UPI credit cards are eligible RuPay credit cards that can be linked to supported UPI apps for making eligible merchant payments. Unlike a regular UPI payment that directly debits your bank account, a UPI payment made using a linked credit card is charged to your credit card account.
This allows you to use your available credit limit for eligible UPI merchant payments, such as payments made by scanning supported QR codes. However, UPI linked credit cards are not the same as regular bank account UPI payments. Certain transactions, including person-to-person (P2P) transfers, are not permitted through the RuPay credit card on UPI facility.
Some UPI-enabled credit cards also offer rewards, cashback or other card benefits on eligible transactions. The benefits, reward rates, fees and exclusions vary by card, so it is important to compare the terms before applying.
What Is a UPI Credit Card?
A UPI credit card is an eligible RuPay credit card linked to a supported UPI app for making eligible merchant payments. The payment is charged to your credit card instead of your bank account.
Transaction limits depend on the card issuer, applicable UPI rules and your available credit limit. P2P and other restricted transactions cannot be made using a RuPay credit card through UPI.
How Does a UPI Credit Card Work?
The process is generally as follows:
- Get an eligible RuPay credit card from a participating issuer.
- Open a supported UPI app and add the credit card as a payment method.
- Complete the required verification and set or authenticate with a UPI PIN.
- Select the linked credit card when making an eligible merchant payment.
- Scan the merchant's UPI QR code or use another supported merchant-payment option.
- The payment is charged to the credit card and forms part of the card's outstanding balance.
The exact linking process can vary between UPI apps and card issuers, so users should follow the instructions displayed in their app.
Best UPI Credit Cards in India 2026
The following cards can be considered when comparing credit cards that support UPI payments. Benefits, fees, reward rates and eligibility requirements can change, so users should verify the current terms with the respective issuer before applying.
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Key UPI / Reward Benefit | UPI App Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card | ₹99 + applicable taxes | CashPoints on eligible spends | PayZapp, GooglePay, PhonePe, PayTM, BHIM |
| IRCTC SBI Platinum Card | ₹500 + applicable taxes | Railway rewards and IRCTC benefits | BHIM, PhonePe, GooglePay, Paytm, Mobikwik |
| Axis Bank super.money RuPay Credit Card | Nil | 3% cashback on eligible Scan & Pay transactions through super.money | BHIM, PhonePe, Paytm, Slice, and Mobikwik |
| IDFC FIRST HPCL Power+ RuPay Credit Card | ₹499 + applicable taxes | Fuel, grocery and utility benefits | PhonePe, GooglePay, Paytm, BHIM, Mobikwik |
| ICICI Bank Coral RuPay Credit Card | ₹500 + GST | Reward points and lifestyle benefits | GooglePay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM |
Disclaimer: The features, process to apply and all other information specified above including rates, prices and other critical information are as of the date this page was created and are subject to change. Contact the relevant authority or refer to their official website for exact information.
1. HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card
Suitable for everyday UPI and PayZapp spending
The HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card can be linked to supported UPI apps for eligible merchant payments. It offers CashPoints on selected UPI and other eligible credit card transactions.
Fees and Charges
- Joining/Renewal Fee: ₹99 + applicable taxes
- Annual fee waiver: Available on meeting the applicable annual spending condition.
Key Benefits
- Gift Voucher worth Rs. 250.
- 3% CashPoints on eligible grocery, supermarket, dining and PayZapp transactions, capped at 500 CashPoints per calendar month.
- 2% CashPoints on eligible utility spends, capped at 500 CashPoints per calendar month.
- 1% cashpoints on all other spending. This excludes Rent, Wallet Loads, EMI, Fuel, Insurance payments, and Government categories.
- You can redeem reward points for flights and hotel bookings up to Rs. 50,000 per month.
- Link your virtual credit card to any UPI app for safe, convenient transactions.
- Zero fuel recharge.
- The card offers an interest-free period of up to 50 days, subject to applicable conditions.
2. IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card
Suitable for frequent railway travellers and IRCTC bookings
The IRCTC SBI Platinum Card is designed for customers who frequently book eligible railway tickets through IRCTC. It offers Reward Points on railway bookings, regular retail spending and other travel-related benefits.
