Top Credit Cards in India 2018: Rewards & Cashback Guide

New list is up: Check out the latest list: Best Credit Cards in India 2021

Looking for the best credit cards in India? You’re in the right place. Whether you want cashback, rewards, airmiles, premium or super-premium cards, this guide covers it. I analyzed 70+ cards across multiple banks and shortlisted the top 20+ cards for different user segments.

There is no single card that fits everyone — spending habits, monthly outgoings and acceptable joining fees vary widely. I carry close to 10 active cards and the list below includes most of the ones I use along with other strong contenders. Let’s get started.

Best Lifestyle Credit Cards

Lifestyle cards suit a wide range of spending — dining, online shopping and everyday purchases. These are all-rounders and are relatively easy to get approved. Suggested income range: 6 Lakhs+

1. SBI Prime

SBICard Prime, launched in 2017, remains a popular choice. It blends milestone benefits, lounge access and a useful renewal-fee waiver if you spend Rs.3 lakh annually. A standout feature is the ability to pay house rent on the card and earn rewards on it, which helps reach the waiver threshold more easily.

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

2. HDFC Regalia First

HDFC Regalia First is often issued with no joining fee, making it ideal if you prefer not to pay upfront. HDFC frequently runs merchant promotions (5X/10X rewards) that can dramatically boost this card’s effective reward rate. It’s a solid starter HDFC card to have in your wallet.

• Reward Rate: 1%–10%
• Joining Fee: Usually Free
• Full Review: HDFC Regalia First Credit Card Review

3. SBI SimplyClick

For mainly online spenders with annual spends under Rs.3 lakh, SimplyClick is a low-fee option that offers accelerated rewards at select merchants. It also includes milestone benefits such as Cleartrip vouchers, adding to its value.

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

4. Citibank Cashback Credit Card

Citibank’s cashback card is popular with metro users and integrates well for those who already hold a Citibank salary account. It offers a straightforward cashback structure and Citibank often runs travel and shopping offers throughout the year.

• Reward Rate: 0.5%
• Joining Fee: Rs.500
• Full Review: Citibank Cashback Credit Card

5. Standard Chartered Manhattan

Standard Chartered Manhattan is strong for cashback on cab spends, especially Uber, and the bank regularly adds useful merchant offers. It’s a practical choice if saving on transportation and periodic promos appeal to you.

• Reward Rate: Up to 5% (subject to limits)
• Joining Fee: Rs.999
• Full Review: Standard Chartered Manhattan Card Review
• Apply Now

Best Premium Credit Cards

Premium cards suit those whose lifestyle demands more than standard features. Expect better travel benefits, domestic and international lounge access, higher reward rates on select spends and additional perks. Suggested income range: 12 Lakhs+

1. HDFC Regalia

HDFC Regalia is a long-standing flagship card with benefits such as low foreign currency markup, frequent 5X/10X merchant promos and newly added milestone perks. Think of it as an upgraded Regalia First with more premium touches.

• Reward Rate: 1.2%–12%
• Joining Fee: Usually Free
• Full Review: HDFC Regalia Credit Card Review

2. Yes First Preferred

Yes Bank has grown quickly in the card market. The YES First Preferred card offers a default 2% reward rate and frequent spend-based campaigns that boost rewards to 10X/2X levels during promotions.

• Reward Rate: 2%–6%
• Joining Fee: Usually Free
• Full Review: Yes Bank Preferred Credit Card Review

3. SBI Elite

SBI Elite is a strong option for movie lovers thanks to a benefit that essentially provides two BookMyShow tickets worth Rs.500 each month. Its renewal fee can be waived with high annual spends (Rs.10 lakh), making it appealing for big spenders.

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

4. Amex Gold Charge Card

For a premium lifestyle, having at least one American Express card is valuable due to Amex’s frequent merchant offers, especially for travel and festive promotions. Note this is a charge card (not a credit card), so it requires full settlement each month. If you want a credit-card style product from Amex, consider their Membership Rewards credit card options instead.

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

5. HDFC Diners ClubMiles

This card is well suited for frequent travelers and online shoppers, with 10X reward campaigns and complimentary lounge access. One caveat is that it’s a Diners Club card, and acceptance is not as universal as Visa/Mastercard, so keep a backup card handy.

• Reward Rate: 1.3%–13%
• Joining Fee: Usually Free
• Full Review: HDFC Diners ClubMiles Credit Card Review

6. Indusind Iconia

Iconia is useful if you spend heavily on weekends and fuel — it historically had no fuel surcharge at select petrol pumps and offers unlimited domestic lounge access (subject to change). It’s best for card enthusiasts rather than beginners, as IndusInd’s card processes and customer experience have seen mixed reviews.

