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Lifetime Free Credit Cards

When people choose credit cards, they want maximum benefits out of it with minimum charges. There are credit cards which do not charge an annual fee at all. These are lifetime free credit cards. They may levy some money for extra services like a hard copy of the bill but don’t have any annual or joining fees. There are also lifetime free credit cards for which the annual membership is waived off on spending a certain amount in a year.

A List of Best Nil Annual Fee Lifetime Free Credit Cards 2024

Card

Best Feature

IDFC First Select Credit Card

Rewards and online shopping

IDFC First Millennia Credit Card

Rewards and online shopping

IndusInd Bank Platinum Aura Credit Card

Rewards

Dhanlaxmi Bank Platinum Credit Card

Air Accident Insurance of INR 1 crore

Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

Dining benefits - Discount of 15% on dining bills at partner restaurants.

ICICI bank Platinum Chip Credit Card

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

Aspire Platinum Credit Card (IDBI Bank)

Reward points available for all types of spends

Axis Bank Insta Easy Credit Card

No income proof required and minimal documentation

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

Dining, fuel, and shopping

Kotak Fortune Gold Credit Card

Huge cash limit, fuel, movie tickets

Yes Prosperity Rewards Plus Credit Card

Online shopping, international usage

Yes First Preferred Credit Card

Travel, Entertainment, shopping, dining

Axis My Zone Easy Credit Card

Travel, Entertainment, Dining, and Rewards

Bank of Baroda Prime Credit Card

Cashback on daily spends

SBI Card Unnati (Annual Fee Nil for first four years)

Best for building your credit profile

Top Lifetime Free Credit Cards 2024 (With Nil Joining and Annual Fees)

Card

Best For

Joining Fees

Annual Fee

Rewards

Welcome Perks

IDFC First Select Credit Card

Rewards and online shopping

Nil

Nil

  • 10x reward points on incremental spends above Rs. 25,000 monthly and spends done on your birthday
  • 6x reward points on online purchases for spends up to Rs. 25,000 monthly
  • 3x reward points on offline purchases for spends up to Rs. 25,000 monthly
  • 1 reward point = 0.25 INR

Voucher worth INR 500

IDFC First Millennia Credit Card

Rewards and online shopping

Nil

Nil

  • 10x reward points on spends above Rs. 20,000 monthly and on spends done on your birthday
  • 6x reward points on online purchases for spends up to Rs. 20,000 per month
  • 3x reward points on offline purchases for spends up to Rs. 20,000 per month.
  • 1 reward point = 0.25 INR

Voucher worth INR 500

ICICI Bank Platinum Chip Credit Card

Best fit for those who want to build their credit score

Nil

Nil

  • 1 reward point per Rs. 100 spent on utilities and insurance
  • 2 reward points per Rs. 100 for spends on retail purchases (except fuel)

No welcome perks

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

Lifestyle benefits

Nil

Nil

  • 5X rewards on purchases beyond spends of INR 400,000 with a max of 15,000 accelerated reward points in an anniversary year

INR 6,350 with 3 complimentary airport lounge access at domestic and international lounges or 3 AirDine (meal) vouchers

IDFC First Wealth Credit Card

Reward points, travel and entertainment benefits

Nil

Nil

  • 10x reward points on incremental spends above Rs. 30,000 monthly and on your birthday spends
  • Earn 6x reward points for all online spends
  • Earn 3x reward points for all offline spends

List of Lifetime Free Credit Cards Based on Minimum Spends

Card

Fee Waiver

Best For

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card

Renewal fee waived on spends of Rs. 1,00,000 in the previous year.

Shopping

Axis Bank Ace Credit Card

Joining fee waiver on spends of Rs. 10,000 within 45 days of card issuance

Annual fee (2nd year onwards) waiver on total annual spends of Rs. 2,00,000.

Shopping

SBI SimplyClick Credit Card

Renewal fee waiver on total annual spends of Rs. 1 Lakh in the previous year

Shopping

American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card

Renewal fee waiver on annual spends of Rs 1,50,000.

50% waiver on the renewal fee on annual spends between Rs. 90,000 to 1,49,999

Shopping

IDFC First Select Credit Card

The IDFC First Select Credit Card is a best Idfc Credit card suited for luxury. It has the latest features.

