Best Entry-Level Credit Cards in India 2024

There is no doubt that credit cards are loaded with numerous benefits like rewards, cashback, lounge access, exclusive discount and more. Most of the cafrds that offer decent benefits come with a high joining fee and are offered to people who have a good credit score. However, some cards are designed for people who have just started their credit journey.

If you are looking for a card that offers good value at a reasonable fee, you can apply for an entry-level credit card. These cards are best suited for beginners who have just started their professional journey and would like to build a good credit score and avail benefits at the same time. The minimum income requirement on these cards usually ranges from 25,000 to 35,000 per month. Here we have listed the top credit cards for beginners in India offering varied benefits to the users.

Best Entry Level Credit Cards in India December 2024

Cashback SBI Card

4_/5

Joining fee: ₹999

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹999

5% cashback on all online spends

1% cashback across all offline spends

Cashback

Online Shopping

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Product Details

• 5% cashback across all online spends with no merchant restriction
• 1% cashback across all offline spends
• Earn cashback of up to Rs. 5,000 per month
• Renewal fee reversed on spending at least Rs. 2 lakh in a year
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver of up to Rs. 100 per month

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Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

4_/5

Joining fee: ₹499

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹499

5% cashback on utility bill payments and recharges via Google Pay

4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola

Shopping

Cashback

Online Shopping

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Product Details

• 1.5% cashback on other offline & online spends
• 4 domestic lounge access per year on spending Rs. 50,000 or more in the previous quarter
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all fuel stations on transactions between Rs. 400 to Rs. 4,000

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Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

3.5_/5

Joining fee: ₹0

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹0

Up to 5% cashback on Amazon purchases

1% cashback across all offline spends

Co-branded

Cashback

Online Shopping

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Product Details

• 5% cashback on Amazon spends for Prime members
• 3% cashback on Amazon spends for Non-prime members
• 2% cashback on spends at Amazon Pay partner merchants
• 1% cashback on other spends
• 1% waiver on fuel surcharge across all petrol pumps in India

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Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

3.5_/5

Joining fee: ₹500

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹500

5% cashback on transactions at Flipkart and Cleartrip

4% cashback on partner merchants, like Swiggy, PVR, Uber, etc.

Co-branded

Cashback

Online Shopping

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Product Details

• 1% cashback across other spends
• 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits in a year on spending at least Rs. 50,000 in a year
• Activation benefits worth Rs. 600 from Flipkart and Swiggy
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000

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HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card

3.5_/5

Joining fee: ₹500

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹500

10X CashPoints on Flipkart, Amazon, Swiggy, Reliance Smart SuperStore & BigBasket

5X CashPoints on EMI transactions at select merchants

Shopping

Reward Points

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Product Details

• 2 CashPoints per Rs. 150 spent on other categories
• 500 CashPoints as welcome benefit after the payment of joining fee
• Gift vouchers worth up to Rs. 2,000 in a year as milestone benefits

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Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

3.5_/5

Joining fee: ₹350

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹350

20% discount on domestic & international hotel bookings via EaseMyTrip

10% discount on domestic & international flight bookings via EaseMyTrip

Travel

Co-branded

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Product Details

• Save up to Rs. 5,000 on domestic hotel bookings and Rs. 10,000 on international hotel bookings via EaseMyTrip
• Save up to Rs. 1,000 on domestic flight bookings and Rs. 5,000 on international flight bookings via EaseMyTrip
• Flat Rs. 125 off on bus ticket bookings via EaseMyTrip
• 10 reward points per Rs. 100 spent at standalone airline/hotel websites, mobile apps or outlets
• 1 complimentary domestic lounge visit per quarter & 2 complimentary international lounge visits per year

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Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card

3.5_/5

Joining fee: ₹500

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹500

25% cashback on payment for Airtel Mobile, DTH, etc. via Airtel Thanks App

10% cashback on utility bill payment via Airtel Thanks App

Co-branded

Cashback

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Product Details

• 10% cashback on utility bill payments via Airtel Thanks app
• 10% cashback on spends at Zomato, Swiggy and BigBasket
• Unlimited 1% cashback on other spends
• 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every year

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PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card

3.5_/5

Joining fee: ₹0

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹499

Free movie tickets worth Rs. 300 each every month

Flat 20% off on food & beverages at PVR

Movies

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Product Details

• Flat 5% off on movie tickets at PVR INOX theatre, app & website
• Flat 20% on food and beverages at PVR INOX theatre, app & website
• Complimentary access to premium PVR INOX in-cinema lounges
• 1 free PVR INOX movie ticket worth Rs. 300 each on every Rs. 10,000 spent in a cycle

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SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card

3_/5

Joining fee: ₹499

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹499

10X reward points on top online brands - BookMyShow, Swiggy, Myntra, etc.