Fees and Charges
- Annual Fee: ₹500 + applicable taxes
- Renewal Fee: ₹500 + applicable taxes
- Add-on Card Fee: Nil
Key Benefits
- Get 350 bonus reward points on a transaction of ₹500 or more within 60 days. Will be credited within 45 days of eligible transactions.
- Bonus reward points for eligible transactions will be credited within 45 days of the transaction date.
- Get up to 10% value back as reward points for ticket purchases through the IRCTC app or website. Reward points are credited based on spend value.
- 1 Reward Point for every ₹25 spent on non-fuel retail purchases, which includes the railway ticket purchases.
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel purchases between ₹500 and ₹3000.
- 4 complimentary railway lounge visits per year on the eligible RuPay version, with a maximum of 1 visit per quarter.
3. Axis Bank SuperMoney RuPay Credit Card
Suitable for: UPI and QR-based spending
The Axis Bank super.money RuPay Credit Card is a lifetime free credit card designed for customers who frequently make QR-based payments and want to earn cashback on eligible transactions. The card operates on the RuPay network and can be used for eligible UPI payments through supported platforms.
Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: Nil
- Annual Fee: Nil
Axis Bank lists this as a lifetime free credit card.
Cashback Benefits
- 3% cashback on eligible QR transactions made on or through the super.money platform.
- 1% cashback on other qualifying spends.
- Total cashback is capped at ₹500 per statement cycle.
- Cashback is subject to applicable merchant-category exclusions and terms.
Fuel Benefit
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver on eligible fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000.
- The maximum fuel-surcharge benefit is ₹400 per statement cycle for this card.
4. IDFC FIRST HPCL Power+ RuPay Credit Card
Suitable for: Fuel, grocery and utility spending
The IDFC FIRST HPCL Power+ RuPay Credit Card is designed for customers who regularly spend on HPCL fuel and selected everyday categories such as groceries, utilities and FASTag recharges. The card also supports RuPay's UPI ecosystem, subject to applicable issuer and UPI-app availability.
Its rewards are provided through a combination of Reward Points and Happy Coins, with different earning rates, spending caps and eligibility conditions depending on the transaction category.
Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: ₹499 + applicable taxes
- Annual Fee: ₹499 + applicable taxes
- Annual Fee Waiver: The annual fee may be waived when the cardholder meets the applicable annual spending condition specified by IDFC FIRST Bank.
Check the bank's latest fee schedule before applying because card charges and waiver conditions may change.
Welcome Benefits:
- ₹500 Gift Voucher on making the first fuel transaction worth ₹500 or more within 60 days.
- 5% cashback of up to ₹1000 on the first EMI conversion.
- ₹250 Shoppers Stop voucher on the 1st transaction completed within 15 days of card setup.
Reward Points
- 5% savings on fuel spending. 30 reward points per ₹150 spent on HPCL fuel, up to 2400 reward points in a statement cycle.
- 1.5% savings, 6 Happy Coins per ₹100 on fuel spends up to 600 Happy Coins per month.
- 5% savings on groceries and utility bills. 30 Reward Points per ₹150 spent, up to 400 reward points per statement cycle.
- 5% savings on IDFC First FastTag recharge. 30 Reward Points per ₹150 spent, up to 200 reward points per statement cycle.
- Earn up to 8.83% savings on travel through reward points: 53 points per ₹150 spent on hotels, 33 points per ₹150 spent on flights via Travel & Shop. Points credited as per spend.
Other Features:
- 1 complimentary domestic lounge access on spending of ₹20,000 per month.
- 25% off up to ₹100 on movie tickets
- Complimentary roadside assistance worth ₹1399 4 times in a year.
- Personal accident coverage of ₹2 Lakhs in a year and a card liability coverage of ₹25,000.
5. ICICI Bank Coral RuPay Credit Card
Suitable for: Lifestyle, entertainment and everyday spending
Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: ₹500 + GST
- Annual Fee: ₹500 + GST from the second year onwards
- Annual Fee Waiver: The annual fee can be waived when you spend ₹1.5 lakh or more in the previous year, subject to ICICI Bank's applicable terms.
Benefits:
- 2 reward points on all retail spends
- 1 reward point on insurance and utility spends
- 6 times to 12 times reward points on travel spends with iShop
- 2000 reward points on reaching ₹2 Lakhs annual spends
- Earn 1000 reward points for every additional ₹1 Lakhs spent after crossing ₹2 Lakhs in annual spend. Points are awarded incrementally.
