My first credit card was ICICI Platinum that I got just after getting my first job in 2006. I fell in love with credit cards. At that time, Indian banks did not provide great offers on credit cards.
Still saving some money as cashback and rewards were good. I decided to make an exclusive portal, just for the discussions of credit cards. Last year I earned more than 10,000 rupees just from the credit card’s rewards and cashback.
I reviewed and compared all the best credit cards in India before making a fresh and updated list. Let’s help each other in finding the top credit cards in India 2023
If you don’t have time to read the entire article then pick one of the following based on your requirements.
Now read the detailed review of each card…
Table of Contents
Standard chartered manhattan platinum card was my preferred card last year and I want to continue using this card in 2023 as well. The primary purpose of using Standard Chartered Manhattan card is 5% cashback on groceries in supermarkets. I spend around 6000 rupees every month on groceries. I usually make bills around 3000 and get straight 150 rupees into my account as cashback. It’s real cash without any hidden clause. You can earn a maximum of 6000 rupees per year and use to pay the bill of your credit card.
Fee & Charges
Joining Fee – Rs.499 (Spend Rs 30,000 in the first year and get a waiver on your joining fee)
First Year Annual Fee – Nil
Annual Fee onwards from Second Year – Rs.999 (Spend Rs 60,000 in a year and get a waiver on your renewal fee)
Key Benefits of Manhattan Credit Card
Important Points regarding Standard Chartered Manhattan Credit Card
SC Platinum Rewards Credit Card is best if you are applying for the first time and looking for a No Annual Fees credit card for life.
You will have a high chance of approval of SC Platinum card if you are a salaried employee. In future, you can request for an upgrade to Manhattan card whenever you need (approval based on your salary & credit card usage)
Who Should Apply? Salaried people who want to own an all-rounder credit card without paying annual fees.
Benefits of Standard Chartered Platinum Rewards Card
Annual fees or joining fees
ICICI offers a simple credit card without any annual fees (Annual fee is Rs. 199 but waived of spending Rs. 2000 within 2 months of approval). If your application got rejected for Standard Chartered Platinum Credit Card then you can consider applying for ICICI Instant Platinum Credit Card.
Who should apply?
ICICI credit card is a good option for Students, Housewives, and Non-Salary people if they want to apply for a credit card against a Fixed Deposit.
Key Benefits of ICICI Instant Platinum Credit Card
Note: If you got rejected for ICICI card then don’t apply for any other card. Your CIBIL report will get impacted negatively. You must get a credit card against Fixed Deposit by visiting your bank branch.
Standard chartered super value titanium is the best credit card that gives 5% cashback at spending money on fuel in India. It also gives 5% cashback on utility and telephone bill payments.No other card offers such types of benefits.
Annual Fee – Rs 750 (waived off on spending 60,000 in the first year)
Benefits of Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card
Every reward point is worth 30 paise.
Check out – Slice credit card review
IndianOil Citi Platinum credit card is one of the famous cards for maximum benefits on fuel. You get 4 turbo points per Rs. 150 on fuel and 1 turbo point is equal to Rs.1 fuel. That means a benefit of 2.67% + you will get a waiver on 1% on fuel surcharge.
Key Benefits of Indian Oil Citi Platinum Credit Card
Important Point
Who should buy it?
The fuel benefit is applicable to Indian oil outlets only. So you should apply for this credit card only if you fill fuel at the Indian oil outlets.
Looking for more fuel credit cards? Read here – Best credit card for fuel
Simply Click Credit Card is the third-best credit card in India with a small annual fee that will be waived off if you spend 1 lakh amount per year from the date of approval. If you love to shop online then you will find a lot of offers from Amazon, Flipkart, Makemytrip, Cleartrip, and many more vendors. The details have been provided below in key benefits.
Annual fee: 499 (waived off by spending 100,000 in one year)
Bonus: Rs 500 voucher from Amazon
Key Benefits of SBI SimplyClick Credit Card
Citibank cashback credit card gives you 5% cashback on utility payments and movie tickets. But there is no benefit for fuel spends, you have to apply for IOC card separately to get benefits on fuel.
Key Benefits of Citibank Cashback Card
Important Point regarding Citibank Cashback Card
Who should apply?
If your monthly expense of telephone/ movies/ bill payment is around Rs 2000 each then it best for you. You can save around Rs.300 per month with an additional 0.5% cashback.
