Best Entry-Level Credit Cards in India 2025

March 10, 2025Rupanshi ThapaCredit Card

Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card: Good for Amazon loyalists

Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

Annual Fee: Nil

Amazon Pay ICICI card was among the first cards launched with a major e-commerce brand. Though the card’s universal cashback rate is comparatively low at just 1%, it still offers good value back for Amazon Loyalists, especially PRIME Customers. Since Amazon Pay has 100+ merchants listed on it, the 2% cashback is also quite a decent deal. However, the cashback is credited to your Amazon Pay Balance and not to your card account restricting the usage only through the platform.

Key Features of Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card:

5% cashback on Amazon purchases for PRIME customers
3% cashback on Amazon purchases for Non-PRIME customers
2% cashback on 100+ partner merchants when using Amazon Pay as payment method and using this card
1% cashback on all other expenses
1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations

Should you get this card?

You should consider getting Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card if you make frequent purchases on Amazon whether they are big purchases or regular essentials, as such transactions are generously rewarded. And it is a good idea to take PRIME membership if you don’t already have one, as PRIME members get 2% higher cashback on Amazon purchases. Even if you do not make payments like utility or phone bills via Amazon Pay Balance, you should start doing so when you get this card in order to make the most of its features.

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Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card: Instant discount on travel bookings

Annual Fee: Rs. 350

Standard Chartered Credit Card allows cardholders to save up to 20% on travel bookings through EaseMyTrip. Besides instant discount, users can also earn reward points on travel spends other than EaseMyTrip and redeem them for future travel bookings.

Key Features of Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card:

20% discount on domestic & international hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
10% discount on domestic & international flight bookings at EaseMyTrip
10 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent at standalone airline/hotel websites, mobile apps or outlets, except any travel aggregators
2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on other categories
2 complimentary international lounge visits per year

Should you get this card?

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip is a co-branded credit card that offers benefits in the form of instant discount and cashback, along with complimentary lounge access. If you frequently travel and book a couple of tickets every month, this credit card can lead to significant savings. Besides rewards and cashback, the credit card also offers domestic lounge access, enhancing the overall value for frequent travellers. However, the only restriction is that users can avail one discount per month per card per category. For instance, if you have used the card to avail discount on international flight bookings, you cannot avail same benefit again in the same month. Additionally, international travel benefits on the card are limited.

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PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card: Instant discount on PVR movie tickets

Annual Fee: Rs. 499

PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card is designed for movie lovers looking for an option to save on their spends at movies along with food and beverages. With this card, users can earn free movie tickets as milestone benefits and complimentary access to premium in-cinema lounges.

Key Features of PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card:

Flat 5% off on PVR movie tickets
Flat 20% off on food and beverages at PVR theatres
Complimentary access to premium PVR INOX in-cinema lounges
1 free PVR INOX movie ticket worth Rs. 300 each on every Rs. 10,000 spent during a billing cycle

Should you get this card?

PVR INOX Kotak is a co-branded credit card offering direct discount on movies and food & beverages at PVR cinemas. The card also offers free PVR INOX tickets as milestone benefits. Unlike many other cards that place a maximum capping on the number of free tickets, this credit card allows users to earn unlimited free tickets on every Rs. 10,000 spent. Basically, the more you spend, the more free tickets you get. Overall, if you are a movie lover who frequently goes out to watch movies, this credit card can help you save significantly. However, if you’re looking for rewards on other spending categories, you might want to explore other options, as this card’s benefits are limited to PVR INOX cinemas.

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YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card: For cashback on all online spends

Annual Fee: Rs. 499

YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card is an online shopping credit card that rewards users with cashback irrespective of the merchant restrictions. The card is offered in both virtual and physical form. The virtual card is offered in the RuPay network, which also allows UPI-linked credit card benefits.

Key Features of YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card:

3% Cashback: 6 cashback points per Rs. 200 spent on e-commerce transactions (capped at 5,000 cashback points per month).
1.5% Cashback: 3 cashback points per Rs. 200 spent on offline and UPI spends
Redemption Value: 1 Cashback Point = Rs. 1
Renewal Fee Waiver on spending at least Rs. 1.2 Lakh via your card during the previous year.
1% fuel surcharge waiver of up to Rs. 250 per statement cycle is applicable on all fuel transactions worth Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,000 (excluding GST).

