Top 15 Most Preferred Credit Cards in India for Every Lifestyle in 2025 – Which One Should You Get?

Synopsis– Choosing the right credit card in India is a smart financial move that can significantly enhance your spending power and lifestyle. Offering can be a variety of different cards, on one hand, to traveling, on the other hand, to powerful ones in terms of cashback credit, a consumer should realize his or her spending patterns in order to start getting more. The information in this article summarises the feature of the best credit cards in India in categories that will enable you to make an informed choice.

The following questions are to be considered before getting into particular card: Where are you spending it most? Which benefits are the most important to you (e.g. access to lounge, cashback, low forex rates)? High spender or rather frugal? Are you a full payment bill payer? With your answers you will be directed to the right one.

Table of Contents

Top Picks Across Categories

1. Most Suitable to Travellers

HDFC Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition: It is a high-end option that one can avail of unlimited lounge access (international and domestic), have a very low rate of 2 percent forex markup, and accrue high reward points on Smart Buy. This suits the high spending business travellers.
Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card: It provides good EDGE reward points and lounge unlimited access to international and domestic countries and flexible currency transfer partners. A good choice even with recent changes even to serious travellers.
American Express platinum travel credit card: A travel-oriented card with milestone rewards such as Taj vouchers and purchase of Membership Rewards points, as well as free entries to local lounges.
SBI Card ELITE: Well-rounded card that allows you to avail free movie tickets, 5X reward points in the category of dining/ departmental stores/groceries and a Priority Pass which lets you access lounges.

2. Best for Cashback & Everyday Savings

Cashback SBI Card: Offers a straightforward 5% cashback on all online spends (up to a cap), making it excellent for digital transactions.
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card: Maximizes savings on utility bill payments (5% via Google Pay) and popular apps like Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola (4%).
HDFC Millennia Credit Card: Popular for 5% cashback on major online merchants (Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, etc.) and milestone gift vouchers.
Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card: A must-have for Amazon loyalists, providing 5% cashback for Prime members on Amazon, with no annual fee and no cashback cap.

3. Best for Lifestyle & Premium Perks

ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card: An invite-only card with a 3% value-back, unlimited lounge access, complimentary Taj Epicure membership, and golf privileges.
YES Private Credit Card: Designed for high-net-worth individuals, offering a low 0.5% forex markup, high reward points on international spending, and B1G1 movie tickets.
American Express Platinum Charge Card: A symbol of luxury, offering unlimited global lounge access, complimentary hotel memberships, and personalized concierge services for a high annual fee.

4. Best for Online Shopping & E-commerce

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card: Provides 5% cashback on Flipkart and Myntra, and 4% on preferred partners like Swiggy and Uber.
Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card: Ideal for frequent food delivery, offering 10% cashback on Swiggy and 5% on other online spends, plus a Swiggy One membership.

5. Best Lifetime Free / Entry-Level Cards

IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card: A lifetime free card, unlimited non-expiring reward points, and complimentary domestic lounge access (spend-based).
OneCard: A sleek, app-controlled metal card that’s lifetime free, offering 5X rewards on your top two spending categories and a low 1% forex markup.

Also read: Top 4 Credit Cards for Individuals Earning ₹50K–₹1 Lakh a Month; Do You Own One?

Major Factors to Take into Account

Annual Fees / Benefits: Is the value you get more than you are paying?
Reward Rate & Redemption Value: Learn the way you acquire your points and their value when you redeem them.
Foreign Exchange Markup: This is essential since foreign travelers will be spared of exorbitant charges.
Lounge Access: See what kind they are, and how many visits, policies about guests.
Eligibility and Credit Limit: Make sure that you qualify to the bank.

Conclusion

There is no choice of a best credit card, it is personal. Having analyzed your needs and evaluated the offers, you will be able to pick the card that best fits your lifestyle and, at the same time, will put you on the right track to fulfilling your financial objectives.