Introduction
Credit cards are no longer just a luxury item. Today, they are almost a necessity for many people in India. With a good credit card, you can:
- Delay payments until your next bill arrives, giving you extra cash flow.
- Earn rewards or cashback on your everyday spending.
- Enjoy special perks like airport lounge access, hotel discounts, or low fees on foreign transactions.
But not all cards are the same. Banks update fees and benefits every year. Below, you’ll find the Top 10 credit cards for 2025, sorted by their annual fees—from highest to zero—along with simple explanations of their key features. Be sure to check each bank’s website for the very latest terms before you apply.
Table of Contents
Overview of Annual Fees
| Credit Card | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| American Express Platinum Card | ₹66,000 |
| Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card | ₹50,000 |
| HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card | ₹10,000 |
| Axis Atlas Credit Card | ₹5,000 |
| Axis Bank SELECT Credit Card | ₹3,000 |
| HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card | ₹2,500 |
| IndianOil RBL Bank XTRA Credit Card | ₹1,500 |
| Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Credit Card | ₹1,499 |
| Cashback SBI Card | ₹999 |
| YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card | ₹0 |
(Source: Paisabazaar via Mint)
1. American Express Platinum Card (Fee: ₹66,000)
Why it’s special
This is one of India’s most premium cards, designed for travellers and luxury-lifestyle seekers.
Key Benefits
- Hotel Vouchers: Up to ₹44,300 worth of complimentary stays at top global hotels like Four Seasons and The Ritz-Carlton.
- Loyalty Program: Automatic elite status in hotel chains (e.g., Marriott Gold Elite, Hilton Honors Gold), which gives room upgrades and free breakfasts.
- Event Access: VIP tickets or early access to big events (Fashion Week, Grammy Awards, Wimbledon).
- Dining Offers: 50% off up to two people at premium Indian restaurants via Eazy Diner Prime.
- Welcome and Spend Bonuses: Vouchers worth ₹35,000 on spending ₹20 lakh in a year, and up to ₹60,000 vouchers if you spend ₹50,000 in your first two months.
- Airport Lounges: Unlimited complimentary visits to premium lounges worldwide .
Who should apply?
High-spending travellers and diners who can easily cover the annual fee through hotel and dining perks.
2. Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card (Fee: ₹50,000)
Why it’s special
This invite-only card combines travel, dining, and lifestyle rewards for big spenders.
Key Benefits
- EDGE Reward Points: Earn up to 30 points for every ₹200 spent (each point ~₹0.25).
- Entertainment Offers: Buy-1-get-1 offers on BookMyShow tickets (up to five free tickets per month).
- Hotel & Dining: Complimentary memberships to AccorPlus, Club Marriott, and EazyDiner Prime.
- Golf Rounds: 50 free rounds at top Indian courses annually.
- Lounge Access: Unlimited domestic and international lounges via Priority Pass.
- Low Forex Fee: 1.5% markup on foreign transactions, plus double reward points on all international spends .
Who should apply?
Frequent travellers, golfers, and high-volume entertainment spenders who value exclusive memberships and lounge access.
3. HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card (Fee: ₹10,000)
Why it’s special
Known for strong dining and travel rewards, with premium memberships bundled in.
Key Benefits
- Bonus Points: Up to 10X on SmartBuy portal purchases and 2X on weekend dining.
- Memberships: Free annual passes to Club Marriott, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One (3 months), and MMT BLACK.
- Low Forex Fee: 2% markup on international spends.
- Spend Milestone Vouchers: ₹500 voucher each month if you spend ₹80,000.
- Golf & Lounges: Six free golf games per quarter and unlimited airport lounge access.
- Base Rewards Rate: 5 points per ₹150 spent (≈3.33% value) .
Who should apply?
Frequent diners, online shoppers via SmartBuy, and global travellers wanting bundled premium memberships.
4. Axis Atlas Credit Card (Fee: ₹5,000)
Why it’s special
A versatile mid-tier card focused on travel miles and lounge access.
Key Benefits
- Welcome Miles: 2,500 bonus EDGE miles on joining.
- Travel Points: 5 miles per ₹100 on travel spends.
- Milestone Bonuses: Up to 5,000 additional EDGE miles on meeting spending targets.
- Lounge Visits: 18 domestic and 12 international complimentary lounges per year.
- Buffet and Dining Offers: Access to dining deals and partner hotels.
- Redemption Rate: 1 EDGE mile = 2 partner points .
Who should apply?
Travel enthusiasts who spend regularly on flights, hotels, and airport spends.
5. Axis Bank SELECT Credit Card (Fee: ₹3,000)
Why it’s special
Balancing lifestyle rewards with practical monthly savings.
Key Benefits
- Edge Points: 10 points per ₹200 on all spends.
- Grocery & Dining Offers: ₹500 off monthly on BigBasket (min. ₹3,000 spend); ₹200 off twice a month on Swiggy (min. ₹1,000 spend).
- Lounge Access: 12 international and 8 domestic lounges per year.
- Golf Rounds: 12 free rounds annually.
- Welcome Points: 10,000 EDGE points (≈₹2,000 value) on card issuance.