Should you get this card?
At a joining fee of zero, this card is a suitable choice for beginners who prefer earning cashback on all spends and majorly shop online. The card offers an accelerated 5% return on all online purchases. Though the accelerated return is capped at 5,000 points per month, the good part is that beyond this limit, the base cashback rate of 1.5% will be applicable on all card spends. That way, it is a good choice for high spenders. Even the base rate of 1.5% is better than most credit cards that usually limit it to 1%. Having said that, if you are looking for category-specific benefits around travel and other lifestyle options, you can get better options, albeit at a higher fee.

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card

Axis ACE Credit Card: Great value back on all spends

Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

Annual Fee: Rs. 499

Axis Ace is one of the best entry-level credit cards in the market offering one of the highest base cashback rate of 1.5% on almost all transactions. Its 5% uncapped cashback on all utility bill payments on Google Pay is also a generous offer. Most of us pay huge amounts in utility bills and getting such a generous cashback on these essential payments is truly a good deal. The two main reasons why it is on top of our list is its generous rate and a simple cashback model.

Key Features of Axis Ace Credit Card:

5% cashback on utility bill payments like electricity, gas and internet on Google Pay
4% cashback on Zomato, Swiggy and Ola
1.5% cashback on all other spends
4 complimentary domestic lounge visits in a year on spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous 3 months
1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000 (max. 500 waiver in a month)

Should you get this card?

You must consider Axis Ace, especially if you are looking for good value back across all your spends instead of focusing on a particular category like travel, shopping or fuel. Moreover, the card has a simple cashback system and the amount is automatically credited to your card account in each billing cycle. A lot of people look for simple benefits like these instead of a reward earning and redemption model and this is an additional advantage with Axis Ace Card.

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SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card: Good for online shoppers

SBI SimplyClick Credit Card

Annual Fee: Rs. 499
Minimum Income: Rs. 20,000 p.m.

The rewards program of SBI SimplyCLICK is designed around online purchases with extra benefits on shopping with their exclusive partner brands. Though its basic reward rate of 1% stands low, 5% rewards across all online shopping is clearly a better deal to count it as one of the best shopping credit cards in India. With exclusive partners including Apollo 24×7, BookMyShow, Cleartrip, Dominos, IGP,Myntra, Netmeds, Swiggy and Yatra.

Key Features of SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card:

5X reward points on all online shopping
10X reward points on online partners like BookMyShow, Cleartrip, Apollo24x7, Swiggy, Dominos, Netmeds, Myntra and Yatra
1 reward point for every Rs. 100 spent on the card
E-voucher worth Rs. 2,000 each on reaching annual spends of Rs. 1 Lakh and Rs. 2 Lakh

Should you get this card?

SBI SimplyCLICK is one of the best credit cards for beginners, especially if you are a frequent online shopper. You get generous rewards on all online spends which is provided with very few credit cards. The annual fee of this card is only Rs. 499 but the waiver condition is at Rs. 1 Lakh per annum. For this fee range, this spending milestone is achievable. You can also consider SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card if your focus is on earning extra rewards mainly on offline expenses.

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Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card: Good cashback on shopping & travel

Annual Fee: Rs. 500

One of the key highlights of this Axis Bank credit card is that it substantially rewards you for your shopping and travel expenses offering 5% cashback on Flipkart and Cleartrip, along with 4% cashback on preferred merchants (Cult.fit, Swiggy, PVR and Uber). Though limited to certain platforms, this is a substantial cashback rate for an entry-level card, not common among cards in this fee range. Also, since Flipkart does not have a wallet system like Amazon, the cashback is directly credited to your card account, making the cashback model simpler.

Key Features of Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card:

Welcome benefit worth Rs. 600 in the form of coupons
5% cashback on Flipkart and Cleartrip
4% cashback on preferred merchants (Cult.fit, Swiggy, PVR and Uber)
1% cashback across all other categories
4 complimentary domestic lounge visits in a year on spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous 3 months
1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000 (Max. Rs. 400 waiver in a month)

Should you get this card?