5X reward points on other online spends

Reward Points

Online Shopping

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Product Details

• 1 reward point for every Rs. 100 spent on other categories
• Amazon India gift card worth Rs. 500 on joining fee payment
• Cleartrip/ Yatra e-voucher of Rs. 2,000 each on reaching annual spending milestones of Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 2 lakh
• Annual fee waived on reaching Rs. 1 lakh annual spends
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel spends between Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,000

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HDFC Bank Times Credit Card

3_/5

Joining fee: ₹500

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹500

2.5X reward points on dining spends

Complimentary Times Prime Membership

Dining

Movies

Reward Points

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Product Details

• Complimentary annual Times Prime Membership & vouchers worth Rs. 5,000 at the time of joining
• 25% discount on movie tickets booked via BookMyShow
• Up to 5% cashback on utility bills and shopping spends
• Up to 10% discount on dining at select restaurants via EazyDiner
• Up to 20% discount on select online & offline spends

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IndianOil Axis Bank Credit Card

3_/5

Joining fee: ₹500

Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹500

Save up to 5% on IOCL fuel spends

1% back as 5 EDGE reward points per Rs. 100 spent on online shopping

Co-branded

Fuel

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Product Details

• 4% back as 20 EDGE reward points per Rs. 100 spent on IOCL fuel
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver of up to Rs. 50 per month on fuel spends of Rs. 400 to Rs. 4,000
• 1 EDGE reward point per Rs. 100 spent on other spends, 1 EDGE reward point = Rs. 0.20
• 100% cashback, up to Rs. 250, as EDGE rewards on the 1st fuel spend made within the 1st 30 days
• Annual fee waived off on Rs. 3.5 lakh annual spends and up to 15% off on dining via EazyDiner

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Popular Credit Cards in India | Check Eligibility for Top Credit Cards

Cashback SBI Card: Good cashback across all online spends

Annual Fee: Rs. 999

Cashback SBI Card is another credit card to opt for if you are looking for great cashback options on your credit card transactions. The card does not require higher-income eligibility yet provides good cashback features such as 5% cashback on online spends. Apart from that, you can earn 1% cashback on other expenses. The cashback earned on this card is auto-credited to your SBI Card account.

Key Features of Cashback SBI Card:

• 5% cashback on all online spends
• 1% flat cashback on all offline transactions
• 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits in a year, capped at 1 visit per quarter
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India on transactions between Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,000
• Annual fee reversal on spending Rs. 2 lakh in a year

Check Eligibility for Top Credit Cards | Read more about Cashback SBI Card

Axis ACE Credit Card: Great Value Back on All Spends; Low on Travel Benefits

Annual Fee: Rs. 499

Axis Ace is one of the best entry-level credit cards in the market offering one of the highest cashback rate of 1.5% on almost all transactions. Its 5% uncapped cashback on all utility bill payments on Google Pay is also a generous offer. So, if you pay electricity bill of Rs. 5,000, you get a cashback of Rs. 250. Most of us pay huge amounts in utility bills and getting such a generous cashback on these essential payments is truly a good deal. The two main reasons why it is on top of our list is its generous rate and a simple cashback model. Comparing with other cashback cards like HDFC Millennia and HSBC Cashback, the earnings are much higher with Axis Ace Credit Card.

