Best Credit Cards in India (September 2026)
2026 has been a rough year for card rewards. SBI Cashback lowered its cap in April, Axis cut transfer partners on its premium cards, and HDFC tightened Infinia. The good news is that the best everyday cards are still free or cheap. Here is where things stand now, grouped by what you spend on.
Axis and ICICI get 10% in Flipkart BBD, SBI gets 10% in Amazon GIF. See the cards to keep ready
Which card for which festive sale
| Sale | Dates | Bank offer | Best card to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Great Indian Festival | From 8 Oct (Prime 7 Oct) | 10% instant off on SBI cards | SBI Cashback, or Amazon Pay ICICI for 5% back |
| Flipkart Big Billion Days | From 9 Oct (Plus 8 Oct) | 10% instant off on Axis and ICICI cards | Flipkart Axis Bank card |
| Myntra Big Fashion Festival | Expected early Oct | To be announced | Flipkart Axis Bank card (7.5% on Myntra) |
| Reliance Digital Diwali sale | Reported 7 to 27 Oct | 10% on HDFC cards (reported) | Any HDFC card, Tata Neu HDFC at Croma |
Bank offer live? We post it.We post every new card offer and sale bank discount on WhatsApp the day it starts.
Follow freeAll cards at a glance
| Card | Fee | Best for | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card | Lifetime free | Best free card for Amazon | 5% back on Amazon with Prime, 3% without Prime, 1% everywhere else |
| Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card | First year free till 30 Sep 2026, then ₹500 (waived on ₹3.5 lakh spend) | Best for Flipkart and Myntra | 5% on Flipkart and Cleartrip, 7.5% on Myntra, 4% on Swiggy, Uber and PVR, 1% on the rest |
| SBI Cashback Credit Card | ₹999 a year, waived on ₹2 lakh spend | Best for all online shopping | 5% back on online spends (monthly cap applies), 1% offline |
| HSBC Live+ Credit Card | ₹999 + GST, waived on ₹2 lakh yearly spend | Best for groceries, food delivery and bills | 10% back on dining, Swiggy/Zomato, Blinkit/Zepto/Instamart, groceries and utility bills (up to ₹1,200 a month), 1.5% unlimited on the rest |
| Flipkart SBI Credit Card | First year free till 31 Oct 2026, then ₹500 (waived on ₹3.5 lakh spend) | Flipkart shoppers who bank with SBI | 5% on Flipkart and Cleartrip, 7.5% on Myntra, 4% on partners like Zomato, 1% on the rest |
| HDFC Millennia Credit Card | ₹1,000 + GST, waived on ₹1 lakh yearly spend | 5% on Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy and Zomato | 5% back on 10 brands including Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, Zomato, Uber and BookMyShow; 1% elsewhere |
| Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card | ₹500 a year, waived on spend | Best for food and Instamart | Up to 10% back on Swiggy, Instamart and Dineout, lower rate on other online spends |
| Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank RuPay Card | ₹1,499 a year, waived on spend | Best RuPay card for UPI | Up to 5% as NeuCoins on Tata Neu brands (BigBasket, Croma, 1mg, Westside), rewards on UPI spends too |
| Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card | Lifetime free | Best free card for travel | Rewards on every spend, higher on bookings made in the Scapia app |
| IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card | Lifetime free | Best free everyday card | Reward points on all spends, more on online categories, low forex markup |
| IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card | Free, backed by a fixed deposit | Best first card with no credit history | Rewards on spends, RuPay so it works on UPI |
| IndusInd Tiger Credit Card | Lifetime free | Free lounge access, no spend condition | Standard reward points; the lounge access is the real draw |
| HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card | ₹2,500 a year, waived on spend | Best mid-premium card | Reward points on all spends, transferable 2:1 to airline and hotel partners |
| American Express Platinum Travel Card | ₹5,000 a year | Best for milestone travel vouchers | Membership Rewards points plus travel vouchers when you cross yearly spend milestones |
| HDFC Infinia Metal Edition | ₹12,500 a year, invite mostly | Best premium card, for big spenders | 5 points per ₹150, up to 10x on SmartBuy travel bookings |
| Axis Bank Neo RuPay Credit Card | Lifetime free | Free RuPay card for UPI | Rewards on spends plus fixed discounts on Zomato, Blinkit, BookMyShow and Myntra |
| HDFC Bank RuPay Credit Card | ₹99 + GST, waived on ₹25,000 yearly spend | Cheap RuPay card with 3% on groceries | 3% on groceries, supermarkets and dining, 2% on utility bills, 1% on the rest (monthly caps apply) |
| SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card | ₹499 + GST, waived on ₹1 lakh yearly spend | Popular first card for online shopping | 10X points on partners like Myntra, BookMyShow and Cleartrip, 5X on other online spends |
| SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card | ₹499 + GST, waived on ₹1 lakh yearly spend | Beginner card for groceries, dining and movies | 10X points on dining, movies, groceries and department stores, 1X elsewhere |
| HDFC IRCTC Credit Card | Lifetime free till 30 Sep 2026 | Best for Indian Railways travellers | 5 points per ₹100 on IRCTC bookings, redeemable against train tickets, plus extra cashback via SmartBuy |
Best cards for shopping and festive sales
If you shop on Amazon, Flipkart or Swiggy every month, one of these will pay for itself.
Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card
Fee: Lifetime free
5% back on Amazon with Prime, 3% without Prime, 1% everywhere else
- No joining or annual fee, ever
- Cashback lands as Amazon Pay balance, so you can use it on bills too
- Easy approval, the usual first card people get
Watch out: Since January 2026 there are extra charges on wallet loads and currency conversion. Fuel, rent, EMI and gold earn nothing.
Reddit says: Still the default 'get this first' answer for Amazon shoppers.
Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card
Fee: First year free till 30 Sep 2026, then ₹500 (waived on ₹3.5 lakh spend)
5% on Flipkart and Cleartrip, 7.5% on Myntra, 4% on Swiggy, Uber and PVR, 1% on the rest
- First year free if you apply by 30 September 2026
- The card most people pick for Big Billion Days
- Myntra 7.5% is the highest fashion cashback on any mainstream card
Watch out: The 5% and 7.5% rates have quarterly caps, so big BBD orders can max them out fast. Some offline categories dropped to 1% in April 2026.
Reddit says: Top answer in every 'which card for BBD' thread, with grumbles about the caps.
SBI Cashback Credit Card
Fee: ₹999 a year, waived on ₹2 lakh spend
5% back on online spends (monthly cap applies), 1% offline
- 5% works on almost any website, not a fixed merchant list
- Doubles up in the Amazon sale: SBI cards get 10% instant discount on Amazon from 8 Oct
- Cashback is credited automatically, no points to redeem
Watch out: The April 2026 changes lowered the monthly cashback cap and added exclusions. Rent, wallets and gold do not earn.
Reddit says: 'Still decent, no longer amazing' is the common view after the April 2026 cap cut.
HSBC Live+ Credit Card
Fee: ₹999 + GST, waived on ₹2 lakh yearly spend
10% back on dining, Swiggy/Zomato, Blinkit/Zepto/Instamart, groceries and utility bills (up to ₹1,200 a month), 1.5% unlimited on the rest
- ₹12,000 of eligible monthly spend earns the full ₹1,200 back, up to ₹14,400 a year
- Welcome package worth about ₹1,250: ₹1,000 cashback on ₹25,000 spend in 30 days plus a ₹250 Amazon voucher via Video KYC
- 2 domestic and 1 international lounge visit a year, 1.99% forex markup
Watch out: The 10% is one combined cap of ₹1,200 a month across all these categories, not per category.
Reddit says: Popular with people whose monthly grocery and food delivery bill is ₹10,000 or more.
Flipkart SBI Credit Card
Fee: First year free till 31 Oct 2026, then ₹500 (waived on ₹3.5 lakh spend)
5% on Flipkart and Cleartrip, 7.5% on Myntra, 4% on partners like Zomato, 1% on the rest
- First year free if you apply by 31 October 2026
- Same Flipkart and Myntra rates as the Axis version, from SBI
- 1% unlimited on everything else
Watch out: The 5%, 7.5% and 4% rates each have a quarterly cap.
