Top 25 Credit Cards in India for 2024: Unlock the Best Rewards, Benefits, and Savings

I’ve analysed 200+ credit cards in India across various banks and compiled a list of best credit cards for 2024 based on various user segments.

With about 10+ active credit cards in my wallet, below list covers most of the cards that I personally use and even more.

Entry Level Credit Cards

• Suggested income: 5 Lakhs+
• Suggested spend: 1 Lakhs+

Entry-Level credit cards, also called as credit cards for beginners are those cards that are targeted at first-time credit card users.

SBI Cashback Card

SBI Cashback Credit Card is the HOT pick of the year for entry-level cardholders as 5% Cashback on online spends is lucrative even after the recent devaluation. With a pretty good max cap of 5,000 INR a month, it equates to 1L monthly spends.

Amex MRCC

American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card (MRCC) is the best way to get into the world of Amex. If you use this card just to get the 2000 MR bonus points monthly (20K spend), you can easily get a return of 6% on spends.

Apart from that, you will also get access to the amazing Amex Offers (merchant offers & spend linked offers) which are quite good most of the time.

ICICI Amazon Pay

• Best for: 5% return on Amazon spends
• Apply from Amazon App

If you shop frequently on Amazon and if you’re an Amazon Prime customer, you cannot afford to miss this wonderful card as it’s anyway a lifetime free credit card.

Premium Credit Cards

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

Premium credit cards comes into picture when your lifestyle has pinch of luxury factor to it. It comes with more travel benefits like domestic and international lounge access, better reward rate, etc.

HDFC Regalia Gold

The most important benefit of this card apart from rewards & merchant offers is the ability to get add-on cards with Priority Pass for all family members, which shares the generous complimentary lounge access limit with the primary card.

For those who can’t get HDFC Super Premium credit cards, this is a wonderful alternative, especially for lounge access.

Amex Gold Charge

If you’re looking for a higher credit limit but unable to get it via any other credit card, this is the one for you.

On top of that, You also get rewards on fuel/utility spends unlike most other credit cards in the segment. This is best used along with Amex MRCC to speed up the 24K gold redemption.

Yes First Reserv

Yesbank’s rebranded Reserv Credit Card (previously called as Yes First Exclusive) is a pretty good product when it’s coupled with the subscription plan that gives 3X/5X rewards on select categories depending.

HDFC Tata Neu Infinity Rupay

• Best for: UPI Spends & utility payments
• Apply Now (Review coming soon)

If you’re looking for a single UPI Credit Card, HDFC Bank Tata Neu Infinity Rupay Credit Card is the one that you need.

It not only gives decent rewards on UPI spends, but also offers lucrative 5% return on utility bills. On top of that, you also get targeted offers from Tata Neu, like the recent promo where a good discount was offered on booking your car with Tata Motors.

Amex Platinum Reserve

This is the first time Amex Reserve has made it to the list, thanks to the latest refresh on the credit card benefits, out of which Accor Plus benefit is a noteworthy one that gives up-to 50% off on dining.

Travel Credit Cards

When your life has good amount of travel, that’s when you need to have these exclusive Travel credit cards.

Travel & airline credit cards are designed in such a way that you get travel vouchers/points/miles instead of cashback.

Axis Atlas

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card comes with an amazing reward rate on regular spends and much more on select categories like direct hotels/airlines. It’s a hot pick for 2024 and stands good even after it’s recent devaluation.

Amex Platinum Travel

American Express Platinum Travel card is the best travel credit card in the country, hands down! It retains it’s name and fame for alomost a decade now.

I personally enjoy using this card as it helps me to stay at one unique Taj property every year by using the complimentary Taj Vouchers that comes with it.

HDFC Marriott Bonvoy

While HDFC Bank’s Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card has poor reward rate on ongoing spends, it stands good for its incredible welcome and renewal benefits which can easily fetch twice or thrice the value of the joining fee.

RBL World Safari

RBL World Safari Credit Card is a hidden gem for frequent travellers as it not only offers the compete 1 Year international travel insurance but also comes with a 0% markup fee on international spends.

This solves the need for most international travellers without needing to get super premium credit cards or other forex cards for international travel.

Airline Credit Cards

If you’re a frequent traveller, you might also need to get one or more of the best Airline Credit cards. Airmiles/Airlines credit cards makes sense if you fly frequently with the specific airline. Here are some of the best:

SBI Air India Signature

If your travel involves flying Air India for whatever reason, you shouldn’t be skipping this credit card. It demands high spends, but rewards very well on most type of spends.

Also, with the change in ownership and merging of airlines I’m hoping things with Air India to get better in 2024 and beyond.

Update: Currently banks aren’t taking applications for Air India & Vistara Credit Cards.

Super Premium Credit Cards

• Suggested income range: 20 Lakhs+
• Suggested spend range: 10 Lakhs+

Super premium credit cards are those that comes with higher reward rate, higher credit limit, unlimited lounge access, better card linked benefits & many more perks that you would need to enjoy a luxury lifestyle.

