There are over 100 million credit cards in India, with new users adding every month, the credit industry is booming. Indians are now able to get credit according to their needs and financial situation, while some NBFCs are even ready to offer unique credit facilities to their customers. Out of the hundreds of Banks and NBFC credit cards, we are going to select and discuss 10 of the most preferred credit cards in India.
1. HDFC Regalia
One of the most preferred credit cards in India offers several lucrative benefits across purchases in travel, dining, international spends, and even flight tickets using SmartBuy. An HDFC Regalia package includes:
- Reward Earning: 4 reward points for every Rs 150 spent (1.33% returns), with bonus points at milestones, i.e., 10,000 points at Rs 5 L and an additional 5,000 at Rs 8 L annual spends.
- Airport Lounge Access: Includes 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits (2 per quarter, conditional on Rs 1 L quarterly spend) and 6 international Priority Pass visits annually for primary and add-on cardholders.
- Travel Insurance & Low Forex Mark-up: Offers strong travel coverage and just a 2% foreign currency markup.
- Users’ Review: The card has always given a great experience to its users. Only some raised questions on the lounge access criteria, but now there is a premium version of the regalia credit card available too, which is specifically designed for lounge access and other related benefits.
- If you are an individual looking for a credit card with benefits in travel and you also happen to spend a lot, then HDFC Regalia is your go-to option.
2. SBI Cashback
If you are an individual who primarily shops online and are looking for a credit card that would benefit you the most in those shopping, then SBI cashback credit card should be your top choice. This card provides you with-
- 5% cashback on major e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Tata CLiQ).
- 1% cashback on offline spends.
- Automatic credit within days of the statement cycle
- Annual fee of Rs999 (waived on total annual spends of Rs2 L)
- It is always regarded as the best credit card available for online shopping across various portals.
3. ICICI Amazon Pay
A card specifically designed for Amazon users would be of great use if most of your purchases are made from the Amazon portal. A favourite among Amazon users:
- 5% cashback for Prime members, 3% for non-Prime, on Amazon in.
- 2% cashback on 100+ Amazon Pay partners.
- 1% cashback on all other spends, with no annual fees
4. Axis Bank Ace
If you are looking for a more practical card that provides basic deals in most of the shopping portals and means, then this would be the right fit for you. Balances both online and offline needs:
- 5% cashback on Google Pay bill payments.
- 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola.
- 1.5% cashback on all other transactions.
- 4 domestic lounge visits per year and a fuel surcharge waiver
- Annual fee of Rs499 (waived with Rs2 L annual spend)
5. HDFC Regalia Gold
As mentioned before, this card is for you if you are seeking elevated rewards and lounge flexibility compared to its other variant:
- Retains Regalia’s core benefits- travel insurance, 2% forex markup.
- Additionally, it also provides lounge passes with 12 domestic + 6 international visits, and unlike regalia, there is no spend requirement.
- Adds accelerated rewards on popular brands: Nykaa, Myntra, Marks & Spencer, Reliance Digital
Also read: Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card Users Get 10% Extra Off on Birthdays – Do You Have One?
6. HDFC Diners Club Black
With the mentioned below benefits, it is obvious that this card is most beneficial to you if are looking for luxury travel and leisure:
- 5 reward points per ₹150 spent.
- Unlimited lounge access (domestic + international).
- Additional perks such as golf access, Marriott, Prime, and Zomato Pro memberships
- Annual fee ₹10,000, waived with ₹5 L annual spend
7. SBI Card Elite
If you are an individual who is looking to upgrade your lifestyle, this credit card is widely accepted by premium users. Tailored for high spenders:
- 5 reward points per ₹100 on dining, hotels, and foreign transactions.
- Unlimited domestic + 6 international lounge visits.
- Comprehensive insurance and milestone benefits
- Annual fee ₹4,999 (waived with ₹10 L annual spend)
8. American Express Platinum Travel
Mostly known by its abbreviation- AMEX, this card will get you unparalleled travel perks, even though it is expensive compared to its peers, it is one of the most sought-after cards for premium users. For world travellers:
- Airlines & hotel-centric rewards.
- Complimentary international lounge access and travel vouchers ~ ₹20,000/year
- Premium concierge and insurance coverage.
9. HSBC Live+
If you are looking for a credit card that will help you save on your daily expenses, then this is the one for you. For daily spenders, this is the right choice, as this provides you with-
- 10% cashback on dining, grocery, and food delivery.
- 1.5% on all other transactions, and 4 free domestic lounges annually
- Annual fee ₹999 (waived on ₹2 L annual spend).
10. IndusInd Tiger — Lifetime-Free Premium
This credit card is Ideal for you if you are seeking premium travel perks without annual charges. It is a rare premium and a no-fee option credit card-
- 8 domestics + 2 international lounge visits per year.
- Complimentary golf access and free movie tickets annually.
- No annual fee—truly lifetime-free.
Tips to Choose the Right card for you
- Annual Fee Waivers: Make sure there exist annual waivers, and if so, what is the limit for the same?
- Lounge Access Criteria: Most of the cards provide complimentary access to domestic lounges up to some number of times a quarter. But make sure you are well aware of those terms and conditions.
- Foreign Currency Mark-up: Foreign exchange mark-up should always be in the bracket 1.5% to 2%.
- Rewards and Their Redemption: Make sure the card provides basic and usable rewards according to your preference, and also make sure the redemption process is simple and legit.
Conclusion
It is always important to realise your financial goal and requirements and then select a credit card, and make sure that it aligns with your circumstances and goals. Additionally, make sure you are aware of all the charges and any new updates that are planned to be included in the card. To help you sum it up, let’s go through all the different cards in a gist.
- Frequent travellers- HDFC Regalia / Regalia Gold or premium options like Diners Club Black or American Express Platinum.
- E-commerce enthusiasts- SBI Cashback or ICICI Amazon Pay.
- Everyday savings- Axis Ace or HSBC Live+.
- Luxury card- SBI Elite
- Luxury with no fee- IndusInd Tiger surprisingly stands out.
Written by Adithya Menon
The post India’s Most Preferred Credit Cards of 2025 – Is Yours on the List? appeared first on Trade Brains.