Top 10 Credit Cards in India for 2025 — Expert Comparison & Features
1 SBI Cashback Credit Card
Annual Fee: ₹999 (waived on ₹2L annual spend)
Benefits: 5% cashback on online purchases, 1% on others
Best For: Regular online shoppers seeking direct cashback
2 HSBC Live+ Credit Card
Annual Fee: ₹999 (waived on ₹2L annual spend)
Benefits: 10% cashback on groceries, food delivery & dining; 1.5% on all retail spends
Best For: High-spend categories like groceries and dining
3 HDFC Regalia Gold
Annual Fee: ₹2,500 + taxes
Benefits: 12 complimentary lounge visits, accelerated portal rewards, Swiggy One & MMT Gold subscriptions
Best For: Travel and premium lifestyle rewards
4 Axis Bank SELECT
Annual Fee: ₹3,000 + taxes
Benefits: Double rewards on grocery, dining, and movies; domestic lounge access
Best For: Balanced lifestyle benefits across everyday categories
5 SBI Prime
Annual Fee: ₹2,999 + GST
Benefits: Reward points on utilities, shopping, and milestone vouchers up to ₹3,000
Best For: Family-oriented and utility-heavy spenders
6 Axis Atlas Credit Card
Annual Fee: ₹5,000
Benefits: 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 spent on travel; 30 complimentary lounge visits
Best For: Frequent flyers and travel enthusiasts
7 Kotak Solitaire Credit Card
Annual Fee: Premium (waived on usage)
Benefits: Unlimited lounge access for cardholders and guests; Air India mile conversion
Best For: Luxury travelers with high domestic and international travel frequency
8 HDFC Infinia / Diners Club Black
Annual Fee: ₹10,000 – ₹12,500
Benefits: Unlimited lounge access worldwide, 10x SmartBuy rewards, low forex markup, golf benefits
Best For: High-net-worth individuals and luxury spenders
9 Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card
Annual Fee: ₹0 (Lifetime Free)
Benefits: 5% cashback on Amazon for Prime users, 2% at partner merchants
Best For: E-commerce shoppers and budget-conscious users
10 Kotak Biz Business Credit Card
Annual Fee: ₹499 + GST
Benefits: 4× rewards on travel, hotels, marketing, and business expenses
Best For: Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and SMEs
📊 Credit Card Comparison Table
| # | Card | Fee | Top Benefits | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SBI Cashback | ₹999 | Flat 5% online cashback | Online shopping |
| 2 | HSBC Live+ | ₹999 | 10% grocery/dining, 1.5% retail | Daily expenses |
| 3 | HDFC Regalia Gold | ₹2,500 | Travel & lifestyle perks | Frequent flyers |
| 4 | Axis SELECT | ₹3,000 | 2× rewards + lounges | Lifestyle users |
| 5 | SBI Prime | ₹2,999 | Milestone rewards | Household spenders |
| 6 | Axis Atlas | ₹5,000 | Miles + 30 lounges | Travelers |
| 7 | Kotak Solitaire | Premium | Unlimited lounges, Air India miles | Luxury travel |
| 8 | HDFC Infinia / Black | ₹10K+ | Elite rewards + perks | High spenders |
| 9 | Amazon Pay ICICI | ₹0 | 5% Amazon cashback | E-shoppers |
| 10 | Kotak Biz | ₹499 | 4× on biz expenses | Business owners |
💡 Expert Tips Before Applying
- 💳 Pick a card based on where you spend most: groceries, online shopping, travel, etc.
- 📈 Annual fee waiver options can make premium cards affordable—check eligibility.
- 🌐 Premium cards (Infinia, Solitaire) are best for users who travel or spend big.
- 🆓 Lifetime-free cards like Amazon ICICI are good as secondary cards for backup.
- 📅 Keep track of recent policy updates—many cards revised benefits in 2025.
