Best ICICI Lifetime Free Credit Cards in 2025

Synopsis- This article discusses the best Lifetime Free credit cards, consumer products offered by ICICI Bank, with their features, eligibility, and recommendations on who should apply for these cards. It provides information to help you decide what no-fee credit card will be best for you, whether that be for online shopping, fuel, or as a first credit card.

Credit cards have become a quickly preferred payment method in India, especially with the younger, more professional, and first-time users. With financial literacy continuing to grow, many consumers are now choosers of products that are value-driven and will provide some sort of added benefit without added costs. There is now a big demand for Lifetime Free (LTF) credit cards that have no joining fees or annual fees. ICICI Bank, a leading private lender, has had success offering a wide range of LTF credit cards that cater to online shoppers, fuel consumers, and those looking to apply for their first card. This article outlines the best options.

Best Lifetime Free ICICI Credit Cards

1. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

• Most Preferred by: Online shoppers, primarily Amazon.com customers. Widely acknowledged as ICICI Bank’s best LTF credit card.
• Fee Structure:
  • Completely Lifetime Free
  • No joining/annual renewal fee
  • No fee for additional cardholders
• Rewards:
  • 5% cashback on Amazon, for Prime users and 3% cashback on Amazon for users who are not Prime users
  • 2% cashback on 100+ participating Amazon Pay partner merchants (Swiggy, BookMyShow, Yatra, etc.)
  • 1% cashback on all other spend (including utilities, insurance, etc.)
  • Cashback is auto credited to the Amazon Pay wallet every billing cycle. No need to track the points!
• Other Features
  • No caps on rewards, and no redemption process; it’s cashback.
  • Fuel surcharge: 1% waiver at HPCL (Visa) or across networks, depending on card type. 
  • Globally accepted through Visa.
  • Contactless payments are available.
• Ideal For
  • Amazon loyalists, Digital-first users or someone looking for high rewards, with simplicity of use in e-commerce.
• Popularity
  • Very highly rated on credit card review sites and financial blogs.
  • Consistently recommended as the best LTF cashback card in India.

2. ICICI Bank Platinum Chip Credit Card

• Most Suitable For: Newer credit card users, first-time users, people who primarily shop offline. Known for ease of use, simplicity, and simply the bare essentials
• Fee Structure:
  • Lifetime free
  • No joining or renewal fee to worry about
• Rewards
  • You will earn 2 PAYBACK points for every ₹100 spent in retail (exclusions include fuel, rent, government, and education payments)
  • You can redeem PAYBACK points for vouchers or products through PAYBACK’s catalogue
• Other Features
  • Discounts on dining (up to 15%) via the ICICI Culinary Treats program
  • 1% waiver on fuel surcharge at HPCL petrol stations, up to ₹4,000
  • Chip and Contactless usage (tap to pay) as well as secure transactions – you can also pay without pre-funding the card
  • Global acceptance with either Visa or Mastercard
• Best Suited for:
  • First-time credit card holders
  • Building a credit record
• Offline spenders
  • People looking for the essentials, no-frills, will find this card fits the bill

Also read: Kotak Mahindra Cancels Myntra Credit Card — Here’s What Shoppers Need to Know Before July 10

3. ICICI Instant Platinum Credit Card 

• Most Suited For: Students, stay-at-home parents, and those with no credit history. Known for simple approval without income documentation
• Fee Structure
  • Lifetime Free
  • There are no joining or annual fees
  • It is secured by Fixed Deposit (FD) – Minimum is ₹50,000 FD with 180 days of tenure (per ICICI Bank’s terms as of current date)
• Eligibility:
  • No income proof is required
  • The applicant must have a Fixed Deposit with ICICI Bank
• Rewards:
  • 2 PAYBACK points for every ₹100 spent (does not include fuel and certain other categories)
  • Can be redeemed through PAYBACK only
• Other Features
  • Establishes credit – perfect for those new to credit
  • Accepted globally on the Visa network
  • Full control via ICICI Net Banking and iMobile app
  • Basic features include dining offers and EMI conversion
• Best for:
  • Students with savings, stay-at-home parents, individuals without proof of income or salary
  • People who want to start their credit journey with a very low level of risk from credit risk.

4. ICICI HPCL Coral Credit Card

• Targeted for: Frequent fuel spenders and daily commuters. Popular in Tier 1/2 cities when it comes to fuel savings 
• Fee Structure:
  • Can be Lifetime Free, only: 
• When issued against a Fixed Deposit 
  • To select pre-approved / salaried users via ICICI Bank or iMobile offers 
  • Otherwise, it carries an annual fee (e.g., 199 – 500) if annual spends are ₹50,000. waivers 
• Rewards:
  • 2.5% cashback or points when spent on fuel & HPCL petrol stations 
  • It waives a 1% surcharge on fuel transactions up to Rs. 4,000 (Valid for transactions of ₹500)
  • 1 PAYBACK point for every ₹100 spent if it isn’t in fuel 
• Other Features:
  • BOGO (Buy One Get One) at Movie Tickets. 25% off up to ₹100, twice a month (BookMyShow) 
  • Offers on dining under Culinary Treats 
  • Complimentary domestic lounge access (2 per quarter if eligible spend) 
  • Easy EMI conversion and global usage (Visa) 
• Best For:
  • Users of vehicles, for driving daily, or leisure-driving, commuting over distances regularly.
  • People spending on petrol of ₹3,000+ a month
  • Those looking for both lifestyle + fuel benefits

5. ICICI Bank Alumni Credit Card

• Ideal for: Alumni of elite ICICI partner institutions (e.g. IITs, IIMs)
• Limited availability, but completely free and full of benefits if you qualify
• Fee structure:
  • Clearly Lifetime Free
  • No joining or renewal fees
• Eligibility:
  • Only if you are an alumnus of an institution partnering with ICICI Bank
  • You may receive a personalised invite or find this on alumni portals
• Benefits:
  • Standard ICICI credit card benefits
  • PAYBACK rewards
  • Dining/movies standard offers
  • Fuel surcharge waiver
  • Event invites, networking deals, education loan benefits, etc.
• Best For:
  • Alumni of elite institutions
  • Users who want an elevated credit card with no fee

Comparison Table

Key Benefits Across All ICICI LTF Cards 

• 15% off dining at 2500+ locations through the Culinary Treats Program
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver, generally for HPCL fuel pumps
• Worldwide acceptance through Visa, MasterCard, and RuPay
• Contactless payments and chip technologies
• Free add-on cards for family members
• Easy conversion options to EMI
• UPI linking on RuPay variants for QR-based payments.

Conclusion

ICICI Bank offers a very good selection of Lifetime Free credit cards to meet the needs of different spenders, online shopping, fuel or if you want to build up your credit. For example, the Amazon Pay ICICI Card is perfect for digital use. ICICI’s Platinum Chip and Instant Platinum credit cards are perfect for entry-level cards: zero annual fee.

Written by N G Sai Rohith