Axis Magnus for Burgundy

• Best for: Airport meet & greet services, miles transfer
• Read Review & Apply: Axis Magnus Review

Axis Magnus for Burgundy is the upgraded version of the previous “Magnus” with the ability to transfer points at 5:4 to the airline/hotel partners.

It also gives you new airport experiences with their complimentary airpot meet & greet service, which is useful for many.

If your spends are over 2 or 3 Lakhs a month even for few months in a year, this is perhaps the ONLY card you would ever need.

HDFC Infinia

• Best for: 5X Rewards with decent reward rate on regular spends
• Read Review & Apply: HDFC Infinia Review

Infinia is everyone’s dream for ages without an exception. If you are looking for a single credit card for all your spends beyond Axis Magnus, then Infinia will serve the need.

If you couldn’t get Infinia, Diners Black (pvc) is equally good with same reward rate, only the capping on accelerated rewards is lower.

HDFC Diners Black Metal

• Best for: 5X Rewards with quarterly milestone benefit
• Review coming soon

The primary difference from the old Diners Black (pvc) is the metal form factor along with higher smartbuy capping and the additional quarterly milestone benefit which is useful for regular high spenders.

If you’re into business, you should instead go for the HDFC Diners BizBlack Credit Card to earn lucrative rewards on tax and bill payments.

Only downside though is the lower acceptance of Diners cards in India compared to Visa/MasterCard, which means you have to keep a backup card handy.

ICICI Emeralde Private

ICICI Bank’s Emeralde Private Credit Card, an invite only card at the moment, is perhaps the first ever credit card in the history of ICICI Bank credit cards to carry a good reward rate of 3% on regular spends.

Yes Bank Marquee

Yesbank’s newly launched Marquee Credit Card is a pretty good Super Premium Credit Card especially if your spends are largely focused online, as it gives you amazing 4.5% reward rate on online spends.

Ultra Premium / UHNI Cards

The ultra premium credit cards are generally different from other type of cards because these cards not only gives rewards but also intend to give you returns via card benefits.

Some of the benefits include: hotel privileges, concierge, meet & greet, airport transfer, first class upgrades, premium support, etc.

Amex Platinum

Most of the Amex Plat cardholders that I know have it for the Marriott Bonvoy Gold membership benefit which is quite useful in India.

Other than the tangible benefits, their “Do Anything” platinum concierge is worth it for those who have the lifestyle to make use of it.

The expensive metal card makes sense if you know how to get equivalent value out of the joining fee. The newly introduced luxury redemption options are quite useful as well.

Axis Burgundy Private

• Best for: Very high spends, miles transfer
• Review coming soon

If your spends are very high for Magnus and can hold a relationship of 5Cr with Axis Bank, then Axis Burgundy Private is the option.

While it requires high NRV with bank, the rewards and benefits that comes with it for very high spenders are phenomenal.

HSBC Premier

HSBC Premier Credit Card with it’s upgraded features and benefits is certainly useful for those who prefer to enjoy rewards on all kinds of spends.

While it’s primarily a good card for existing HSBC Premier customers with medium spends, one should consider Magnus for Burgundy if the spends are high.

Choosing the right Card

Choosing the best credit card in 2024 is lot simpler than how it used to be in the past, thanks to all the aggressive credit card offers around.

#1 If you’re new to the game and have relatively low annual spends (<5L) with significant online spends, get the SBI Cashback Credit Card and you’re done.

#2 If you spend >15L a year, get Axis Atlas along with one or two more cards that would suit your lifestyle.

#3 If you spend over >30L a year, you likely need Axis Magnus for Burgundy along with HDFC Infinia among others.

FAQ’s

Which is the best credit card in India for 2024?

Calculate your annual spend and choose the cards from the list above. The best card varies from one person to another.

How many Credit Cards can I have?

As many as you need. Start with 2 cards if you’re new to the system and increase the count gradually based on your spends. 5 cards is sufficient for most.

Which Credit Card has best customer service?

Amex is known for their premium customer support. You may also enjoy a similar treatment with any bank, as long as you take their super-premium cards.

Which Bank’s Credit Card is best in India?

HDFC Bank is the market leader and has very good merchant offers as well. So start with HDFC and add others as per your requirement. Consider having one Amex card for a mix.

Which is the best fuel credit card?

That’s a million dollar question as it’s quite a complicated subject that deserves a long answer. There is a modern method to save well over 10% on fuel spends, checkout Best Fuel Credit Cards in India article for a detailed coverage on that.

Bottomline

After few years of making short lists, now the list has got bigger just as it used to be before, thanks to the devaluation of Magnus.

The list will be updated from time to time to keep it relevant. So feel free to bookmark the page for quicker access.

What’s your thoughts about the above list of best credit cards for 2024? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below. We shall amend the list if required.