Best cards for what you want

Eight lists of the best Indian credit cards, from the most back on everyday spending to lounges abroad, the lowest forex markup and a first card: each ranked from every open card's terms by the rule it publishes. No editorial picks, no paid placement.

Most back on everyday spending

Every open card, by its net value a year on ₹30,000 a month of typical online spending, after the annual fee, with points at cash value. The best card from each bank:

  1. HSBC Live+ Credit Card: 4.8% back (number 1 of 500)
  2. Cashback SBI Card: 3.7% back (number 2 of 500)
  3. Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank Credit Card: 3.7% back (number 3 of 500)

Lifetime free

Open cards with no joining or annual fee, by their value a year on the same ₹30,000 a month, points at cash value. The best card from each bank:

  1. Swiggy Ornge HDFC Bank Credit Card: 3.3% back (number 1 of 103)
  2. SBM Kredit.Pe Credit Card: 2.6% back (number 2 of 103)
  3. Unity Bank BharatPe Credit Card: 2.0% back (number 3 of 103)

Lounges abroad

Open cards by free lounge visits abroad a year that need no spend to unlock them: unlimited first, then the most, then the lowest fee. The best card from each bank:

  1. PNB Luxura Metal Visa Infinite Credit Card: Unlimited visits abroad (number 1 of 122, tied)
  2. YES Bank MARQUÉE Credit Card: Unlimited visits abroad (number 3 of 122)
  3. AURUM: Unlimited visits abroad (number 5 of 122, tied)

Lowest forex markup

Open cards by the foreign currency markup in their schedule of charges, lowest first, then the lowest annual fee. The best card from each bank:

  1. BOBCARD Scapia: 0% forex markup (number 1 of 500, tied)
  2. DCB Niyo Global Credit Card: 0% forex markup (number 1 of 500, tied)
  3. IDFC FIRST Bank Business Max Credit Card: 0% forex markup (number 1 of 500, tied)

Air miles and hotel points

Open cards whose points transfer to airlines or hotels, by net value a year on ₹77,000 a month of travel-heavy spending, after the fee. The best card from each bank:

  1. HSBC TravelOne Credit Card: 5.9% back (number 1 of 50)
  2. IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card: 3.5% back (number 3 of 50)
  3. BOBCARD Etihad Guest: 3.4% back (number 4 of 50)

Food delivery and dining

Open cards by what ₹10,000 a month on Swiggy, Zomato and restaurants earns, points at cash value, before the fee. The best card from each bank:

  1. HSBC Live+ Credit Card: 10.0% back on food (number 1 of 444)
  2. YES BANK Paisabazaar PaisaSave RuPay Credit Card: 6.0% back on food (number 2 of 444)
  3. KVB Eternis Credit Card: 6.0% back on food (number 4 of 444)

Fuel

Open cards by what ₹5,000 a month of fuel returns at their best pump, surcharge waiver included, before the fee. The best card from each bank:

  1. IndianOil RBL Bank XTRA Credit Card: 8.5% back on fuel (number 1 of 428)
  2. BPCL SBI Card OCTANE: 7.3% back on fuel (number 2 of 428)
  3. HPCL Energie BOBCARD: 5.0% back on fuel (number 4 of 428, tied)

First card, no credit history

Open cards issued against a fixed deposit, smallest deposit first, then the lowest annual fee. The best card from each bank:

  1. Kotak811 super.money Credit Card: ₹1,000 fixed deposit (number 1 of 44)
  2. Suryoday SFB RuPay Platinum Credit Card (FD-backed): ₹1,000 fixed deposit (number 2 of 44)
  3. DCB novio Credit Card: ₹2,000 fixed deposit (number 3 of 44, tied)