Reddit says: A good alternative when Axis rejects or you already bank with SBI.
HDFC Millennia Credit Card
Fee: ₹1,000 + GST, waived on ₹1 lakh yearly spend
5% back on 10 brands including Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, Zomato, Uber and BookMyShow; 1% elsewhere
- One card that covers both Amazon and Flipkart at 5%
- Cashback redeems as statement credit
- Quarterly voucher or lounge visit on ₹1 lakh quarterly spend
Watch out: 5% and 1% are each capped at ₹1,000 a month.
Reddit says: Regularly suggested as the all-rounder HDFC starter card.
Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card
Fee: ₹500 a year, waived on spend
Up to 10% back on Swiggy, Instamart and Dineout, lower rate on other online spends
- Pays you back on food delivery, groceries and dining out in one app
- Gets Swiggy-only bank offers first
- Useful second card next to a shopping card
Watch out: The headline rate is capped each month, so value falls once you hit the cap. Only worth it if you order often.
Reddit says: 'Niche but excellent' for heavy Swiggy users.
Best lifetime free credit cards
No joining fee, no annual fee, no spend target to worry about.
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card
Fee: Lifetime free
Rewards on every spend, higher on bookings made in the Scapia app
- No fee and no spend condition, ever
- Domestic lounge access on a free card
- Zero forex markup, good for trips abroad
Watch out: Rewards are worth the most when you book travel through the Scapia app.
Reddit says: The usual answer to 'best free card with lounge access'.
IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card
Fee: Lifetime free
Reward points on all spends, more on online categories, low forex markup
- No annual fee, no spend target
- Points never expire
- Easy approval for first-time applicants
Watch out: IDFC FIRST sent cardholders a notice about term changes in May 2026. Read the latest terms before you apply.
Reddit says: A steady 'good free card' pick; the May 2026 notice started a few threads.
IndusInd Tiger Credit Card
Fee: Lifetime free
Standard reward points; the lounge access is the real draw
- Domestic and international lounge visits without a spend target
- No joining or annual fee
- Good backup card for travel days
Watch out: Everyday reward rate is ordinary. Check the current lounge list before you fly.
Reddit says: Recommended mostly for the no-strings lounge access.
Best RuPay card for UPI
RuPay credit cards work in GPay, PhonePe and Paytm, so you earn rewards on scan and pay.
Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank RuPay Card
Fee: ₹1,499 a year, waived on spend
Up to 5% as NeuCoins on Tata Neu brands (BigBasket, Croma, 1mg, Westside), rewards on UPI spends too
- Link it to any UPI app and earn on scan and pay
- Strong on Croma, handy for the Diwali electronics sales
- Lounge access included at this tier
Watch out: NeuCoins only spend inside the Tata ecosystem, so they are less flexible than cash.
Reddit says: cardholder discussions's most suggested RuPay pick for UPI rewards in 2026.
Axis Bank Neo RuPay Credit Card
Fee: Lifetime free
Rewards on spends plus fixed discounts on Zomato, Blinkit, BookMyShow and Myntra
- Lifetime free, no annual fee
- Works in GPay, PhonePe and Paytm for scan and pay
- Partner discounts on food, groceries and movies
Watch out: The base reward rate is low; the value is in the partner discounts.
Reddit says: A common first RuPay card for UPI users.
HDFC Bank RuPay Credit Card
Fee: ₹99 + GST, waived on ₹25,000 yearly spend
3% on groceries, supermarkets and dining, 2% on utility bills, 1% on the rest (monthly caps apply)
- Links to any UPI app
- 3% back on groceries and dining at a ₹99 fee
- Easy fee waiver at ₹25,000 a year
Watch out: Each earning category has a monthly cap of 500 points.
Reddit says: Liked as a low-cost way to earn on UPI groceries.
Best first card with no credit history
No salary slip or CIBIL score yet? Start here.
IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card
Fee: Free, backed by a fixed deposit
Rewards on spends, RuPay so it works on UPI
- Approval against an FD, no salary slip or CIBIL score needed
- Builds your credit score from month one
- Works with UPI apps
Watch out: Your limit depends on the FD amount, and the FD stays locked while you hold the card.