Let’s discuss the best credit cards for travel in India with maximum benefits.
Amex Platinum Travel credit card is one of the best travel credit cards available in India, why?
Unlike the other travel credit cards, the Amex platinum travel card offers the same benefits throughout all travel booking portals. If you are a frequent flier, then this credit card must be in your wallet.
Let’s have a look at the benefits.
Bonus Offers
Other Benefits of Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card
PS – You can redeem reward points from other over 600 other redemption options as well (redemption value will vary depending upon the item redeemed).
Fee & Charges
First Year Annual Fee – Rs 3500
Renewal fee – Rs 5000
There is no direct way to get an annual fee waiver but you can ask the customer care for the same while renewal the credit card.
Who Should Apply for this?
This card performs best at an annual spend of 4 lakh.
If your annual spending will be 4 lakh, then the AMEX platinum travel credit card is the best card for you.
If you are a regular traveler along with doing transactions online then Citibank Premiermiles credit card is one of the best cards for you. This card gives rewards in the form of miles that you can redeem on over 100 domestic and international airlines.
Annual fee – Rs 3000
Fee Waiver -Annual fees will not be waived off. But if you spend Rs.1000 with your card within the 60 days you will get 10,000 miles. You can redeem those miles at Citibank’s preferred partner.
The value of these miles is 10,000= Rs. 4500, Rs.1500 more than the annual fee.
Key Benefits of Citi Premiermiles Credit Card
Important Points
Who should buy it?
This card is best for regular travelers. Because you will get 10% reward miles for your spending.
HDFC All Miles credit card is a premium traveler credit card of HDFC that offers 2 times more reward points on spending exclusively AllMiles website. Along with regular reward points, it also provides bonus reward points on joining and on renewal also.
Key benefits HDFC AllMiles Credit Card
Important point
Redeem your reward points for air miles, 400 points= 100 Air miles or Rs 0.25.
SBI elite is a super premium credit card from SBI Bank. SBI elite card comes with a number of offers for online shopping along with dining, shopping on grocery and departmental stores.
Annual Fee – Rs. 4,999
Renewal Fee– Rs. 4,999
Annual Fee Waiver
There is no way to waive off an annual fee or renewal fee. But on the issuance of the card, you get a gift voucher of worth Rs. 5000 as same as the amount of annual fee.
Key Benefits of SBI Elite Credit Card
Important points
Final Words
These are my favorite credit cards that I explained category-wise. Let me know your favorite credit card in the comments.
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View Comments
I'm yet to finalize on the best credit card. I'm using SBI platinum card. Annual salary above 10 lakh with spend per month 30k.
I'm confused between Manhattan/titanium/Citibank card.
I buy everything from card. Including chicken i.e all expenditure from small local grocery shop as well.
Pls reply. You didn't reply last time.
I want to change SBI platinum. As I don't think I'm getting much reward benefits from them.
Pls suggest
Based on your annual salary, I would like to recommend you the following cards :
1. SBI Elite
2. HDFC Regalia
Go for Yes Bank First preferred card. It has the best rewards. 8 points on INR 100 spent, no other card gives this.
you should go for Bajaj Finserv RBL Bank Credit Card, Which comes with the exciting features like; Effortless EMI conversion, ATM cash withdrawal with no interest, Avail Personal Loan during an emergency etc. To know more about this card browse the official website of BAJAJ FINSERV .
it's an amazing post. thank you for sharing
Hi
Great article!
I have an annual income of more than 20L. I do make all my transactions digitally, but I do not own any credit cards as yet.
Could you please advise the right card for me?
Thanks in advance. I hope you reply.
Nonika,
What u can do is transfer ur salary to my account, i'l get a credit card and use it then transfer points & rewards to u.
Excellent and detailed article. Very informative! thanks for sharing....
You have shared valuable info on different credit cards.Thanks for sharing.
I am using HDFC Regalia Card which fit my requirements and saving.
How about the secured credit cards? what are the differences between regular and secured cards?
This page is very informative and useful to know about the process.
Everything is exceptionally open with an extremely clear clarification of the issues. It was genuinely useful. Your site is amazingly useful. Much obliged for sharing!
I love hdfc visa card i am using this its help me when i need of money but i dint have money that time. yanks for sharing such informative post.