Lounge Access
- 1 domestic lounge access visit per year, with a spend of ₹75,000 on the card.
- 4 railway lounge access in a year.
Movie Benefits
- 25% off up to ₹100 on a minimum of 2 tickets on Inox and BookMyShow 2 times in a month.
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel spends between ₹400 and ₹4000.
- 24/7 concierge services.
- Personal insurance worth ₹2 Lakhs.
How to Link a RuPay Credit Card to UPI
The exact steps depend on the UPI app and card issuer, but the process generally involves:
- Open the supported UPI app.
- Go to the Profile or the Payments Settings.
- Under the “Set Up Payment Method”, select the “RuPay Credit Card”.
- Choose your bank, then verify your identity with an OTP (One-Time Password) sent to your registered mobile number.
- Set yourself a dedicated UPI PIN in either 4 digits or 6 digits as prompted by the UPI app.
Note: The UPI PIN needs to be different from the card’s physical ATM PIN for better security.
Things to Check Before Choosing a UPI Credit Card
Before applying, compare the following:
- Annual and joining fees
- Fee-waiver conditions
- UPI reward rate
- Reward caps
- Reward exclusions
- Redemption value
- Fuel benefits
- Lounge benefits
- Merchant acceptance
- Supported UPI apps
- Credit limit offered by the issuer
- Other applicable charges
A card with a high advertised reward rate may not provide the highest value for every user. The right comparison depends on where and how you spend.
Advantages of Using a UPI Credit Card
A RuPay credit card linked to UPI can offer:
- Convenient QR-based merchant payments
- Access to the card's available credit limit
- Potential rewards or cashback on eligible spending
- No need to use the bank-account balance for an eligible credit-card transaction
- A digital payment option through supported UPI apps
However, credit card payments still need to be repaid on time. Using a credit card through UPI does not change the card's billing cycle, interest or late-payment rules.
How to Choose a UPI Credit Card
There is no single UPI credit card that is suitable for everyone.
Consider your spending pattern first:
- For frequent UPI spending: Compare the actual reward rate, cashback cap and eligible merchant categories.
- For railway bookings: Look at cards such as the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card and compare the railway rewards and lounge benefits with the annual fee.
- For fuel spending: Compare fuel rewards, surcharge waivers and annual-fee waiver conditions.
- For lifestyle spending: Look at movie, dining, lounge and other lifestyle benefits along with the annual fee.
- For low-cost ownership: Check lifetime free cards, but also examine their reward caps and exclusions rather than considering the absence of an annual fee alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does a UPI credit card mean?
A UPI credit card is an eligible RuPay credit card that can be connected to supported UPI apps. It allows you to pay participating merchants through UPI while the amount is charged to your credit card instead of being deducted from your bank account.
2. Which credit cards can be linked to UPI?
Currently, the UPI credit-card facility is available for eligible RuPay credit cards. Whether you can link a particular card also depends on the card issuer and the UPI app you use.
3. Can I use my UPI-linked credit card to transfer money to another person?
No. RuPay credit cards linked to UPI are intended for eligible merchant payments. They cannot generally be used for person-to-person (P2P), person-to-person merchant (P2PM), or card-to-card transfers.
4. Is there a fixed transaction limit for payments through a UPI credit card?
There is no universal transaction limit for all UPI-linked credit cards. The applicable limit can vary based on the card issuer, UPI risk controls, the available credit limit and other applicable rules.
5. Can I earn cashback or rewards through a UPI credit card?
Yes, some RuPay credit cards offer cashback, reward points or other benefits on eligible UPI transactions. The rewards can vary by card and may have specific spending limits, categories or exclusions.
6. Are payments made through a UPI-linked credit card safe?
Yes. UPI transactions use authentication such as a UPI PIN. For your security, never disclose your UPI PIN, card PIN, CVV or OTP to anyone, even if they claim to represent your bank or card issuer.
7. Can I add my RuPay credit card to Google Pay or PhonePe?
It depends on the card issuer, the specific RuPay credit card and the UPI app. If the card is supported, you can generally add it through the app's credit-card or UPI payment options and complete the required verification.
Disclaimer: This page includes information that has been compiled from many sources and is only offered for informational purposes. Given that this type of data may change over time, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information supplied or included within it. It is anticipated that the user will confirm with the relevant source before making any choices or taking any actions.








