Top Credit Cards in India 2017: Real Reviews & Comparisons

New list is up: Check out the latest list: 25+ Best Credit Cards in India 2019

Everyone wants the best credit card available in India, but “best” depends on individual needs. Where you spend, how much you spend and the fees you’re willing to pay will determine which card suits you. This article presents a comprehensive overview to help you choose the right credit card—whether you’re a beginner or a high‑spender. Read on to find cards that excel at rewards, cashback, travel and lifestyle benefits.

If you are new to credit cards or unclear about their basic benefits, start with 7 Reasons Why You Should have a Credit Card in India. For everyone else, here is a curated list of popular and widely recommended cards.

India’s Best Credit Cards in 2017 – Popular All‑Rounders

Below are well‑known, commonly held cards that offer broad benefits, easy availability and a range of features suitable for most users. Super‑premium cards are listed later.

1. SBI Card Prime
2. Yes Bank Preferred Credit Card
3. SBI Elite Credit Card
4. HDFC Regalia
5. HDFC Diners Premium
6. SBI Simply Click Credit Card
7. Amex Gold Charge Card
8. IndusInd Iconia Credit Card
9. Standard Chartered Manhattan
10. ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card
11. Citibank Cashback Credit Card

Details and reasons for inclusion are summarized below.

#1 SBI Card Prime

Launched in 2017, SBI Card Prime is a strong all‑round choice. It combines milestone benefits, lounge access and other premium features, and offers a renewal fee waiver on meeting a high spending threshold. It’s ideal for users who want a single card that covers dining, groceries, departmental store spends and travel lounge access.

• Reward Rate: 3%–5%
• Joining Fee: Rs.2,999 + tax (welcome gift equivalent)
• Full Review: SBI Prime Credit Card Review
• Apply Now

Best for: Dining, groceries, departmental stores, international/domestic lounge access.

#2 Yes Bank Preferred Credit Card

Yes Bank Preferred is a good alternative to HDFC Regalia after recent devaluations. It’s relatively easy to obtain and useful if you prefer redeeming points for flight tickets, mobile recharges or vouchers. Yes Bank’s promotional offers and partnerships make this card attractive for a variety of spends.

• Reward Rate: ~2%
• Joining Fee: Usually free
• Full Review: Yes Bank Preferred Credit Card Review

Best for: General spends, lounge access.

#3 SBI Elite Credit Card

SBI Elite is well suited for high spenders who want versatile redemption options including cashback. It also includes two BookMyShow tickets every month and offers a fee waiver on high annual spend. The card delivers consistent value through lifestyle and travel perks.

• Reward Rate: ~2%
• Joining Fee: Rs.4,999 + ST
• Full Review: SBI Elite Credit Card Review
• Apply Now

Best for: Dining, groceries, departmental stores, monthly movie tickets, lounge access. The annual fee can be waived on sufficient yearly spend.

#4 HDFC Regalia Credit Card

HDFC Regalia has been a flagship lifestyle card offering decent rewards, complimentary lounge access, low forex markup and bonus rewards with selected merchants. Note that HDFC has reduced some benefits in the past, so check current terms before applying. It remains a solid option for broad travel and lifestyle use.

• Reward Rate: ~1.3%
• Joining Fee: Usually free
• Alert: HDFC may change benefits periodically
• Full Review: HDFC Regalia Credit Card Review

Best for: General spends, international/domestic lounge access. If approval is difficult, consider Regalia First and upgrade later.

#5 HDFC Diners Premium Credit Card

HDFC Diners Premium is well suited for travelers and online shoppers because of its accelerated reward categories and complimentary lounge access. It uses the Diners Club network, so occasional merchant acceptance may be limited—keep a backup card for wider acceptance.

• Reward Rate: 1.3%–13% depending on category
• Joining Fee: Usually free
• Full Review: HDFC Diners Premium Credit Card Review

Best for: High‑reward categories, domestic/international lounge access.

#6 SBI Simply Click Credit Card

SBI Simply Click is geared toward online shoppers. It offers higher returns on partner websites and is convenient if you frequently redeem rewards for Amazon vouchers. The card is optimized for e‑commerce purchases and selected merchant offers.

• Reward Rate: ~1.25%
• Joining Fee: Rs.499 + ST
• Full Review: SBI Simply Click Credit Card Review
• Apply Now

Best for: Online spends and purchases with partner merchants.

#7 Amex Gold Charge Card

American Express cards are known for frequent merchant offers, travel and festive promotions. The Amex Gold Charge Card is a good choice to have in your wallet for premium offers and excellent customer service. Note this is a charge card, not a revolving credit card, so EMI options are not available on this product.

• Reward Rate: ~2%
• Joining/Renewal Fee: Rs.1,000 + ST / Rs.4,500 + ST
• Full Review: Amex Gold Charge Card Review
• Apply Now

Best for: Travel, lifestyle offers and world‑class support. Consider other Amex products if you need EMI facilities.

#8 IndusInd Iconia Credit Card (Amex)

IndusInd Iconia is notable for earning rewards on fuel and utility spends and for the flexibility to redeem points for cashback. It performs well for users with significant utility bills and weekend spending. There is a joining fee, so evaluate your monthly utility and fuel spends before applying.

• Reward Rate: ~2%
• Joining Fee: Rs.3,500 + ST
• Full Review: IndusInd Iconia Credit Card Review

#9 Standard Chartered Manhattan

Standard Chartered Manhattan is focused on cashback for groceries and departmental store spends, making it a practical family card. It often features cashback partnerships with ride‑hailing services, which helps reduce transportation expenses.

• Reward Rate: Up to 5% in select categories (subject to limits)
• Joining Fee: Rs.499 + tax (waived if annual spend threshold met)
• Full Review: Standard Chartered Manhattan Card Review
• Apply Now

#10 ICICI Coral Credit Card

ICICI Coral has been popular for movie offers and lounge access. Some of its prominent benefits, like buy‑one‑get‑one movie tickets, can be limited in availability. If lounge access matters, opt for the Mastercard variant where applicable.

• Reward Rate: ~0.5%
• Joining Fee: Rs.1,000 + tax (sometimes waived)
• Full Review: ICICI Coral Credit Card Review

#11 Citibank Cashback Credit Card

Citibank Cashback delivers a simple flat cashback model, making it great for beginners who prefer straightforward savings over points systems. It also participates in travel promotions from time to time.

• Reward Rate: ~0.5% flat (higher in select categories)
• Joining Fee: Free
• Full Review: Citibank Cashback Credit Card

These cards represent commonly held and widely recommended options in India. For most people, holding two to three cards that complement each other—one for everyday spends and one for travel or online purchases—works well. If your annual spend is substantially higher, consider the super‑premium segment described next.

Super Premium Credit Cards

If your annual credit card spend exceeds three lakhs or you have a high income, super‑premium cards offer enhanced travel, dining and shopping rewards. These cards are designed for lifestyle benefits, concierge services and richer reward structures. For full reviews of top cards in this category, refer to specialized guides on super‑premium cards.

Domestic Travel Credit Cards

Dedicated travel cards reward frequent flyers with air miles or travel vouchers that can be redeemed for flights and hotels. If you travel frequently within India, choose a card focused on domestic travel benefits and airline partnerships.

International Travel & Foreign Currency Cards

For overseas travel or regular foreign currency transactions, select cards with low forex markup fees, good acceptance globally and travel protections. These cards help minimize currency conversion costs and often include international lounge privileges.

I hope this guide helps you identify credit cards that match your spending patterns and priorities. If you found the list helpful, consider which benefits matter most to you—rewards, cashback, lounge access, or travel perks—before making a choice.