Top Credit Cards in India 2021: Reviews, Ratings & Guide

Looking for the best credit cards in India for 2021 that suit your needs during the pandemic? You’re in the right place. Whether you want cashback, lounge access, free food, complimentary hotel stays or business class tickets, this guide covers the top options across categories.

There is no single best credit card for everyone—your ideal card depends on where and how much you spend and how much annual fee you’re willing to pay.

I analysed over 100 credit cards across issuers and compiled a shortlist of the top 20+ cards for different user segments. With more than ten active cards in my wallet, the list below includes many cards I use personally and others worth considering. Let’s begin.

Best Entry-Level Credit Cards

Entry-level or beginner credit cards target first-time cardholders and typically offer straightforward rewards and low fees.

• Suggested income: 4 Lakhs+
• Suggested spend: 1 Lakh+

1. SBI SimplyClick

• Reward Rate: 1.25% – 2.5%
• Joining Fee: Rs.499+GST

For new card users spending around 1 Lakh a year, SBI SimplyClick is a solid pick. It gives 1.25% back on online spends and 2.5% at select merchants such as Amazon, plus periodic merchant discounts and milestone Cleartrip vouchers that offset its modest fee.

2. Amex MRCC

• Reward Rate: 1%–10%
• Joining Fee: Fee offers vary

The American Express Membership Rewards card is a great entry into Amex. Monthly bonus points and the frequent Amex Offers can deliver very high effective returns for targeted spends. Note: Amex applications may be restricted by issuer policies from time to time.

3. IDFC First Credit Cards

• Reward Rate: Up to 2.5%
• Joining Fee: Lifetime Free

IDFC First Bank issues lifetime-free cards with competitive returns on online and higher monthly spends. Variants target different customer profiles, but most offer the same base rewards with some differences in travel benefits.

Best eCommerce Credit Cards

Co-branded eCommerce cards grew quickly in India. They’re usually entry-level but deliver simple, direct cashback or wallet credits without complex redemptions.

4. Axis Ace

• Reward Rate: 2% – 5% cashback
• Joining Fee: Rs.500+GST

Axis Ace (with Google Pay partnership) offers a flat 2% statement cashback on most spends and can be an excellent everyday card for beginners. It also includes domestic lounge access, making it a strong value proposition.

5. ICICI Amazon Pay

• Reward Rate: 1% – 5% (as Amazon Pay balance)
• Joining Fee: Nil

A no-fee way to get into credit card rewards, the ICICI Amazon Pay card is especially valuable for Amazon Prime users. It’s quick to approve if you bank with ICICI. Caution: very high or business-related personal spends can attract scrutiny from some issuers.

6. RBL Zomato Classic

• Reward Rate: 1.5% – 10% (as Zomato credits)
• Joining Fee: Rs.500+GST

If frequent dining or free food appeals to you, the RBL Zomato Classic card is attractive and relatively easy to obtain. Onboarding via Aadhaar authentication is streamlined. Availability may vary, and some offerings are invite-only at times.

Other cards to consider: Axis Flipkart, SBI Paytm and HDFC Millennia can be useful depending on your preferred merchants and offers.

Best Premium Credit Cards

Premium cards suit those who want a touch of luxury and stronger travel benefits such as lounge access, higher rewards and milestone perks.

• Suggested income range: 12 Lakhs+
• Suggested spend range: 6 Lakhs+

7. BOB Eterna

• Reward Rate: 3.75% (online spends)
• Joining Fee: Rs.2499+GST (reversed on spends of 25K)

BOB Eterna offers one of the highest returns on online spends for a premium card, plus unlimited domestic lounge access and improved merchant offers—good for heavy online spenders.

8. HDFC Regalia

• Reward Rate: 1.3%–13%
• Joining Fee: Rs.2500+GST (Usually First Year Free)

HDFC Regalia has long been a flagship premium option with solid merchant offers, lower forex markup fees and milestone benefits. Note that HDFC may limit fresh applications at times, though upgrades for existing customers often continue.

9. IndusInd Pinnacle

• Reward Rate: ~2.5%
• Joining Fee: Rs.10,000+GST or Rs.15,000+GST with vouchers

IndusInd Pinnacle delivers strong returns on online spends and attractive welcome benefits. It gained popularity due to favorable availability and welcome offers, making it worthwhile for those prioritising cash-equivalent returns.

10. Amex Gold Charge

• Reward Rate: 1%–10%
• Joining Fee: Rs.1000+GST

Amex Gold Charge provides higher buying power and access to Amex Offers. As a charge card, it differs from a typical credit card—balances are expected to be paid in full each month rather than using EMIs.

11. Axis Select

• Reward Rate: 1%–2%
• Joining Fee: Rs.3000+GST (Free for Burgundy customers)

Axis Select blends a premium design with lounge and golf benefits and useful merchant discounts such as sizeable savings on food delivery—good for Axis customers seeking lifestyle perks.

