CardArtha Top Picks · Updated June 2026
Independent comparison of the best Indian credit cards in 2026. Filter by category, compare fees, reward rates, lounge access, and forex markup. Updated monthly.
Earn Rate: 3.3% base (5 reward points per ₹150 = 1 RP ≈ ₹1); 10X on SmartBuy portal
Earn Rate: 3.3% base; 10X on SmartBuy; 5X on dining
Earn Rate: 3 reward points per ₹150 on online; 1.5 RP/₹150 offline; 10X on birthday; 6X on international
Earn Rate: 4 ICICI Reward Points per ₹100 (≈ 1% base); higher on travel bookings via ICICI
Earn Rate: 5% cashback on all online transactions; 1% on offline
Earn Rate: 2% base (4 RP per ₹150); 5X on grocery and dining
Earn Rate: 5% back on Amazon (Prime members); 3% on Amazon (non-Prime); 2% on partner merchants; 1% others
Earn Rate: 12 EDGE Reward Points per ₹200 on travel (EDGE Travel portal); 6 EDGE RP/₹200 on dining; 3 EDGE RP/₹200 base
Earn Rate: 5 Travel Points per ₹100 on travel; 2 TP/₹100 on all others; NO forex markup reward
Earn Rate: 5% cashback on bill payments & recharges via Google Pay; 4% on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola; 1.5% others
Earn Rate: 5 EDGE Miles on every ₹100 on travel; 2 EDGE Miles on all other spends
Earn Rate: 5X Membership Rewards Points on Amex Travel Online; 1X on all other spends
Earn Rate: 5% cashback on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, Zomato, BookMyShow; 1% on other spends
Earn Rate: 10% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola; 1.5% on all other spends
Earn Rate: 5X (5 RP/₹100) on dining, department stores, grocery; 2X on all others
Earn Rate: 10X RP on Amazon, BookMyShow, Cleartrip, Lenskart, Netmeds; 5X on all other online; 1X offline
Earn Rate: 2 reward points per ₹100 on all spends; 1.5X on international; 3X on IndusInd site travel
Earn Rate: User selects active features: cashback OR reward points OR EMI offers — customisable monthly
Earn Rate: 1 MR point per ₹50 spend; 1,000 bonus MR on 4 transactions/month of ₹1,000+
Earn Rate: 8 reward points per ₹150 on weekends; 4 RP/₹150 on weekdays
Earn Rate: 2% cashback on all online spend; 1% on offline
No cards found in this category.
All fees include GST where applicable. Annual fee waiver conditions vary — click card name for full details.
| Card | Category | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Fee Waiver | Reward Rate | Lounge Access | Forex Markup | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank Infinia Metal HDFC Bank | super premium | ₹12,500 | ₹12,500 | Not waivable — complimentary on invite basis for select customers | 3.3% base (5 reward points per ₹150 = 1 RP ≈ ₹1); 10X on SmartBuy portal | Unlimited domestic + international via Priority Pass (add 2 guests); 4 guests per visit on DragonPass | 2% + GST (effective ~2.36%) | 4.8 /5 |
| HDFC Diners Club Black HDFC Bank | super premium | ₹10,000 | ₹10,000 | Spend ₹5L/year | 3.3% base; 10X on SmartBuy; 5X on dining | Unlimited domestic + international (Diners Club network + Priority Pass) | 2% + GST | 4.6 /5 |
| IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card IDFC FIRST Bank | premium | Free | Free | Lifetime free — no annual fee ever | 3 reward points per ₹150 on online; 1.5 RP/₹150 offline; 10X on birthday; 6X on international | 4 domestic lounge visits/quarter (16/year); 2 international Priority Pass visits/quarter (8/year) | 1.5% + GST (best-in-class) | 4.6 /5 |
| ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal ICICI Bank | super premium | ₹12,499 | ₹12,499 | Not waivable — private banking invite only | 4 ICICI Reward Points per ₹100 (≈ 1% base); higher on travel bookings via ICICI | Unlimited domestic + international Priority Pass; 2 guests included | 1.5% + GST (one of the lowest in India) | 4.5 /5 |
| SBI Card Cashback SBI Card | mid range | ₹999 | ₹999 | Spend ₹2L/year | 5% cashback on all online transactions; 1% on offline | None | 3.5% + GST | 4.5 /5 |
| HDFC Bank Regalia Gold HDFC Bank | premium | ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 | Spend ₹3L/year to get next year free | 2% base (4 RP per ₹150); 5X on grocery and dining | 12 domestic lounge visits/year (HDFC + Priority Pass); 6 international Priority Pass visits/year | 2% + GST | 4.4 /5 |
| Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card ICICI Bank | co brand | Free | Free | Lifetime free | 5% back on Amazon (Prime members); 3% on Amazon (non-Prime); 2% on partner merchants; 1% others | None | 3.5% + GST | 4.3 /5 |
| Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card Axis Bank | premium | ₹12,500 | ₹10,000 | Spend ₹15L/year | 12 EDGE Reward Points per ₹200 on travel (EDGE Travel portal); 6 EDGE RP/₹200 on dining; 3 EDGE RP/₹200 base | Unlimited domestic via lounge pass; 8 international via Priority Pass/year; unlimited via DragonPass | 2% + GST | 4.3 /5 |
| RBL Bank World Safari Credit Card RBL Bank | premium | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 | Spend ₹3L/year | 5 Travel Points per ₹100 on travel; 2 TP/₹100 on all others; NO forex markup reward | 6 international Priority Pass visits/year; unlimited domestic via Visa Signature | 0% — NO forex markup (one of the very few cards in India) | 4.3 /5 |
| Axis Bank ACE Credit Card Axis Bank | mid range | ₹499 | ₹499 | Spend ₹2L/year | 5% cashback on bill payments & recharges via Google Pay; 4% on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola; 1.5% others | 4 domestic lounge visits/year | 3.5% + GST | 4.2 /5 |
| Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card Axis Bank | premium | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 | Spend ₹7.5L/year | 5 EDGE Miles on every ₹100 on travel; 2 EDGE Miles on all other spends | Domestic lounge access via VISA + international based on tier (2–unlimited Priority Pass) | 3.5% + GST | 4.2 /5 |
| Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card American Express India | premium | ₹3,500 | ₹5,000 | Not waivable | 5X Membership Rewards Points on Amex Travel Online; 1X on all other spends | 8 domestic lounge visits/year via Amex Lounge program; no Priority Pass | 3.5% + GST | 4.2 /5 |
| HDFC Bank Millennia HDFC Bank | mid range | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 | Spend ₹1L/year | 5% cashback on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, Zomato, BookMyShow; 1% on other spends | 2 domestic lounge visits/quarter via HDFC Lounge Key program | 3.5% + GST | 4.1 /5 |
| HSBC Live+ Credit Card HSBC India | mid range | ₹999 | ₹999 | Spend ₹2L/year | 10% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola; 1.5% on all other spends | 4 domestic lounge visits/year | 3.5% + GST | 4.1 /5 |
| SBI Card ELITE SBI Card | premium | ₹4,999 | ₹4,999 | Spend ₹10L/year | 5X (5 RP/₹100) on dining, department stores, grocery; 2X on all others | 6 domestic lounge visits/year; 6 international Priority Pass visits/year | 1.99% + GST (surprisingly low for this tier) | 4 /5 |
| SBI SimplyCLICK SBI Card | entry level | ₹499 | ₹499 | Spend ₹1L/year | 10X RP on Amazon, BookMyShow, Cleartrip, Lenskart, Netmeds; 5X on all other online; 1X offline | None | 3.5% + GST | 4 /5 |
| IndusInd Bank Legend Credit Card IndusInd Bank | premium | ₹9,999 | ₹9,999 | Spend ₹6L/year | 2 reward points per ₹100 on all spends; 1.5X on international; 3X on IndusInd site travel | Unlimited domestic + international Priority Pass (4 visits/year) | 1.8% + GST (one of the lowest among premium cards) | 4 /5 |
| AU Bank LIT Credit Card AU Small Finance Bank | mid range | Free | Free | Lifetime free | User selects active features: cashback OR reward points OR EMI offers — customisable monthly | 2 domestic lounge visits/quarter (with Lounge Access feature activated) | 3.5% + GST | 3.9 /5 |
| American Express Membership Rewards Card American Express India | mid range | ₹1,000 | ₹4,500 | Not standard — available on select offers | 1 MR point per ₹50 spend; 1,000 bonus MR on 4 transactions/month of ₹1,000+ | 4 domestic lounge visits/year | 3.5% + GST | 3.7 /5 |
| Kotak League Platinum Credit Card Kotak Mahindra Bank | mid range | ₹499 | ₹499 | Spend ₹50,000/year | 8 reward points per ₹150 on weekends; 4 RP/₹150 on weekdays | 8 domestic lounge visits/year | 3.5% + GST | 3.7 /5 |
| Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card Standard Chartered India | mid range | Free | ₹499 | Spend ₹1.2L/year | 2% cashback on all online spend; 1% on offline | None | 3.5% + GST | 3.6 /5 |