Reddit says: The standard suggestion for students and anyone rebuilding credit.
SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card
Fee: ₹499 + GST, waived on ₹1 lakh yearly spend
10X points on partners like Myntra, BookMyShow and Cleartrip, 5X on other online spends
- ₹500 Amazon voucher as a welcome benefit, which covers the fee
- Milestone vouchers at ₹1 lakh and ₹2 lakh online spend
- Easy approval for first-time applicants
Watch out: Points are worth the most when redeemed on the partner brands.
Reddit says: One of the most suggested beginner cards in India.
SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card
Fee: ₹499 + GST, waived on ₹1 lakh yearly spend
10X points on dining, movies, groceries and department stores, 1X elsewhere
- Welcome benefit worth ₹500
- Good for offline groceries and dining
- Fuel surcharge waiver
Watch out: Low value on spends outside the 10X categories.
Reddit says: A simple starter card for everyday offline spends.
Best travel and premium cards
For people who fly a few times a year and spend enough to cross the fee.
HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card
Fee: ₹2,500 a year, waived on spend
Reward points on all spends, transferable 2:1 to airline and hotel partners
- Points move to airline and hotel programmes
- Milestone vouchers and dining offers
- Good step up before Infinia
Watch out: Domestic lounge access now needs a minimum spend first (2026 change).
Reddit says: Seen as the sensible 'one below Infinia' card.
American Express Platinum Travel Card
Fee: ₹5,000 a year
Membership Rewards points plus travel vouchers when you cross yearly spend milestones
- Big milestone vouchers for steady spenders
- Domestic lounge access
- Amex service and dispute handling are still rated highly
Watch out: Amex is not accepted at every Indian shop, so keep a Visa or RuPay card too.
Reddit says: Popular Atlas replacement now that Atlas is hard to get.
HDFC Infinia Metal Edition
Fee: ₹12,500 a year, invite mostly
5 points per ₹150, up to 10x on SmartBuy travel bookings
- Unlimited lounge access in India and abroad
- Highest point value of any mainstream Indian card
- Strong travel insurance and concierge
Watch out: 2026 changes capped SmartBuy voucher rewards and raised the spend needed to keep the card. Only worth it at very high spends.
Reddit says: Still the dream card, with plenty of 2026 devaluation frustration.
HDFC IRCTC Credit Card
Fee: Lifetime free till 30 Sep 2026
5 points per ₹100 on IRCTC bookings, redeemable against train tickets, plus extra cashback via SmartBuy
- Lifetime free if you apply by 30 September 2026
- 8 IRCTC executive lounge visits a year
- 1% transaction charge waiver on IRCTC bookings
Watch out: Rewards outside IRCTC are low.
Reddit says: The default pick for people who book trains often.
How to choose
- Start with where you spend most. One shopping card that matches your main app beats a premium card you cannot use.
- Prefer lifetime free for your first card. You can always upgrade after a year of on-time payments.
- Get a RuPay card if you pay by UPI a lot. It turns scan and pay into rewards.
- Always pay the full bill. Interest on Indian cards runs above 40% a year and wipes out any cashback.
Questions people ask
Which credit card is best for Amazon Great Indian Festival 2026?
SBI cards get a 10% instant discount in the sale from 8 October. If you have Prime, the Amazon Pay ICICI card also gives 5% back as Amazon Pay balance on normal days.
Which credit card is best for Flipkart Big Billion Days 2026?
Axis and ICICI cards get 10% instant discount. The Flipkart Axis Bank card adds 5% cashback on Flipkart, so it is the most common pick.
What is the best lifetime free credit card in India right now?
Amazon Pay ICICI for Amazon shoppers, Scapia Federal for travel and lounge access, and IDFC FIRST Millennia for everyday spends.
Was the SBI Cashback card devalued in 2026?
Yes. From April 2026 the monthly cashback cap was lowered and some categories were excluded. It still works well for moderate online spends.
Can I get a credit card without a salary slip?
Yes. FD-backed cards like IDFC FIRST WOW are approved against a fixed deposit, with no income proof or credit history needed.