12. IndusInd Iconia (Amex)

• Reward Rate: 1%–2%
• Joining Fee: Rs.3,500+GST (or higher with vouchers)

Iconia Amex rewards weekend spends strongly and benefits from Amex Offers. It can be valuable if you can concentrate spends on weekends, though IndusInd’s systems may be less reliable than some competitors.

Best Travel Credit Cards

Travel-focused cards convert spend into travel vouchers or points and usually include privileges that benefit frequent travellers. Many premium and super-premium cards also double as travel cards.

13. Amex Plat Travel

• Reward Rate: 6%–8% effective (depending on redemption)
• Joining Fee: Varies

The Amex Platinum Travel card remains a top travel option, with strong redemptions, travel vouchers and hotel benefits such as complimentary Taj vouchers that can deliver excellent value for dedicated travellers.

14. Axis Magnus

• Reward Rate: 1.2%–2.4%
• Joining Fee: Rs.10,000+GST

Axis Magnus focuses on premium airport experiences and safety-oriented services like meet-and-greet assistance, which can be especially useful during the pandemic.

15. SBI IRCTC

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

If you travel frequently by Indian Railways, the SBI IRCTC card can save up to 10% on train bookings and redeem those savings toward future travel. For heavy IRCTC spenders, higher-tier variants exist but may only be worthwhile if annual IRCTC spend is high.

Best Airline Credit Cards

Airline cards make sense if you consistently fly with a specific carrier, offering air miles, cabin upgrades and complimentary tickets.

16. Axis Vistara Infinite

• Reward Rate: ~10% effective
• Joining Fee: Rs.10,000+GST

A strong airline co-branded card, Axis Vistara Infinite can deliver very high value in the form of business class vouchers and Club Vistara Gold benefits for frequent Vistara flyers.

17. SBI Vistara Prime

• Reward Rate: ~7%
• Joining Fee: Rs.2999+GST

SBI Vistara Prime offers premium economy tickets and a competitive reward rate for those who find Infinite’s fee out of reach. It’s a solid mid-tier airline card for regular Vistara travellers.

Best Super Premium Credit Cards

Super-premium cards deliver the highest rewards, elevated credit limits, unlimited lounge access and concierge-style services for a truly premium lifestyle.

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

18. HDFC Infinia

• Reward Rate: 3.3% – 33%
• Joining Fee: Rs.10,000+GST (First Year Free usually)

HDFC Infinia is a flagship super-premium card with high reward potential, especially through 10X programs and selected merchant tie-ups. It’s ideal for heavy spenders seeking top-tier rewards and service.

19. Amex Platinum

• Reward Rate: ~1.25% (value from benefits)
• Annual fee: Rs.60,000+GST

Amex Platinum focuses on luxury benefits—hotel privileges, upgrades, concierge and curated experiences—so its value derives more from perks than from pure points-per-rupee calculations.

20. HDFC Diners Black

• Reward Rate: 3.3% – 33%
• Joining Fee: Rs.10,000+GST (First Year Free usually)

Diners Black is powerful for travellers and online shoppers thanks to 10X rewards and frequent monthly accelerators. Keep a backup card because Diners acceptance can be more limited than Visa/Mastercard in some places.

21. Standard Chartered Ultimate

• Reward Rate: 3.3%
• Joining Fee: Rs.5,000+GST

Standard Chartered Ultimate offers broad reward accrual on most spends and solid redemption options. It’s an attractive super-premium alternative for high spenders.

Best Fuel Credit Cards

There are several decent fuel cards, but for most users these are not optimal. Fuel spends are typically low and specialized fuel cards often have limited value outside fuel purchases.

A practical alternative is to load a digital wallet (Paytm, Zomato, Uber or similar) using one of the high-reward cards listed above and pay for fuel from the wallet. This can yield effective returns of ~4% or more while preserving rewards on non-fuel spends.

FAQ’s

Which is the best credit card in India for 2021?

There isn’t one universal best card. The right choice depends on your spending patterns and priorities. Use the category-based list above to match a card to your needs.

How many Credit Cards can I have?

As many as make sense for your finances. Beginners can start with two cards and add more as their needs and spending increase.

Which Credit Card issuer has the best customer service?

American Express and Citi are often praised for premium customer support. Other banks also offer excellent service, especially at the super-premium tier.

Which bank’s credit card is best in India?

HDFC is a market leader with strong merchant offers. It’s a sensible starting point, with an Amex card as a useful complement for different benefits.

Bottomline

This list is prepared with the pandemic context in mind, which influenced some inclusions and exclusions. The key to maximising value is optimising welcome vouchers, merchant offers, spend-based benefits, card-linked offers and regular spends.

Credit card offerings evolve rapidly, so review your strategy periodically—roughly every four months—to stay on top of new launches and changing benefits.

P.S. I hope this guide provides clear, practical options and helps you save money while matching cards to your lifestyle priorities.