5 Best Rewards Credit Cards in India 2026

Joining Fee: Rs. 2,500
Renewal Fee: Rs. 2,500 (Waived off on spending Rs. 4 lakh in a year)

HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card is an upgraded version of the previously popular HDFC Regalia Credit Card. The card comes at a fee of Rs. 2,500, offering benefits around travel and lifestyle. A good reward rate, complimentary memberships on activation, international and domestic airport lounge access, along with flight vouchers as milestone benefits, make this card count as one of the best all-rounder credit cards in India.

Reward Benefits:

• 4 reward points per Rs. 150 spent across all categories including insurance, utilities and education
• 20 reward points per Rs. 150 spent at Nykaa, Myntra, Marks & Spencer and Reliance Digital
• 1 Reward Point = Rs. 0.65 against Exclusive Gold Catalogue
• 1 Reward Point = Rs. 0.50 against Flights and Hotel Bookings
• 1 Reward Point = 0.5 Airmile
• 1 Reward Point = Up to Rs. 0.35 against Products and Voucher Purchase
• 1 Reward Point = Rs. 0.20 against Cashback/Statement Balance

Additional Benefits:

• 12 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits
• 6 complimentary international lounge visits with Priority Pass for primary and add-on member*
• Spend Rs. 1.5 Lakh and get Rs. 1,500 voucher from Myntra, Marriott, M&S or Reliance Digital
• Spend Rs. 5 Lakh and get Rs. 5,000 flight voucher
• Spend Rs. 7.5 Lakh and get additional Rs. 5,000 flight voucher

*Cardholders who have completed a minimum of 4 retail transactions can apply for Priority Pass membership.

The card offers a decent reward rate across everyday spends. Additionally, it includes categories like insurance, utilities, and education in its rewards program, which many cards exclude. Beyond an exceptional base reward rate on everyday categories, the card offers accelerated 5X rewards on Nykaa, Myntra, Marks & Spencer, and Reliance Digital—making it further suitable for these brand loyalists. The card also stands out due to its multiple redemption options ranging from travel and cash credit to exclusive gold catalog covering brands like Apple, Fitbit, etc.

 Suggested read: Best Online Shopping Credit Cards | Check Eligibility for Similar Cards

Joining Fee: Rs. 2,999
Renewal Fee: Rs. 2,999 (Waived off on spending Rs. 3 lakh in a year)

Similar to Regalia Gold, SBI Prime is also an all-rounder credit card offering benefits on multiple lifestyle categories like shopping, entertainment, dining, and travel. It offers accelerated rewards, gift vouchers as milestone benefits, and complimentary airport lounge access. The card charges a high joining and annual fee of Rs. 3,000 and compensates for the same by offering welcome benefits worth Rs. 3,000 along with an easily achievable fee waiver condition.

Reward Benefits:

• 20 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on your birthday
• 10 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent on dining, groceries, departmental stores and movies
• 2 reward points on every Rs.100 spent on all other expenses except for fuel spends
• 4 Reward Points = Re. 1

Additional Benefits:

• Welcome gift worth Rs. 3,000 from brands like Bata/Hush Puppies, Yatra.com, Pantaloons, Shoppers Stop, etc.
• Complimentary Club Vistara Silver Membership
• 4 international and 8 domestic lounges in a year (Max. 2 in each quarter for each type)
• 9 Club Vistara points on every Rs. 100 spent on booking Vistara flights

The card stands out for offering 5X earnings on select spending categories that make up a major portion of our day-to-day lives. However, the base reward rate on the card is fairly low for a card at this annual fee. The card turns out to be a good choice for customers who largely spend on dining, movies, and grocery spending and can reach the yearly spend threshold of Rs. 5 lakh to achieve the maximum benefits.

Suggested read: Best Travel Credit Cards in India | Check Eligibility for Similar Cards

Joining Fee: Rs. 500
Renewal Fee: Rs. 500 (Waived off on spending Rs. 50,000 or more in a year)

Another low-annual-fee card in list of best rewards credit cards is HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card, an upgraded variant of the HDFC MoneyBack Credit Card. The card offers accelerated reward points on popular brands such as Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket, and more. The RuPay variant on the card also offers benefits on UPI spends.

Reward Benefits:

• 10X CashPoints on Flipkart, Amazon, Swiggy, Reliance Smart SuperStore & BigBasket
• 5X CashPoints on EMI spends at merchant locations
• 2 CashPoints per Rs. 150 spent on other categories
• Redeem CashPoints at a value of 1 CashPoint = Re. 0.25
• 500 CashPoints on the payment of joining fee and renewal fee

Additional Benefits:

• Gift voucher worth Rs. 500 on reaching quarterly spends of Rs. 50,000 or more
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver (Max. Rs. 250 per month) on transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 5,000

Considering the card offers multi-brand benefits, it is a good choice for people who have scattered brand preferences. People looking for a credit card that offers benefits on daily expenses can opt for this card, as most of the brands cater to everyday spending. The card also offers multiple redemption options, including that across airlines, a feature too good for an entry-level card.