Key Features and Benefits of The IDFC First Select Credit Card

  • Welcome Benefits: Welcome voucher of INR 500 on spends of INR 15,000 within 90 days of card activation.
  • Cashback: 5% cash back to the maximum of INR 1,000 equivalent to the transaction value of the First EMI done within 90 days of card generation.
  • Reward Points:
    • 6 reward points per INR 150 spent online
    • 3 reward points per INR 150 spent offline on spends below INR 20,000 monthly
    • 10 reward points per INR 150 spent over INR 20,000 monthly and on spends done on your birthday
    • 1 reward point = INR 0.25
    • There is no upper limit on the reward points and you can accumulate as many as possible.
  • Other Benefits:
    • Airport Lounge Access:4 free domestic airport lounge visits per quarter.
    • Road Benefits: Free roadside assistance worth INR 1,399
    • Railway Lounge Access: 4 free railway lounge visits per quarter
    • Air accident cover: Air accident cover of INR 1 crore.
    • Personal accident cover: Personal accident cover of INR 5 lakh.
    • Lost Card Liability Cover of INR 50,000
    • Comprehensive travel insurance cover of INR 22,500
    • Fuel surcharge waiver of 1% can be availed.
    • Discounts:
      • Up to 20% discount at partner restaurants.
      • Up to 15% discount at partner health and wellness outlets

IDFC First Millennia Credit Card

The IDFC First Millennia Credit Card provides cash backs on shopping and interest-free credit for 48 days in India and internationally when required. The card provides a lot of privileges, and the best part is that it is lifetime free.

Key Features and Benefits of The IDFC First Millennia Credit Card

  • Welcome Benefits: A voucher of INR 500 on spends of INR 15,000 within 90 days of card activation.
  • Cashback: 5% cash back to the maximum of INR 1,000 equivalent to the transaction value of the first EMI within 90 days of card generation.
  • Rewards:
    • 6 reward points per INR 150 spent online
    • 3 reward points per INR 150 spent offline on spends below INR 20,000 monthly
    • 10 reward points per INR 150 spent above INR 20,000 monthly and on spends done on your birthday.
    • 1 reward point = INR .25
    • Reward points do not have any upper limit and you can accumulate as many as possible.
    • You will get 3 reward points on the payment of rent.
  • Other Features:
    • Interest-Free Period: Interest not applicable for domestic and international cash withdrawals at ATMs for up to 48 days.
    • There is a convenience fee of INR 99 + GST on redemption of reward points.
    • A cash advance fee of INR 250 per transaction.
    • Forex markup of 3.5% for all international transactions.

ICICI Bank Platinum Chip Credit Card

This card is a lifetime free credit card and can be used to build your credit score. The card offers various benefits such as reward points, dining discounts, fuel surcharge waiver, and more.

ICICI Bank Platinum Chip Credit Card - Key Features and Benefits

  • Rewards:
    • 2 reward points on eligible transactions in the following ways
    • 1 reward point per Rs. 100 spent on utilities and insurance
    • 2 reward points per Rs. 100 for spends on retail purchases (except fuel)
    • You can get movies, travel vouchers, lifestyle products, and other merchandise against your reward points
  • Dining Discounts:
    • Save up to 15% on dining bills at over 2,500 restaurants across the country.
  • Fuel Surcharge:
    • 1% fuel surcharge waiver on Hindustan Petroleum fuel pumps on your transactions of up to Rs. 4,000.

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

This is a lifestyle credit card with excellent offers and features. It gives exclusive privileges and rewards.

Key Features and Benefits of the HSBC Platinum Credit Card

  • Welcome Benefits: 3 complimentary airport lounge access/meal vouchers
  • Rewards:
    • 5x reward points on crossing annual spends of Rs. 4,00,000.
    • 2 reward points on every other Rs. 150 spent on this card.
  • Cashback: Up to Rs. 1,000 cash back yearly on achieving the milestone spend.
  • Other Benefits:
    • Gift Voucher: Amazon gift voucher worth Rs. 500.
    • Movie Offer: Buy 1 get 1 offer on booking movie tickets through BookMyShow.
  • Discounts:
    • 50% discount on your first Google Pay transaction
    • 15% instant discount on specific products on Tata Cliq.
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver.

IDFC First Wealth Credit Card

The card offers exclusive travel and lifestyle benefits, rewards, and lowest interest rates.

Key Features and Benefits of The IDFC First Wealth Credit Card

  • Welcome Benefits: Welcome voucher of Rs. 500 on spends of Rs. 15,000 or above in the first 90 days.
  • Cashback: 5% maximum up to Rs. 1,000 on your first EMI transaction within the first 90 days.
  • Rewards:
    • 10X reward points on all spends above Rs. 30,000 and your birthday
    • Reward points that never expire.
    • 6X and 3X reward points on online and offline purchases made up to Rs. 30,000
    • 3X reward points on rental and property management spends
    • 1 reward point for every Rs. 100 spent. 1 reward point = Re. 0.25
  • Other Features and Benefits:
    • Lounge and Spa Visits: Complimentary domestic and international airport lounge and spa visits (4 per quarter)
    • Railway Lounge Access: Complimentary railway lounge access (4 per quarter)
    • Low foreign exchange mark-up fee of 1.99%
    • Comprehensive Travel Insurance Cover of Rs. 22,500
      • Loss of Checked-In Baggage – Rs. 7,500
      • Delay of Checked-In Baggage Rs. 5,000
      • Losing passport and other documents – Rs. 5,000
      • Delay in Flight- Rs. 5,000
    • Complimentary Golf rounds are given to each cardholder.
    • Movie Tickets: Buy one get one free offer on movie tickets costing up to Rs.500 per ticket. This offer is available twice per month for each credit card.
    • Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% Fuel surcharge waiver (up to Rs.400 per month) at all fuel stations across India.
    • Accident Cover: Personal accident cover of Rs. 5 Lakh and complimentary lost card liability cover of Rs. 50,000
    • Cash Withdrawal: Cash withdrawal from ATMs is interest-free for up to 48 days
    • Free Roadside Assistance (RSA) worth ₹1,399