Flipkart Axis Bank Card will be the best choice for someone who shops a lot on Flipkart and other partner merchants. Unlike Axis ACE card that offers no additional benefits on travel, the Flipkart card takes care of your travel needs as well. In addition to this, the 1% cashback across all other spends is a decent deal if you can make the most of the other benefits on this card. However, if you are not sure whether you would be able to avail the benefits on Flipkart, Cleartrip, Swiggy, Myntra, etc., Axis ACE card could be a better choice for you owing to its higher default cashback rate.

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card: High reward points

Annual Fee: Rs. 500

HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card is a go-to card if you are keen on saving more with rewards. The card comes with a benefit of 500 cash points, as a welcome benefit. The card prompts easy contactless payments, secure and convenient payments for outlets. Further, you get extra reward points for making online purchases at popular brands.

Key Features of HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card:

10X CashPoints on Flipkart, Amazon, Swiggy, Reliance Smart SuperStore & BigBasket
2 CashPoints per Rs. 150 spent on other categories
500 CashPoints on payment of joining and renewal fee
500 gift voucher on reaching quarterly spends of Rs. 50,000 or more
1% fuel surcharge waiver on a minimum transaction of Rs. 400 and a maximum transaction of Rs. 5,000

Should you get this card?

HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for beginners that offers good reward points on your online transactions. The card comes with a low annual fee and is easily accessible for you if you have started earning recently. You can save more, without spending much on the card in terms of joining fees and annual fees.

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card

Airtel Axis Credit Card: Best for utility bill payments

Annual Fee: Rs. 500

Airtel Axis Credit Card is a co-branded credit card designed to offer benefits on utility bill payments, especially for Airtel users. You can save up to 25% on Airtel bill payments and 10% on other utility bill payments. The card also offers complimentary lounge access as milestone benefits and welcome benefits worth the joining fee.

Key Features of Airtel Axis Credit Card:

25% cashback on Airtel Mobile, broadband, WiFi and DTH bill payments through the Airtel Thanks app
10% cashback on utility bill payments made through the Airtel Thanks app
10% cashback on transactions at Swiggy, Zomato and BigBasket
1% cashback on all other spends
Amazon e-voucher worth Rs. 500 on the first spend made within 30 days of card issuance
4 complimentary domestic lounge visits every year, 1 per quarter on spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous 3 month

Should you get this card?

Airtel Axis Credit Card offers benefits to Airtel customers through cashback, discount, and vouchers. The plus point is that despite being a co-branded credit card, the card not only offers benefits on Airtel spends but also across other popular brands like Swiggy, Zomato, and BigBasket, covering two major categories: groceries and dining. Since most cards put utility bills in the excluded categories, offering accelerated cashback on utility bill payments makes this card a reasonable choice for those looking to save on this category of spends. Also, additional benefits like complimentary lounge access and dining discount further enhance the overall value of this card. Airtel Axis Card is a suitable choice for users who are already in the Airtel ecosystem or planning to come onboard.

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IndianOil Axis Credit Card: Good for fuel spends at IndianOil

Annual Fee: Rs. 500

IndianOil Axis Credit Card is a fuel credit card offering up to 4% value back on fuel spends at IndianOil outlets. The card offers value back in the form of reward points, which you can redeem to avail free fuel every year. Here are some of the key benefits of this credit card:

Key Features of IndianOil Axis Credit Card:

EDGE reward points equivalent to the first fuel spend of up to Rs. 250 made within 30 days of card issuance
4% back as 20 EDGE reward points per Rs. 100 spent on fuel purchases of Rs. 400 to Rs. 4,000 at IOCL outlets in India
1% back as 5 EDGE reward points per Rs. 100 spent on online shopping worth Rs. 100 to Rs. 5,000
1 EDGE reward point per Rs. 100 on other spends
1% fuel surcharge waiver, up to Rs. 50 per month, on fuel spends of Rs. 400 to Rs. 4,000
15% off up to Rs. 500 on dining bills at select restaurants via EazyDiner
10% discount on booking movie tickets through BookMyShow app or website

Should you get this card?
IndianOil Axis Credit Card is designed for users looking to save on fuel expenses. The card offers value back through reward points for fuel spends at IndianOil outlets. Cardholders can get up to 4% value back on their fuel spends, along with accelerated reward points on online shopping. Also, other benefits, like discount on movie tickets and dining, enhance the overall value of this card. Overall, this is a decent option for people who commute daily and are looking for an option to save on their fuel expenses, along with basic benefits across other categories.

