Best Rewards Credit Cards in India 2023

Joining Fee: Rs. 2,999

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

SBI Card Prime is one of the best credit cards for reward points in India. It is best suited for you, if you use credit cards for basic expenses such as grocery, dining, departmental store purchases, etc., and intend to earn reward points on your spending that can be further redeemed for various other benefits. The card also provides complimentary lounge access to both domestic and international lounges which can be an added benefit. Some of the important details regarding this credit card are mentioned below:

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 Trident Privilege Red Tier Membership
• 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

Suggested read: SBI Prime Credit Card Review | Check Eligibility for Similar Cards

Joining Fee: Rs. 250

Renewal Fee: Rs. 250 (Waived off on spending Rs. 60,000)

Standard Chartered Platinum Rewards Credit Card focuses on reward points along with offers on dining and movies and comes with an annual fee of Rs. 250. The best part about this card is that you get 5X reward points on fuel spends as well. It is almost rare for an entry-level credit card to provide such benefits on fuel spends. Most cards do not provide any benefit on fuel transactions. So, if you are new to credit and need an entry-level credit card that provides decent rewards on your dining and fuel transactions, you can opt for this card.

Reward Benefits:

• 5 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent on hotels, restaurants and fuel
• 1 reward point for every Rs. 150 spent on all other categories

Additional Benefits:

• 100% cashback up to Rs. 500 on restaurant spends done within first 90 days from the date of activation
• Option for video KYC for quick approval of the credit card
• Renewal fee waiver on spending Rs. 60,000 or more in a year

Suggested read: StanC Platinum Rewards Credit Card Review | Check Eligibility for Similar Cards

Joining Fee: Rs. 495

Renewal Fee: Rs. 495 (Waived off on spending Rs. 40,000 or above annually)

American Express SmartEarn™ Credit Card is one of the best rewards credit cards in India that gives good value back on your purchases. This credit card is suited for people who frequently shop online and are looking for a card that offers benefits on brands like Amazon, Flipkart, etc. Apart from cashback, you can also earn other privileges with this card, such as bonus cashback, fee waiver, gift vouchers and more. Below mentioned are the details regarding this credit card:

Reward Benefits:

• 10X Membership Rewards Points on every Rs. 50 spent on Flipkart, Amazon and Uber
• 5X Membership Rewards Points on every Rs. 50 spent on Paytm Wallet, Swiggy, BookMyShow, PVR, Myntra, Jabong, Grofers, Big Bazaar and more
• 1 Membership Rewards Point for every Rs. 50 spent on other categories except for fuel, insurance, utilities, cash transactions and EMI conversion at the point of sale

Additional Benefits:

• Rs. 500 cashback as a welcome gift on spending Rs. 10,000 in the first 90 days of card membership
• Vouchers worth Rs. 500 each on achieving the spending milestone of Rs. 1.20 lakh, Rs. 1.80 lakh and Rs. 2.40 lakh, respectively in a card membership year
• Convert purchases into EMI at the point of sale with an interest rate as low as 14% p.a. and zero foreclosure charges
• 0% convenience fee on fuel purchases less than Rs. 5,000 at HPCL Petrol Pumps
• 1% convenience fee on fuel purchases above Rs. 5,000 at HPCL Petrol Pumps

Suggested read: Best Credit Cards for Rewards | Check Eligibility for Similar Cards

Joining Fee: Nil

Renewal Fee: Nil

IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card is a lifetime free credit card that is best suited for people who frequently shop online. One of the unique features of this credit card is that it comes with a dynamic interest rate model, which means the interest rate is decided based on user’s profile. This is a right option for people who are looking for a superior rewards program, travel benefits and round-the-year offers. Some of the other details of this credit card are as follows:

Reward Benefits:

• 10X reward points on incremental purchases greater than Rs. 25,000 per billing cycle
• 10X reward points on your birthday expenses
• 6X reward points on all online purchases
• 3X reward points on all offline purchases

Additional Benefits:

• Gift vouchers worth Rs. 500 on spending Rs. 15,000 within 90 days of card set-up
• 5% cashback on your first EMI transaction made within 90 days of card set-up
• Buy 1 get 1 offer on movie tickets of up to Rs. 250 per ticket (twice per month)
• Complimentary domestic airport lounge access (4 per quarter)
• Complimentary railway lounge access (4 per quarter)
• Low foreign exchange mark-up fee of 1.99%

Suggested read: IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card Review | Check Eligibility for Similar Cards

Joining Fee: Rs. 2,500

Renewal Fee: Rs. 2,500 (Waived off on spending Rs. 3 lakh in a year)

HDFC Regalia Credit Credit is one of the best credit cards for rewards that provides benefits across multiple categories such as travel, dining, and shopping. The card falls under the premium category and is a good fit for saving more on luxury expenses. The annual fee charged on this card is Rs. 2,500. Here are other details regarding this HDFC Credit Card:

Reward Benefits:

• 4 reward points on spending Rs. 150 on retail spends inclusive of insurance, utility rent and education expenses
• 1 reward point is equal to Re. 0.50
• Reward points are valid for a period of two years
• 10,000 reward points on spending Rs. 5 lakh annually
• Additional 5,000 reward points on spending Rs. 8 lakh annually

Additional Benefits:

• 12 complimentary visits to airport lounges per calendar year within India, at both domestic and international terminals
• Complimentary Priority Pass membership with 6 complimentary lounge access in a calendar year, outside India
• Low foreign currency markup fee of 2%
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver (Max. Rs. 400) at all fuel stations across India on a minimum transaction of Rs. 400  and maximum transaction of Rs. 5,000

Suggested read: HDFC Regalia Credit Card Review | Check Eligibility for Similar Cards

Confused whether you want a rewards credit card? Take a look at some of the best credit cards for different categories:

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 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: Never rely on the email you get, it might be possible that the same benefits are offered to other cardholders as well. 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.

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 within your spending limit, never overspend just for the sake of benefits and put yourself into a credit card debt.

Consider welcome benefits: Some credit cards come with exciting welcome benefits, such as bonus rewards 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.