Key Features of Axis Ace Credit Card:

• 5% cashback on utility bill payments like electricity, gas and internet on Google Pay
• 4% cashback on Zomato, Swiggy and Ola
• 1.5% cashback on all other spends
• 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits in a year on spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous 3 months
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000 (max. 500 waiver in a month)

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards |Read More about Axis Ace Credit Card

Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card: Good for Amazon Loyalists, Low Default Cashback Rate

Annual Fee: Nil

Amazon Pay ICICI card was among the first cards launched with a major e-commerce brand. Though the card’s universal cashback rate is comparatively low at just 1%, it still offers good value back for Amazon Loyalists, especially PRIME Customers. Since Amazon Pay has 100+ merchants listed on it, the 2% cashback is also quite a decent deal. However, the cashback is not credited to your Amazon Pay Balance and not to your card account restricting the usage only through the platform.

Key Features of Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card:

• 5% cashback on Amazon purchases for PRIME customers
• 3% cashback on Amazon purchases for Non-PRIME customers
• 2% cashback on 100+ partner merchants when using Amazon Pay as payment method and using this card
• 1% cashback on all other expenses
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card: Good Cashback on Shopping & Travel (Only at Flipkart and its Partner Merchants)

Annual Fee: Rs. 500

One of the key highlights of this Axis Bank credit card is that it substantially rewards you for your shopping and travel expenses offering 5% cashback on Flipkart and Cleartrip, along with 4% cashback on preferred merchants (Cult.fit, Swiggy, PVR and Uber). Though limited to certain platforms, this is a substantial cashback rate for an entry-level card, not common among cards in this fee range. Also, since Flipkart does not have a wallet system like Amazon, the cashback is directly credited to your card account, making the cashback model simpler.

Key Features of Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card:

• Welcome benefit worth Rs. 600 in the form of coupons
• 5% cashback on Flipkart and Cleartrip
• 4% cashback on preferred merchants (Cult.fit, Swiggy, PVR and Uber)
• 1% cashback across all other categories
• 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits in a year on spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous 3 months
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000 (Max. Rs. 400 waiver in a month)

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

HSBC Cashback Credit Card: Cashback on all transactions; Zero joining fee

Annual Fee: Rs. 750

HSBC Cashback Credit Card is one of the best entry level credit cards that offer decent cashback on your transactions. The card enables contactless payments and cashback on all payments, at a Nil joining fee. Besides basic benefits, the additional offers on brands like Amazon, Myntra, BookMyShow and more, makes this card a great option to shop and save.

Key Features of  HSBC Cashback Credit Card:

• Amazon gift voucher worth Rs. 1,000 on spending Rs. 10,000 or more within the first 30 days of card issuance
• 10% cashback on dining, grocery and food delivery spends
• 1.5% cashback on all other spends
• 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits in a year (Max. 1 in a quarter)

Check Eligibility for Top Credit Cards | Read more about HSBC Cashback Credit Card

HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card: High Reward Points

Annual Fee: Rs. 500

HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card is a go-to card if you are keen on saving more with rewards. The card comes with a benefit of 500 cash points, as a welcome benefit. The card prompts easy contactless payments, secure and convenient payments for outlets. Further, you get extra reward points for making online purchases at popular brands.

Key Features of HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card:

• 10X CashPoints on Flipkart, Amazon, Swiggy, Reliance Smart SuperStore & BigBasket
• 5X CashPoints on EMI spend at merchant locations
• 2 CashPoints per Rs. 150 spent on other categories
• 500 CashPoints on payment of joining and renewal fee
• 500 gift voucher on reaching quarterly spends of Rs. 50,000 or more
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on a minimum transaction of Rs. 400 and a maximum transaction of Rs. 5,000

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card: Instant Discount on Travel Bookings

Annual Fee: Rs. 350

Standard Chartered Credit Card allows cardholders to save up to 20% on travel bookings through EaseMyTrip. Besides instant discount, users can also earn reward points on travel spends other than EaseMyTrip and redeem them for future travel bookings.

Key Features of Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card:

• 20% discount on domestic & international hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
• 10% discount on domestic & international flight bookings at EaseMyTrip
• 10 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent at standalone airline/hotel websites, mobile apps or outlets, except any travel aggregators
• 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on other categories
• 1 complimentary domestic lounge visit per quarter
• 2 complimentary international lounge visits per year

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Airtel Axis Credit Card: Best for Utility Bill Payments

Annual Fee: Rs. 500

Airtel Axis Credit Card is a co-branded credit card designed to offer benefits on utility bill payments, especially for Airtel users. You can save up to 25% on Airtel bill payments and 10% on other utility bill payments. The card also offers complimentary lounge access as milestone benefits and welcome benefits worth the joining fee.