Eligibility Criteria For Top No Annual Fee Credit Cards 2024

Card

Age

Residence

Credit score

Income

IDFC First Select Credit Card

21 years and above

Should be a resident of India.

As specified by the lender

Minimum net monthly income of Rs. 25,000 (subject to change)

IDFC First Millennia Credit Card

21 years and above

Should be a resident of India.

As specified by the lender

Minimum net monthly income of Rs. 25,000 (subject to change)

ICICI Bank Platinum Chip Credit Card

23 years and above

Should be a resident of India

As specified by the lender

As specified by the lender

HHSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

18 to 65 years

Current city of residence must be Chennai, Bangalore Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida, or Pune

As specified by the lender

Minimum annual income of INR4,00,000 per annum for salaried individuals

IIDFC First Wealth CCredit Card

21 years and above

Should be a resident of India.

As specified by the lender

Minimum annual income of Rs. 25,000

Documents Required For Lifetime Free Credit Cards

  • Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card/PAN card/Ration Card/Voter ID card
  • Residence Proof: Passport/Driver’s Licence/Electricity or Telephone bill/Form 60
  • Income Proof: Salary slips/2 years ITR/Bank statement
  • A copy of the front of your credit card and your latest credit card statement (If you have other credit cards).

Advantages And Characteristics Of No Annual Fee Credit Cards

  • No Annual Fee: The card does not require any annual fee for maintenance. Thus, it is highly economical for those who want to save on these yearly charges.
  • Credit Building: No annual fee credit cards can be used for building credit. You don’t actually incur extra costs in the process of building a credit history.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Many annual fee credit cards don’t charge extra fees on transactions made overseas. This can be extremely beneficial for international travel or for making online purchases through foreign currency.
  • Security Features: Typically credit cards come with features to safeguard the user such as protection against fraud, zero liability for fraudulent transactions, and purchase protection.
  • Free Credit Score: Some no annual fee cards help you check your credit score and track your credit health
  • Cashback and Discounts: Many cards will give you cashback rewards or discounts on specific categories such as groceries, dining, gas, or online shopping.
  • Additional Warranty: These cards may offer extended warranty protection.
  • Easily Redeemable: Rewards accrued on these no-annual-fee cards have flexible redemption options. You can decide how to use these rewards.
  • Digital Tools: Many no annual fee cards offer online account management tools, mobile apps, and notifications that help you keep track your spends and manage your account with ease.
  • Ensures savings on fuel transactions with 1.00% fuel surcharge waiver.
  • Welcome Benefits: You can also enjoy welcome benefits such as bonus reward points, OTT subscriptions, vouchers, and many others.
  • Simple Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility criteria are simple and this ensures quick approval of the application.

How To Apply For Lifetime Free Credit Cards

You can apply for lifetime free credit cards through CreditMantri (If the card is available) or through the lender’s official website.

1) Through CreditMantri

  • Go to the card’s page
  • Click on ‘CHECK ELIGIBILITY’
  • Enter details like Email ID, Mobile Number, Residence city, Employment type, Residence Pincode
  • Click on “Submit”
  • Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number.
  • Proceed with the rest of the application and you will be done in a few minutes.

2) Through The Lender’s Official Website: Follow the instructions specified on the lender’s website and apply for the credit card

FAQs On No Annual Fee Credit Cards:

1. What are some of the best lifetime free credit cards in India 2024?

Some of the best lifetime free credit cards are, IDFC First Select Credit Card, IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card, Dhanlaxmi Bank Platinum Credit Card, Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card, ICICI Platinum Chip Credit Card, and Aspire Platinum Credit Card (IDBI Bank)

2. What will happen if I don’t use my lifetime free credit card for long?

If you are not using your credit card for a long time, your credit card will get deactivated. Deactivation will have a negative impact and may lead to an increase in credit utilization ratio, a dip in credit score, expiry of reward points, and loss of other benefits as well.

3. Are lifetime free credit cards really free?

A lifetime free credit card comes with zero annual fees and joining fees. They may charge for some extra services like receiving a hard copy of the itemized bill, etc. There are also lifetime free credit cards which offer an annual fee waiver on reaching milestone spends.

4. Are there any other hidden charges in lifetime free credit cards?

No, there are no hidden charges when you use a lifetime free credit card.

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