reward rates. We list cards with low income requirements or an FD-backed option, and show what they would earn on an ordinary spending month so you can see the cost of choosing the safe option.
| Card | Est. net / year | Annual fee | Min income | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| slice | ~₹3,200 | None | ₹15,000/mo | Base monies balance up to ₹3L: 1%. |
| ICICI Amazon Pay | ~₹2,600 | None | ₹25,000/mo | Counted without its Amazon bonus tier; worth more if you spend there. |
| AU Altura | ~₹2,600 | ₹199/yr | ₹15,000/mo | Cap: ₹50/cycle each. Fee waived at ₹40,000/yr spend. |
slice keeps the most on this profile, roughly ₹3,200 a year; ICICI Amazon Pay comes in at ₹2,600, AU Altura at ₹2,600. A 19% spread is narrow; a different merchant mix could reorder these. FD-backed cards need a deposit, and a first application that is declined can make the next one harder, so apply once to the card you are likely to get.
With no credit history or income proof, an FD-backed card is the likelier approval: IDFC FIRST WOW and SBI Card against Fixed Deposit are in our catalog. These earn little, so treat them as a way to build a record before moving to a better card.
First-time applicants picks on CardHungry
ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card
ICICI Bank
Net / yr
₹3,793
Fee
Free
Top
5%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,793/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for amazon (prime) — 5%.
slice credit card
Slice
Net / yr
₹3,240
Fee
Free
Top
1%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,240/yr net — roughly ₹553 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for base monies balance up to ₹3l — 1%.
AU Altura Credit Card
AU Small Finance Bank
Net / yr
₹2,640
Fee
₹199
Top
2% cashback
- ✓Worth a look — ₹2,640/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for grocery + utility — 2% cashback, up to ₹50/cycle each.
slice credit card
Slice
Net / yr
₹3,240
Fee
Free
Top
1%
- ✓Strong runner-up at ₹3,240/yr net — roughly ₹553 behind #1 on the same spend mix.
- ✓Best for base monies balance up to ₹3l — 1%.
ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card
ICICI Bank
Net / yr
₹3,793
Fee
Free
Top
5%
- ✓Best net value on this list — about ₹3,793/yr in your pocket after fees on typical spends.
- ✓Best for amazon (prime) — 5%.
AU Altura Credit Card
AU Small Finance Bank
Net / yr
₹2,640
Fee
₹199
Top
2% cashback
- ✓Worth a look — ₹2,640/yr net among the eligible cards on this list.
- ✓Best for grocery + utility — 2% cashback, up to ₹50/cycle each.
Net value snapshot
Rewards minus annual fee on your spend profile
- #1ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card₹3,793#1ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card₹3,793
- #2slice credit card₹3,240#2slice credit card₹3,240
- #3AU Altura Credit Card₹2,640#3AU Altura Credit Card₹2,640
Estimated net value on a shared spend profile — not marketing headline rates.
How to choose among these
- Start with where most of your money goes. A card that is third in a category you rarely use is worse than a modest card in the category you use daily.
- Check the monthly cap before the percentage. A 10% rate that stops at a small monthly ceiling can pay less than a flat 2% with no cap once you spend normally.
- Look at the fee against your real spending, not ours. Our table shows the fee and the spend at which it is waived, where the bank publishes one.
- Apply to one card first. Each application is a hard enquiry, and a decline on your first card makes the next harder.
Get a personalized recommendation
Articles are generic — your best card depends on income and spends. Match in 2 minutes, no CIBIL pull.
Start free matchRates, caps, and offers are sourced from public issuer and platform terms and may change — see how we calculate net annual value.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best credit card in India in October 2026?+
On our standard spending profile the highest net value comes from PhonePe SBI Card SELECT BLACK, at about ₹6,300 a year after fees and caps. The best card for you depends on where you spend, so use the category sections above: a card that wins on dining may be mediocre for fuel.
How are the rankings calculated?+
We estimate the annual rewards each card pays on a monthly spending profile, subtract the annual fee and foreign-currency costs, and apply the monthly caps and exclusions in each card’s terms. Points are valued at the rate in our catalog. Sign-up bonuses are left out so a one-off bonus cannot outrank a card that pays every year. Our methodology page documents each assumption.
Is there a good credit card with no annual fee in India?+
Yes. slice has no annual or joining fee and earns an estimated ₹3,200 a year on the standard profile. Free cards usually cap their bonus rate lower than paid ones, so compare the cap if you spend heavily.
Do I need a high income for these cards?+
Everyday lists assume an income around ₹45,000/mo and only include cards asking for that or less. Travel and lounge lists allow cards that ask for up to 2.5 times that. Each table shows the minimum income the bank states, and banks can still decline you for other reasons.
Does checking these cards affect my CIBIL score?+
No. CardHungry never pulls your CIBIL report. A hard enquiry happens only when you apply to the bank, so apply to one card you are likely to get rather than several at once.
How often is this list updated?+
We publish a new edition each month and update the numbers whenever a card’s terms change. This is the October 2026 edition; the next one is due in the first week of the following month. Every card page shows the date its details were last verified.
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