Credit Card Newbie? Here Are Some of the Best Cards in India That You Can Explore

Credit cards have quickly become one of India’s fastest growing payment methods. There are a number of reasons for this - convenience, deals and discounts, growing lifestyle aspirations, etc.

Whether you’re looking to improve your credit score or get some cashback, credit cards might be just the thing for you. To make things even simpler, many credit card issuers allow you to apply for credit cards entirely online, thanks to video-KYCs.

With the number of credit cards available in the market today, it can be difficult to pick one, particularly if you’re a newbie to credit cards. Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best credit cards for beginners so you can choose one that suits you and your needs best:

MoneyBack Credit Card

This HDFC credit card is specially designed for credit card newbies. It comes with a number of offers and an impressive cashback program to help you make the most of your credit card spends.

• Fees :
  • Joining/renewal fees : 500 + applicable taxes, renewal fees are waived off on annual spends of ₹50,000 and above
• Eligibility Criteria :
  • Applicant must be between the ages of 21 and 60
  • Applicant must have a monthly income of at least ₹25,000 (if salaried employed) or show proof of ITR > ₹6 Lakhs per annum (if self-employed)
• Key Features :
  • 2 Reward Points on every ₹150 spent (fuel transactions, wallet loads, voucher purchases will not be included)
  • 2x Reward Points on every ₹150 spent online
  • Gift vouchers worth ₹500 every quarter on total spends of ₹50,000 and above
  • Zero lost card liability
  • Up to 50 days of interest-free credit period
  • Enjoy revolving credit at nominal interest rates
  • Exclusive dining privileges with Good Food Trail program
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver
  • Welcome benefit of 500 Cash Points
  • Convert big spends into small EMIs
  • Contactless payment-enabled card

ICICI Bank Platinum Chip Credit Card

ICICI Bank Platinum Chip Credit Card is the perfect credit card for those who are completely new to the world of credit cards. This card comes with no joining or annual fees, very basic eligibility criteria and a host of offers that make it perfect for any beginner.

• Fees :
  • Joining Fee: NIL
  • Annual Fee: NIL
  • Supplementary Card Fee: NIL
• Eligibility Criteria :
  • Applicant must be between the ages of 20 and 60
  • Applicant must be a resident of India
  • Applicant must have an annual income of at least ₹2.5 Lakhs
• Key Features :
  • Fuel surcharge waiver
  • Earn 2 Reward Points for every ₹100
  • Enabled for contactless payments

HSBC Platinum Card

Apply for this credit card if you’re an avid traveller as HSBC has partnered with leading airlines to provide exclusive travel perks.

• Fees:
  • Joining Fees: NIL
  • Annual Fees: NIL
• Eligibility Criteria :
  • Applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 65
  • Applicant must have an annual income of at least ₹4 Lakhs
  • Applicant must reside in one of the following cities: Bangalore, Gurgaon, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune or Noida
• Key Features :
  • Introductory benefits of up to ₹6,350
  • Complimentary domestic and international airport lounges
  • Air miles conversion on British Airways, InterMiles and Singapore Airlines
  • Up to ₹3,000 savings on fuel surcharges

DBS Vantage Card

This DBS credit card is perfect for you if you’re looking for your first luxury credit card to elevate your life.

• Fees :
  • DBS Elite Customers: ₹10,000
  • DBS Treasure Customers: ₹20,000
  • Others: ₹50,000
• Eligibility Criteria :
  • Depends on the applicant’s relationship with the bank
• Key Features :
  • Exclusive duty-free deals
  • Complimentary luxury hotel memberships
  • Zero forex markups
  • 1% surcharge waiver on fuel transactions
  • Unlimited airport lounge access
  • 4 Vantage Points on every ₹200 spent in India
  • 8 Vantage Points on every ₹200 spent internationally
  • Welcome bonus of 10,000 Vantage Points
  • 4 complimentary golf sessions
  • Special deals on flights, hotels and dining

HDFC Bank Times Platinum Credit Card

This co-branded credit is ideal for those who make a lot of utility payments as this card offers cashbacks on utility payments as well.

• Fees :
  • Joining/Renewal Fees: ₹1000, annual fee will be waived off on spends of ₹2,50,000 and above per calendar year
• Eligibility Criteria :
  • Applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 60
  • If the applicant is a salaried employee, then their net monthly income should be ₹35,000 or above
  • If the applicant is self-employed, then their annual income should be ₹6 Lakhs or above
• Key Features :
  • Complimentary Annual Times Prime Membership
  • 50% off on movie tickets via BookMyShow
  • Up to 20% off on online and offline transactions
  • 3 Reward Points on every Rs 150 retails spends
  • Exclusive offers on dining
  • Up to 5% cashback on utility bill payments
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver
  • Welcome vouchers worth ₹5,000
  • Convert big spends into small EMIs

Bajaj Finserv DBS Bank 7X Rewards SuperCard

This is an exciting co-branded DBS credit card, with exclusive offers and deals on both offline and online shopping.

• Fees :
  • Annual Fees: ₹1,499 + applicable taxes
• Eligibility Criteria :
  • Applicant must be between the ages of 21 and 70
  • Applicant must be a citizen of India
  • Applicant must have a regular source of income
  • Applicant must have a credit score of 720 or higher
• Key Features :
  • Welcome bonus of 20,000 Cash Points
  • 2 Cash Points on every ₹200 spent
  • Earn up to 20X accelerated rewards on DBS Delights’ purchases
  • 40% value back in Cash Points on memberships
  • Exclusive offers on lifestyle, health, food, wellness and travel spends
  • 8 complimentary lounge access at domestic airports
  • Fuel surcharge waiver
  • Interest-free cash withdrawal
  • Special health plans with Bajaj Finserv Health
  • 5% Cashback on EMI down payments at Bajaj Finance Network stores

SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card

The SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card is another beginner-friendly credit card that offers milestone rewards and discounts on shopping.

• Fees :
  • Annual Fee: ₹499 + taxes
  • Renewal Fee: ₹499 + taxes
• Eligibility Criteria :
  • Applicant must be a resident of India
  • Applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 70
• Key Features :
  • Welcome benefit of Amazon gift card worth ₹500
  • 10x Reward Points on partner spends
  • Milestone rewards worth up to ₹2,000
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver
  • Contactless payment enabled cards
  • Accepted worldwide
  • Add-on cards for your loved ones
  • Cash withdrawal benefit
  • Make easy utility payments
  • Convert big transactions into EMIs with Flexipay

All in all, credit cards are a great financial instrument to keep at your disposal as it can help you access easy and inexpensive debt. You’ll also be able to enjoy some cool benefits like lounge access, cashbacks, rewards, discounts, and concierge desk services!