Key Features of Airtel Axis Credit Card:

• 25% cashback on Airtel Mobile, broadband, WiFi and DTH bill payments through the Airtel Thanks app
• 10% cashback on utility bill payments made through the Airtel Thanks app
• 10% cashback on transactions at Swiggy, Zomato and BigBasket
• 1% cashback on all other spends
• Amazon e-voucher worth Rs. 500 on the first spend made within 30 days of card issuance
• 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits every year, 1 per quarter on spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous 3 month

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about Airtel Axis Credit Card

PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card: Instant Discount on PVR Movie Tickets

Annual Fee: Rs. 499

PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card is designed for movie lovers looking for an option to save on their spends at movies along with food and beverages. With this card, users can earn free movie tickets as milestone benefits and complimentary access to premium in-cinema lounges.

Key Features of PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card:

• Flat 5% off on PVR movie tickets
• Flat 20% off on food and beverages at PVR theatres
• Complimentary access to premium PVR INOX in-cinema lounges
• 1 free PVR INOX movie ticket worth Rs. 300 each on every Rs. 10,000 spent during a billing cycle

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card

SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card: Good for Online Shoppers; Extra Rewards with Partner Websites

Annual Fee: Rs. 499
Minimum Income: Rs. 20,000 p.m.

The rewards programme of SBI SimplyCLICK is designed around online purchases with extra benefits on shopping with their exclusive partner brands. Though its basic reward rate of 1% stands lower than the MoneyBack card, 5% rewards across all online shopping is clearly a better deal to count it as one of the best shopping credit cards in India. With exclusive partners including Amazon / BookMyShow / Cleartrip / Lenskart / Netmeds, you will get 10% rewards.

Key Features of SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card:

• 5X reward points on all online shopping
• 10X reward points on online partners like BookMyShow, Cleartrip, Apollo24x7, Swiggy, Dominos, Netmeds, Myntra and Yatra
• 1 reward point for every Rs. 100 spent on the card
• E-voucher worth Rs. 2,000 each on reaching annual spends of Rs. 1 Lakh and Rs. 2 Lakh

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card

HDFC Bank Times Credit Card: Best Suited for Dining and Movies

Annual Fee: Rs. 500

HDFC Bank Times Credit Card offers value back through reward points. Cardholders can earn 2.5X rewards on dining purchases along with up to 25% discount on movie tickets through BookMyShow. Besides this, users can also avail benefits on utility bill payments, travel expenses, and shopping.

Key Features of HDFC Bank Times Credit Card::

• 2 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent
• 5 reward points on every Rs. 150 spent on dining on weekdays
• Complimentary annual Times Prime Membership & vouchers worth Rs. 5,000 at the time of joining
• 25% discount on movie tickets booked via BookMyShow
• Up to 5% cashback on utility bills/ shopping
• Up to 10% discount on dining at select restaurants via EazyDiner
• Up to 20% discount on select online & offline spends

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about HDFC Bank Times Credit Card

IndianOil Axis Credit Card: Good for Fuel Spends at IndianOil

Annual Fee: Rs. 500

IndianOil Axis Credit Card is a fuel credit card offering up to 4% value back on fuel spends at IndianOil outlets. The card offers value back in the form of reward points, which you can redeem to avail free fuel every year. Here are some of the key benefits of this credit card:

Key Features of IndianOil Axis Credit Card:

• EDGE reward points equivalent to the first fuel spend of up to Rs. 250 made within 30 days of card issuance
• 4% back as 20 EDGE reward points per Rs. 100 spent on fuel purchases of Rs. 400 to Rs. 4,000 at IOCL outlets in India
• 1% back as 5 EDGE reward points per Rs. 100 spent on online shopping worth Rs. 100 to Rs. 5,000
• 1 EDGE reward point per Rs. 100 on other spends
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver, up to Rs. 50 per month, on fuel spends of Rs. 400 to Rs. 4,000
• 15% off up to Rs. 500 on dining bills at select restaurants via EazyDiner
• 10% discount on booking movie tickets through BookMyShow app or website

Check Eligibility For Top Credit Cards | Read more about IndianOil Axis Credit Card