Joining Fee: Rs. 1,000
Renewal Fee: Rs. 1,000 (Waived off on annual spends of Rs. 2 Lakh or more)

Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card is a migrated variant of Citi Rewards Credit Card. The card offers accelerated rewards on day-to-day categories, such as department stores and apparel. Besides this, cardholders can also avail benefits on dining, food delivery, travel, and fuel. This is a suitable option for people looking for a credit card with decent reward benefits, primarily focused on shopping.

Reward Benefits:

• 5,000 EDGE reward points on spending Rs. 1,000 within 30 days of card issuance
• 2 EDGE reward points on every Rs. 125 spent
• 20 EDGE reward points per Rs. 125 spent on department stores and apparel
• 5 EDGE Reward Points / 10 EDGE Reward Points = 1 Partner Point
• 1,500 EDGE reward points on spending Rs. 30,000 in a statement cycle
• Membership benefits worth Rs. 1,000 every anniversary year

Additional Benefits:

• Up to 30% off on Swiggy, twice a month on order worth Rs. 200 or above
• Up to 15% off on dining at partner restaurants under Axis Bank Dining Delights Program
• 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge access every quarter
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver (Max. Rs. 400 per month) on all fuel transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 5,000

Though the card comes without any capping on rewards earned, consumers can earn the accelerated spend on apparel and departmental stores by spending up to Rs. 7,000 only. Besides, the reward value on the card is low, at up to Rs. 0.2 per reward. But this is compensated well with multiple redemption options, including conversion to miles transfer program, lounge access, activation, and milestone benefits.

Suggested Read: Top Credit Cards with Railway Lounge Access

Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000 (Nil for Burgundy clients)
Renewal Fee: Rs. 3,000 (Nil for Burgundy clients)

Axis Bank SELECT Credit Card offers benefits across major spending categories, including travel, entertainment, groceries, and more. Additionally, it offers travel perks like Priority Pass membership, lounge visits annually, and a low forex markup fee. Thus, a great fit for users who want to own a single credit card.

Reward Benefits:

• 10 EDGE reward points on every Rs. 200 spent
• 20 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent on retail transactions
• Redeem reward points at a value of 1 EGDE Reward Point = Re. 0.20
• 10,000 EDGE reward points worth Rs. 2,000 on the first transaction made within 30 days of card issuance
• 5,000 EDGE reward points on spending Rs. 3 Lakh in a card anniversary year

Additional Benefits:

• 20% off in a month on BigBasket on a minimum transaction value of Rs. 3,000
• 200 off, twice a month on spends at Swiggy, on a minium order value of Rs. 1,000
• 6 complimentary international lounge access per calendar year
• Additional 6 international lounge visits per year by spending Rs. 3 Lakh or more in a calendar year
• 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter on spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous quarter
• 6 complimentary golf rounds per year & additional 6 visits on spending Rs. 3 Lakh annually

The card comes with a unique feature of offering accelerated rewards on offline spends—a category that most cards reward with a base rate. Thus, the card emerges as a suitable choice for those who prefer offline shopping over online. Additionally, the card rewards users on everyday categories like dining and groceries with direct discount benefits with Swiggy and BigBasket. Having said that, it offers a fairly low redemption value for its annual fee. Thus, users will be able to maximize the benefits only by putting maximum spends on the card and accumulating a large number of reward points over time.

Here are some of the things you should keep in mind to choose the best rewards credit card:

Plan your spendings: You should never spend the money just for the sake of earning rewards. Before using your card, you should analyze the overall benefits and make an informed decision. For instance, if you have a card that offers decent rewards on day-to-day expenses, then you must use it for everyday purchases instead of using it for online shopping.

Choose the right credit card: You should choose a card that matches your lifestyle the best. If you love to travel frequently, then choose a card that offers decent rewards on travel expenses. Similarly, if you frequently shop online, then choose a card that offers higher rewards on online transactions.

Read the fine print: Before applying for a credit card, you must read all the terms and conditions carefully to maximize your benefits. Most of the card issuers keep changing the terms and conditions from time to time. Therefore, you should keep track of such changes by visiting the official website of your card issuer.

Do not miss out on offers: The card issuers let you save more by providing exclusive deals or offers, especially during the festive season. These offers might be beneficial for you and can help you make the most of your credit card. But again, be cautious and aware of the applicable terms and conditions.

Know your spending limits: Most of the card issuers provide additional or bonus rewards on achieving a certain spending milestone. Keep a check on these benefits as they can help you maximize your savings. However, you should always spend as per your repayment ability and not simply to achieve a milestone perk.

Consider welcome benefits: Some credit cards come with exciting welcome benefits, such as bonus rewards, gift vouchers, discounts, etc on activating your card or on paying the joining fee. You should never neglect such kind of benefits. These benefits are offered only once at the time of joining and can help you compensate for the joining fee.

Other Rewards Credit Cards to Consider