Best travel credit cards in India
Ranked for ₹15,000 a month on flights and hotels plus everyday spending, with points valued at what they fetch on flights and hotels. Lounge access and forex markup are shown for each card.
1. Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
₹12,500 a year + GST · about ₹11,404 a year after fees on this spending.
Worth it only for people who regularly put well over ₹1.5 lakh a month on one card and can transfer points to airlines. Lighter spenders will earn little more than an entry card after paying a steep fee.
2. Cashback SBI Card
₹999 a year + GST · about ₹9,960 a year after fees on this spending.
Still one of the simplest high-value cards for anyone who spends up to about ₹40,000 a month online, since 5% applies almost everywhere. Heavy spenders will hit the new ₹2,000 online cap quickly, and anyone wanting bill-payment rewards, lounges or travel perks should look elsewhere.
3. HSBC Live+ Credit Card
₹999 a year + GST · about ₹9,600 a year after fees on this spending.
One of the best everyday cashback cards if you spend roughly ₹10,000–12,000 a month on food, groceries, shopping and bills, because 10% back on that alone covers the fee many times over. If most of your spending is on Amazon or Flipkart, or abroad, look elsewhere.
4. Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card
Lifetime free · about ₹9,120 a year after fees on this spending.
A strong free card for anyone who travels, especially abroad, because it charges no forex markup and pays about 2% in travel coins on everyday spends. If you never book trips, the coins are hard to use, so a plain cashback card will suit you better.
5. Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card
₹500 a year + GST · about ₹5,160 a year after fees on this spending.
Useful for Airtel customers who also put ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month of regular spending on the card, which unlocks the bill cashback. If you only want it for bills, the April 2026 caps make it far less rewarding.
6. Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card
₹499 a year + GST · about ₹5,040 a year after fees on this spending.
A simple, cheap card if you want a flat 2% on everything you buy online without chasing partner brands. Heavy spenders will hit the ₹1,500-a-cycle total cap, and the ₹2,500 minimum before you can redeem can be annoying.
7. Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card
₹1,499 a year + GST · about ₹4,500 a year after fees on this spending.
A good all-rounder for people who already shop at Tata brands like BigBasket, Croma or Tata CLiQ, since 1.5% on everything else and a 2% forex markup are solid. Skip it if you never use the Tata Neu app, because NeuCoins are hard to use well outside it.