• Reward Rate: 2%
• Joining Fee: Rs.3,500 without voucher or Rs.10,000 with equivalent gift voucher
• Full Review: Indusind Iconia Credit Card Review

Best Travel Credit Cards

If travel is a significant part of your life, travel cards convert spending into vouchers, hotel stays and airline benefits rather than straight cashback.

1. Amex Plat Travel Card

The American Express Platinum Travel card is one of the top travel cards available. It targets high spenders and offers substantial travel vouchers (domestic travel and branded hotel stays) on achieving specified spend thresholds. The card is most rewarding for those who can meet the milestone spends.

• Reward Rate: ~7%
• Joining/Renewal Fee: Rs.3,500 / Rs.5,000
• Full Review: Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card Review

2. Axis Privilege Card

Axis Privilege offers travel-focused redemption options like Yatra vouchers and is free for Axis Priority customers. It’s worth considering when available at no cost, though merchant offers are fewer compared with other premium cards.

• Reward Rate: 1%–2%
• Joining Fee: Rs.1,500 (Free for Axis Priority Customers)
• Full Review: Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card Review

3. SBI IRCTC Card

SBI IRCTC gives up to 10% savings on train ticket bookings and is a good match for frequent rail travelers. If you take 40+ train trips a year, this card can deliver noticeable value.

• Reward Rate: 1%–10%
• Joining Fee: Rs.500

4. CITI PremierMiles

Despite its name, Citi PremierMiles is not strictly an airmiles card — it functions as a flexible rewards card similar to HDFC Regalia. It’s most suitable for Citibank Priority/Gold account holders and allows point conversions to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. It can also be a pathway to Citi’s higher-end products.

• Reward Rate: 1.8%
• Joining Fee: Rs.3,000 (Free for Citi Priority/Gold account holders)
• Full Review: Citibank Premier Miles Credit Card Review

If you travel frequently, consider checking specialized lists for the best airmiles cards as well.

Best Super Premium Credit Cards

Super-premium cards cater to high-net-worth individuals with large credit limits, unlimited lounge access, top-tier rewards and exclusive perks.

• Suggested income range: 25 Lakhs+
• Suggested spend range: 10 Lakhs+

Getting approved: These are among the toughest cards to obtain. Strong bank relationships and high income/spend history are typically required.

1. HDFC Infinia

HDFC Infinia is one of the most prestigious cards in India. It typically comes with a high minimum credit limit and the No Pre-set Spending Limit (NPSL) feature. HDFC’s frequent 5X/10X promos make this card extremely rewarding for large spenders.

• Reward Rate: 3.3%–33%
• Joining Fee: Rs.10,000 (waived for select accounts)
• Full Review: HDFC Infinia Review

2. Yes First Exclusive

If HDFC Infinia is out of reach, Yes First Exclusive is a close alternative. It provides many similar benefits with a slightly lower reward rate, and Yes Bank’s periodic 10X/3X promos can boost returns during campaigns.

• Reward Rate: 2.5%
• Joining Fee: Rs.10,000 (waived for select accounts)
• Full Review: Yes First Exclusive Card Review

3. HDFC Diners Black

HDFC Diners Black is extremely rewarding for travelers thanks to its 10X reward point campaigns. Its default reward rate is very competitive, on par with some other top-tier cards. As with other Diners products, acceptance can be less widespread than Visa/Mastercard, so carry a backup card.

• Reward Rate: 3.3%–33%
• Joining Fee: Rs.10,000 (waived for select accounts)
• Full Review: HDFC Diners Black Review

4. Citi Prestige

Citi Prestige is aimed at very premium lifestyles and offers maximum value when your everyday life already includes significant travel, hotels and premium services. Having a Citi Gold or Private account can further enhance rewards and benefits.

• Reward Rate: 2%–10%
• Annual fee: Rs.20,000 (waived for Citigold & Private clients)
• Full Review: Citi Prestige Review

5. Standard Chartered Ultimate

Standard Chartered Ultimate is a newly launched high-reward card. It offers a strong default reward rate and attractive redemption options such as occasional Amazon voucher promotions. It lacks some unlimited premium perks like universal lounge access but is very rewarding for high spenders.

• Reward Rate: 3.3%
• Joining/Renewal Fee: Rs.5,000
• Welcome Bonus: Rs.10,000 Cashback

Other Categories

The cards listed above are some of the most commonly useful options in India. If you have specific needs, explore these focused categories to find the best fit for fuel spends, airline miles or lounge access:

• Best Airline Credit Cards
• Best Fuel Credit Cards
• Best Cards for Lounge Access

Bottomline

Choose credit cards based on your personal lifestyle and spending pattern. The goal is to maximize the reward rate on your regular spends. Hold as many cards as you need, but have a plan to extract the maximum value from each.

The credit card landscape in India changes rapidly, so stay informed and review your card strategy regularly — every three months is a good cadence to ensure you’re getting the best value.

For timely updates, consider following Cardexpert’s Facebook Page to catch new offers and changes as they appear.