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about IndianOil Axis Credit Card

Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card: Co-branded benefits

Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card

Annual Fee: Rs. 499

Another card in this list is a co-branded credit card with Tata Neu that offers benefits on all 10+ partner Tata brands, including Tata 1MG, BigBasket, Croma, Air India Express, Westside, and others. The card is a base variant of the Tata Neu Infinity credit card that comes at a higher fee of Rs. 1,499.

Key Features of Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card:

Bonus 499 NeuCoins on Tata Neu App on completing the first transaction within 30 days of card issuance
2% back as NeuCoins on non-EMI spends on Tata Neu and partner Tata brands
1% back as NeuCoins on non-Tata brand spends and any merchant EMI spends
1% back as NeuCoins, up to 500 NeuCoins per month, on UPI spends via RuPay card variant
An additional 5% back as NeuCoins via the Tata Neu app/website
Redemption Value: 1 NeuCoin = Rs. 1
4 complimentary domestic lounge visits every year (max. 1 per quarter).
Annual fee waiver on spending Rs. 1 Lakh in a year.
1% fuel surcharge waiver, up to Rs. 250 in a month, at all fuel stations across India on fuel spends of Rs. 400 to Rs. 5,000.

Should you get this card?
The card is an excellent choice for those who frequently shop at the partnered brands. Rewards on the card are offered as NeuCoins, redeemable across the group brands. Due to the multi-brand benefits here, users have the flexibility to redeem rewards, unlike most co-branded cards that restrict it to 1-2 brands. Additionally, the extended benefits on UPI payments through the RuPay variant is an added advantage for users who like to save on their everyday spends.

Check Eligibility for Top Credit Cards | Read more about Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card

Cashback SBI Card: Good cashback across all online spends

Annual Fee: Rs. 999

Cashback SBI Card is another credit card to opt for if you are looking for great cashback options on your credit card transactions. The card does not require higher-income eligibility yet provides good cashback features such as 5% cashback on online spends. Apart from that, you can earn 1% cashback on other expenses. The cashback earned on this card is auto-credited to your SBI Card account.

Key Features of Cashback SBI Card:

5% cashback on all online spends
1% flat cashback on all offline transactions
1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India on transactions between Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,000
Annual fee reversal on spending Rs. 2 lakh in a year

Should you get this card?

Cashback SBI Card is a good option if you have a low income, but want to save more with a credit card. It is a perfect combination of cashback and online shopping credit cards. The good thing is that there are no merchant restrictions. The cashback rate offered on this credit card is one of the highest among other cashback credit cards. This can be a great addition to your wallet if you frequently shop online and are looking for an option to save on your online transactions.

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Rupanshi Thapa

https://in.linkedin.com/in/rupanshi-thapa-703b8266

Rupanshi is a personal finance writer, specializing in credit cards and consumer finance. Her work is committed to helping readers navigate the complex world of credit with confidence– whether they are selecting the right credit card, optimizings rewards, managing debt, or improving their financial well-being. Through her detailed insights and actionable advice, she guides readers towards smarter financial choices.

Best Entry-Level Credit Cards in India 2025

Best Entry Level Credit Cards in India July 2025

Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card: Good for Amazon loyalists

Key Features of Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card:

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card: Instant discount on travel bookings

Key Features of Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card:

PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card: Instant discount on PVR movie tickets

Key Features of PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card:

YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card: For cashback on all online spends

Key Features of YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card:

Axis ACE Credit Card: Great value back on all spends

Key Features of Axis Ace Credit Card:

SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card: Good for online shoppers

Key Features of SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card:

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card: Good cashback on shopping & travel

Key Features of Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card:

HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card: High reward points

Key Features of HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card:

Airtel Axis Credit Card: Best for utility bill payments

Key Features of Airtel Axis Credit Card:

IndianOil Axis Credit Card: Good for fuel spends at IndianOil

Key Features of IndianOil Axis Credit Card:

Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card: Co-branded benefits

Key Features of Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card:

Cashback SBI Card: Good cashback across all online spends

Key Features of Cashback SBI Card:

CIBIL

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