Leaderboards / Pure Metrics

Lowest Annual Fees

Cheapest cards to own, including lifetime free options. Ranked by annual fee, joining fee, and fee waiver options.

282 cards ranked | Updated January 2026

Key Ranking Factors

50% Annual Fee

Yearly cost

20% Joining Fee

First-time cost

20% Waiver

How to avoid fees

10% Rewards

Value despite low fee

🥇

HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition

 HDFC Bank
Lounge Access Premium ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

HDFC Regalia Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card

 ICICI Bank
Co-Branded Shopping ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

HDFC Millennia

 HDFC Bank
Youth ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

 Axis Bank
Lounge Access Premium ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Axis Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

HDFC Diners Club Privilege

 HDFC Bank
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Co-Branded Dining ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

SBI Card Elite

 SBI Cards
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on SBI Cards's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

HDFC MoneyBack Plus

 HDFC Bank
Entry Level ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

 ICICI Bank
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Tata Neu Plus HDFC Bank Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Co-Branded ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

 Axis Bank
Lounge Access Premium ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Axis Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

HDFC Regalia First Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Axis Bank Ace Credit Card

 Axis Bank
Cashback Rewards ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Axis Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Co-Branded Travel ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Cashback SBI Card

 SBI Cards
Cashback ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on SBI Cards's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

SimplyCLICK SBI Card

 SBI Cards
Entry Level ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on SBI Cards's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card

 IDFC First Bank
Youth ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on IDFC First Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

HDFC All Miles Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Travel ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card

 ICICI Bank
Lifestyle ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

American Express Platinum Card

 American Express
Lounge Access Premium ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on American Express's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

SBI Card Prime

 SBI Cards
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on SBI Cards's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Axis Bank Select Credit Card

 Axis Bank
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Axis Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card

 IDFC First Bank
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on IDFC First Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

HDFC Business Regalia Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Business Lifestyle ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card

 American Express
Rewards ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on American Express's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card

 Axis Bank
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Axis Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

BPCL SBI Card OCTANE

 SBI Cards
Co-Branded Fuel ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on SBI Cards's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card

 IDFC First Bank
Youth ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on IDFC First Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

PhonePe HDFC Bank Ultimo Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Co-Branded Fintech ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card

 ICICI Bank
Lifestyle ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

American Express Gold Card

 American Express
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on American Express's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Flipkart SBI Card

 SBI Cards
Co-Branded Shopping ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on SBI Cards's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Credit Card

 Axis Bank
Co-Branded Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Axis Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card

 IDFC First Bank
Entry Level ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on IDFC First Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

PhonePe HDFC Bank Uno Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Co-Branded Fintech ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card

 ICICI Bank
Co-Branded Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card
Lounge Access Premium ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Standard Chartered Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Flipkart Axis Bank Super Elite Credit Card

 Axis Bank
Co-Branded Lifestyle ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Axis Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

SBI Card Pulse

 SBI Cards
Lifestyle ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on SBI Cards's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

American Express SmartEarn Credit Card

 American Express
Youth ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on American Express's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Co-Branded Travel ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

 ICICI Bank
Co-Branded Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

HSBC Premier Credit Card
Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HSBC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card

 IDFC First Bank
Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on IDFC First Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card

 Axis Bank
Co-Branded ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Axis Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

IndusInd Legend Credit Card

 IndusInd Bank
Lounge Access Premium ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on IndusInd Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

IndianOil HDFC Bank Credit Card

 HDFC Bank
Co-Branded Fuel ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

 ICICI Bank
Lounge Access Premium ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

FREE

Top 1%
🥇

BOBCARD Eterna

 BOB Financial (BOBCARD)
Lifestyle Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on BOB Financial (BOBCARD)'s website

Value

FREE

Top 1%

Why Fees Matter

Annual fees directly reduce your net rewards. A card earning ₹5,000 in rewards but charging ₹5,000 annually gives you nothing. Lifetime free cards let you keep 100% of your rewards.

Many excellent cards are available with zero fees—you don't have to pay to get great value.

How We Rank Fees

  • Annual fee (50%): Lower is better; ₹0 is best
  • Joining fee (20%): One-time upfront cost
  • Fee waiver (20%): Cards with achievable waiver thresholds rank higher
  • Rewards sweetener (10%): Free cards with good rewards beat free cards with poor rewards

Annual Fee

₹0 preferred

Waiver Threshold

Lower is easier

Finding Free Cards

  • Lifetime free: No annual fee ever, regardless of spending
  • First year free: Good for trying premium cards; watch renewal fees
  • Spend-based waiver: Fee waived if you spend ₹X annually

Who Should Prioritize Low Fees

  • First-time credit card users
  • Low to medium spenders (under ₹5L annually)
  • Those who want simple, no-commitment cards
  • Anyone who won't use premium benefits

Maximizing Free Cards

  • Stack multiple free cards: Use different cards for different category rewards
  • Hit waiver thresholds: If you have a fee card, ensure you meet waiver requirements
  • Compare net value: Sometimes a ₹500 fee card beats a free card in total returns

Annual Fee FAQ

Are lifetime free cards really free forever?

Yes, "lifetime free" means no annual fee for as long as you have the card. However, other fees (late payment, foreign transaction) may still apply. Always read terms carefully.

Bottom Line

For most users, lifetime free cards with good rewards represent the best value. Only pay annual fees when the card's benefits clearly exceed the cost for your specific usage pattern.

Learn more about our methodology

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