Which is the best credit card in India in 2026?

There is no single best card — it depends on where your money goes. A heavy online shopper, a frequent flyer and someone who mostly pays bills should each hold a different card. Run your spending through the card value calculator to see which one pays you the most.

What is the minimum salary for a credit card in India?

Entry-level cards start at about Rs. 12,500 to Rs. 15,000 a month. Premium cards ask for Rs. 50,000 or more. Cards issued against a fixed deposit have no income requirement at all.

How many credit cards should I have?

Two or three, covering different spending: one for online shopping, one for travel or fuel, and a no-fee card kept for its credit history. Five or more open cards can slow down a new approval.

Are there lifetime free credit cards in India?

Yes. Seven of the cards tracked here carry no joining or annual fee, including Scapia Federal, SBM Novio and RoarBank RuPay. See the lifetime free list for the full set.

Does applying for a credit card lower my credit score?

Each application makes a hard enquiry, which lowers your score slightly, and several applications in a short time look worse. Check eligibility first and apply only to the card most likely to approve you.

Credit Cards in India 2026 — Compare and Apply

Quick picks

Showing 1–3 of 3 cards

3.4CredSpy Score

Entry level · Rewards Cards

Axis Bank

Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card

Lifetime free, lives in the Google Pay app, and earns on fuel as well as everything else

Best forFuel and everyday UPI spending at no cost
Lifetime freeno annual fee
Fuel earns here

Annual fee

Lifetime free

Joining feeNil

Apply now View details

Reward rate: Up to 0.2% rewards
Forex markup: 3.5%
Lounge access: None
Interest: 55.55% p.a.
Credit score: 700+

Heads-up: The base rate of one Star per Rs. 500 is 0.2% back, among the lowest in this catalogue.

4.3CredSpy Score

Entry level · Cashback Cards

Axis Bank

Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card

Lifetime free with 3% on all online spends and sixteen lounge visits a year

Best forOnline shopping, food delivery, cabs and entertainment
Complimentarylounge access
Lifetime freeno annual fee

Annual fee

Lifetime free

Joining feeNil

Apply now View details

Reward rate: Up to 3% cashback
Forex markup: 3.5%
Lounge access: 16/yr domestic
Interest: 55.55% p.a.
Credit score: 700+

Heads-up: Wallet loads, fuel, cash withdrawals, gold and jewellery, gift cards and EMI transactions earn no cashback.

3.9CredSpy Score

Entry level · Travel

Axis Bank

IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card BK

A lifetime-free RuPay card that pays in IndiGo BluChips, with a lounge visit every quarter.

Best forRegular IndiGo flyers
Complimentarylounge access
₹1,200welcome voucher

Annual fee

Lifetime free

Joining feeNil

Apply now View details

Reward rate: Up to 3 reward points per ₹100
Forex markup: Not published
Lounge access: 1/qtr domestic
Interest: 45% p.a.
Credit score: 700+

Heads-up: IndiGo does not publish a fixed value for a BluChip. Redemption is dynamic — roughly Rs. 0.40 to Rs. 0.60 a chip — so the headline earn…

Quick picks

Showing 1–3 of 3 cards

3.4CredSpy Score

Entry level · Rewards Cards

Axis Bank

Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card

Lifetime free, lives in the Google Pay app, and earns on fuel as well as everything else

Best forFuel and everyday UPI spending at no cost
Lifetime freeno annual fee
Fuel earns here

Annual fee

Lifetime free

Joining feeNil

Apply now View details

Reward rate: Up to 0.2% rewards
Forex markup: 3.5%
Lounge access: None
Interest: 55.55% p.a.
Credit score: 700+

Heads-up: The base rate of one Star per Rs. 500 is 0.2% back, among the lowest in this catalogue.

4.3CredSpy Score

Entry level · Cashback Cards

Axis Bank

Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card

Lifetime free with 3% on all online spends and sixteen lounge visits a year

Best forOnline shopping, food delivery, cabs and entertainment
Complimentarylounge access
Lifetime freeno annual fee

Annual fee

Lifetime free

Joining feeNil

Apply now View details

Reward rate: Up to 3% cashback
Forex markup: 3.5%
Lounge access: 16/yr domestic
Interest: 55.55% p.a.
Credit score: 700+

Heads-up: Wallet loads, fuel, cash withdrawals, gold and jewellery, gift cards and EMI transactions earn no cashback.

3.9CredSpy Score

Entry level · Travel

Axis Bank

IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card BK

A lifetime-free RuPay card that pays in IndiGo BluChips, with a lounge visit every quarter.

Best forRegular IndiGo flyers
Complimentarylounge access
₹1,200welcome voucher

Annual fee

Lifetime free

Joining feeNil

Apply now View details

Reward rate: Up to 3 reward points per ₹100
Forex markup: Not published
Lounge access: 1/qtr domestic
Interest: 45% p.a.
Credit score: 700+

Heads-up: IndiGo does not publish a fixed value for a BluChip. Redemption is dynamic — roughly Rs. 0.40 to Rs. 0.60 a chip — so the headline earn…

Best Credit Cards in India 2026

Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card

Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card

IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card BK

Tools that go with this list

Best Credit Cards in India 2026

Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card

Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card

IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card BK

Tools that go with this list

Credit cards: guide and FAQs

1. What is in this credit card list

2. How to pick a credit card in India

3. Frequently Asked Questions