For credit card users, it can sometimes be difficult to pick the right credit card since there are multiple options available in the market today. Since most banks offer a range of credit cards with different features and benefits, users may get confused on which one to pick. Hence, for those who are wondering which credit card to opt for, here is a list of top credit cards in May 2021 India. This will help credit card users in searching for the right card.

List of Best Credit Cards in India for 2021

Top 10 Credit Cards

Annual Fee

Ideal For

Axis Bank Ace Credit Card

Rs. 499

Cashback

Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

Nil

Online Shopping & Cashback

HDFC Regalia Credit Card

Rs. 2,500

Travel & Shopping

SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card

Rs. 499

Rewards

Citi PremierMiles Credit Card

Rs. 3,000

Air Miles

 

  1. Axis Bank Ace Credit Card

Axis Bank Ace Credit Card is a cashback credit card that comes with the highest universal cashback rate of 2% in India. A cashback credit card is a right choice for those who are not sure about their spending categories and patterns. Some of the key features are:

  • The joining Fee is reversed upon spending Rs. 10,000 in the first 45 days of card issuance
  • The renewal fee of the card can be done at Rs. 499. This is reversed on spending Rs. 2 Lakhs or more in the preceding year.
  • 5% cashback on bill payments and mobile recharges through Google Pay
  • 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola
  • 2% cashback on all other spends
  • 5% cashback on Big Basket and Grofers (Valid till 31st December 2021)
  • 4 complimentary lounge accesses per calendar year
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver applicable for transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000; maximum waiver that can be availed is Rs. 500 per month
  1. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

Amazon Pay ICICI Card is one of the best credit cards with co-branded benefits in India. For those who shop frequently at Amazon, this card can help in saving big on all purchases in the form of cashback. Other than Amazon purchases, users can get cashback on other expenditures too. All these benefits come free of cost since there is no joining fee or renewal fee on this card. Here are some of the key features:

  • Zero Annual Fee
  • Zero Renewal Fee
  • 5% cashback on all purchases made at Amazon by ‘Amazon Prime’ customers. 
  • 3% cashback on all purchases for Non-prime customers
  • 2% cashback on purchases made at Amazon partners and also on gift card purchases
  • 2% Reward Points on recharges, bill payments, etc.
  • 1% cashback on all other purchases
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all petrol pumps across India
  • 1 Reward Point = 1 Rupee
  • No cost EMI on all purchases above Rs. 3,000 for 3 or 6 months
  • Reward points automatically get converted to Amazon Pay balance and are credited to the Amazon account in the form of an Amazon Pay balance
  1. HDFC Regalia Credit Card

HDFC Regalia is the ideal choice for customers who are looking for rewards in all categories. It comes with discounts on dining, travel offers, a rewards program and also a comprehensive protection plan. Here are some of the key features:

  • Annual Fee is Rs. 2,500 + GST
  • Renewal Fee is Rs.  2,500 + GST (waiver can be availed upon spending Rs. 3 Lakhs in the previous calendar year)
  • Minimum Income Requirement is Rs. 70,000 per month
  • Zomato Gold Membership can be availed for a year upon spending Rs. 75,000 within the first 3 months of the credit card issuance
  • 2,500 Reward Points to be earned on payment of the joining and renewal fees
  • 12 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar year
  • Up to 12 international lounge accesses per year for self and add-on members. This Priority Pass Membership can be activated after 4 retail transactions are made
  • 24×7 free travel concierge services for booking, travel, late-night deliveries, etc.
  • Priority dining facility under Good Food Trail dining program at top restaurants in the country
  • 4 Reward Points for every Rs. 150 spent on items like utility bills, insurance, education, rent, etc.
  • 10,000 Reward Points can be earned for spending Rs. 5 Lakhs on the card and additional 5,000 points on reaching the spending limit of Rs. 8 Lakhs
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all transactions from Rs. 400 to Rs. 5,000 at all petrol stations in the country
  • Rewards redemption on flight and hotel booking, vouchers, gifts and products, etc. 70% redemption of ticket fare for flight and hotel
  • Card offer air accidental death cover of Rs. 1 crore
  • It also has an emergency overseas hospitalization cover of up to Rs. 15 Lakhs
  1. SimplyCLICK SBI Card

For those looking to make the most of online spending, SimplyCLICK SBI Card is one of the best cards. It offers 10X reward points along with discounts on online spending. Here are the main features:

  • The annual fee of the card is Rs. 499 + GST
  • The renewal fee is Rs. 499 + GST
  • The Minimum Income Required to avail of this card is Rs. 20,000 per month
  • The card comes with a welcome gift voucher of Rs. 500 
  • 1 Reward Point can be earned on every Rs. 100 spent on the card
  • 5X Rewards can be availed on all online spends and 10X Rewards on making online spends with exclusive partners of SBI Card
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver to be availed on fuel transactions worth Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,000. Maximum waiver of Rs. 100 is applicable per billing cycle
  • For spending of Rs. 1 Lakh per year, users can get a waiver on an annual fee of Rs. 499
  • The card offers the benefit of a contactless feature and can make payments by simply waving the card in front of a POS terminal
  1. Citi PremierMiles Credit Card

Citi PremierMiles Credit Card comes with some of the most exclusive travel benefits including air miles on every spend, lounge accesses, discount offers and other travel benefits. It is one of the top travel credit cards in India. Here are the main features:

  • Annual Fee is Rs. 3,000 + GST
  • Renewal Fee is Rs. 3,000 + GST
  • Minimum Income Requirement is Rs. 25,000 per month
  • Upon spending more than Rs. 1,000 within 60 days of card issuance, users can get 10,000 Bonus Miles
  • Additional 3,000 Miles can be earned on card renewal
  • 4 Miles can be availed for every Rs. 100 spent across all categories
  • 10 Miles can be earned for every Rs. 100 on airline transactions
  • Air miles don’t have an expiry
  • Complimentary access to airport lounges in India and around the world

Conclusion

Before availing some of the best credit cards in 2021, applicants must go through all the key features and benefits and choose a card that best fits individual requirements.

FAQs

  1. Which is the most prestigious credit card in India?

Some of the most prestigious credit cards in India are:

  • HDFC Infinia. 
  • HDFC Diners Black Credit Card.
  • Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card. 
  • American Express Platinum Charge Card. 
  • ICICI Emerald (Amex).
  1. Which is the best credit card in India for the middle class?

Some of the top credit cards for the middle class in India are:

  • Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card
  • HDFC Regalia Credit Card
  • BPCL SBI Card Octane
  • SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card
  1. Which credit card is best for fuel?

Some of the best fuel credit cards in India are:

  • ICICI HPCL Coral Amex
  • SBI Air India Signature
  • YES First Preferred Card
  • TATA Star Titanium
  1. How do beginners use credit cards?

Beginners can follow the below-mentioned tips while using credit cards:

  • Set a budget. 
  • Track expenses.
  • Set Up automatic payments. 
  • Keep credit utilization to a minimum.
  • Ensure timely and full bill payment.
  • Redeem rewards.
  • Make use of the perks offered by the card.
  1. What is the fastest way to build credit?

To build credit fast, here are some smart tips that one can use:

  • Make bill payments on time.
  • Opt for higher credit limits.
  • Dispute credit report errors.
  • Use a secured credit card.