- Retail Rewards: 2X points on all retail transactions .
Who should apply?
Urban professionals who shop groceries and dine out regularly, and who also travel internationally a few times a year.
6. HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card (Fee: ₹2,500)
Why it’s special
A popular premium card with balanced travel, dining, and retail benefits.
Key Benefits
- Accelerated Points: 5X on high-street brands (Nykaa, Myntra, Marks & Spencer, Reliance Digital).
- General Spends: 4 points per ₹150 on all other retail spends.
- Free Memberships: Swiggy One & MMT Black Elite.
- Joining Gift: ₹2,500 voucher on paying fee.
- Lounge Access: Six international and 12 domestic complimentary visits.
- Quarterly Vouchers: ₹1,500 voucher on spending ₹1 lakh in a quarter at partner brands.
- Flight Vouchers: ₹5,000 voucher on ₹5 lakh annual spend .
Who should apply?
Shoppers of lifestyle brands and frequent flyers who value lounge access and milestone rewards.
7. IndianOil RBL Bank XTRA Credit Card (Fee: ₹1,500)
Why it’s special
Best for fuel savings and everyday cashback.
Key Benefits
- Fuel Points: 15 points (₹0.50 each) per ₹100 spent at IOCL pumps (7.5% effective).
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% on spends ₹500–₹4,000.
- General Points: 3 points per ₹100 on other spends.
- Welcome Points: 3,000 Fuel Points on first ₹500 spend in 30 days.
- Fee Waiver: Annual fee waived on ₹2.75 lakh annual spend.
- Fuel Savings: Up to 8.5% savings on petrol/diesel at IOCL stations.
- Quarterly Bonus: 1,000 points on ₹75,000 quarterly spend .
Who should apply?
Drivers and families with high monthly fuel bills looking for maximum savings at the pump.
8. Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Credit Card (Fee: ₹1,499)
Why it’s special
A co-branded card tied to the Tata Neu app and its partner ecosystem.
Key Benefits
- Welcome NeuCoins: 1,499 on first spend within 30 days.
- NeuCoins Earn Rate: 1.5% on UPI, non-Tata brand EMI spends; 5% on Tata Neu and partner brands.
- App-Only Offers: Extra 5% NeuCoins on select Tata Neu categories.
- Low Forex Fee: 2% markup on international transactions.
- Lounge Access: 8 international and 4 domestic complimentary lounges via Priority Pass .
Who should apply?
Regular users of the Tata Neu ecosystem—shopping, dining, and services via the app.
9. Cashback SBI Card (Fee: ₹999)
Why it’s special
A straightforward card with clear, uncapped cashback on all spends.
Key Benefits
- Online Cashback: 5% on all online transactions (no category restrictions).
- Offline Cashback: 1% on in-store purchases.
- Monthly Cap: Up to ₹5,000 total cashback per month.
- Fee Reversal: Annual fee waived if you spend ₹2 lakh in a year.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: ₹100 per month at 1% waiver on fuel spends.
Who should apply?
Digital shoppers and those who want simple, high-rate cashback without tracking categories.
10. YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Card (Fee: ₹0)
Why it’s special
A zero-fee card offering solid everyday cashback.
Key Benefits
- E-commerce Cashback: 3% on online spends (up to 5,000 points/month).
- All-Round Cashback: 1.5% on every other transaction, including UPI.
- No Redemption Fees: Points convert 1:1 to statement credit.
- Increased E-commerce Rate: 5% after you hit monthly cap.
- Fee Waiver: No renewal fee if you spend ₹1.2 lakh in 12 months.
- Fuel Waiver: 1% surcharge waiver on fuel spends ₹500–₹3,000 (up to ₹250/month).
- Renewal Fee if Low Spend: ₹499 if you do not meet ₹1.2 lakh annual spend livemint.com.
Who should apply?
Budget-conscious users and frequent online shoppers who want continuous cashback with no annual fee.
How to Choose the Right Card
- Annual Fee vs Benefits:
- High-fee cards need you to unlock value through hotel stays, lounge access, or high spends.
- Zero- or low-fee cards are easier to “break even” on through regular spending.
- Spending Pattern:
- Fuel card if you drive a lot.
- Shopping/dining card if you eat out or shop online often.
- Travel card if you fly frequently.
- Reward Structure:
- Points vs cashback. Points need conversion; cashback is straight money.
- Unlimited vs capped rewards.
- Additional Perks:
- Airport lounge access, golf games, hotel memberships, and foreign-transaction fees.
- Redemption Ease:
- Cashback and fuel points are simpler to redeem than miles or hotel vouchers.
Final Tips
- Read the Fine Print: Always check minimum spends, reward expiry, and monthly caps.
- Plan Your Spend: Charge everything to your card but pay the full bill on time to avoid interest.
- Maximise Perks: Use dining and travel offers actively to cover the annual fee.
- Monitor Fees and Changes: Banks can update fees or benefits; keep an eye on your statements.
With a clear understanding of fees and rewards, you can pick a card that truly fits your lifestyle and saves you money every year. Happy spending!
