Leaderboards / Pure Metrics

Best Forex Cards

Lowest markup for international transactions. Zero forex markup cards save significantly on foreign spending.

282 cards ranked | Updated January 2026

Key Ranking Factors

60% Markup

Forex markup percentage

15% Intl Usage

Enabled for foreign use

15% Lounges

International lounge access

10% Value

Rate vs annual fee

🥇

HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card

HDFC Bank
Lounge Access Premium ₹10,000/yr
3.1 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

2.00% markup

Top 1%
🥈
ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

ICICI Bank
Lounge Access Premium ₹12,499/yr
3.7 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

2.00% markup

Top 1%
🥉
HDFC Infinia Metal Edition

HDFC Infinia Metal Edition

HDFC Bank
Lounge Access Premium ₹12,500/yr
3.1 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

2.00% markup

Top 2%
#4

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

Axis Bank
Co-Branded Shopping ₹500/yr
3.7 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on Axis Bank's website

Value

3.50% markup

Top 2%
#5

HDFC Diners Club Privilege

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

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card

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

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

SBI Card Elite

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

on SBI Cards's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

HDFC MoneyBack Plus

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

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

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

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

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

on Axis Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

HDFC Regalia First Credit Card

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

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Axis Bank Ace Credit Card

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

on Axis Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Cashback SBI Card

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

on SBI Cards's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

SimplyCLICK SBI Card

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

on SBI Cards's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card

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

on IDFC First Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

HDFC All Miles Credit Card

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

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card

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

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

American Express Platinum Card

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

on American Express's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

SBI Card Prime

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

on SBI Cards's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Axis Bank Select Credit Card

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

on Axis Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

HDFC Business Regalia Credit Card

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

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on American Express's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card

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

on Axis Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

BPCL SBI Card OCTANE

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

on SBI Cards's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card

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

on IDFC First Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card

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

on ICICI Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

American Express Gold Card

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

on American Express's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Flipkart SBI Card

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

on SBI Cards's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

HDFC Regalia Credit Card

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

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

HDFC Millennia

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

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

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

on Axis Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card

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

on Standard Chartered Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

SBI Card Pulse

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

on SBI Cards's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

American Express SmartEarn Credit Card

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

on American Express's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card

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

on HDFC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

HSBC Premier Credit Card

Lounge Access ₹0/yr
3.8 Our Rating
APPLY NOW

on HSBC Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%
#5

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

N/A

Top 2%
#5

Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card

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

on Axis Bank's website

Value

N/A

Top 2%

Understanding Forex Markup

When you spend internationally, credit cards add a forex markup (typically 1-3.5%) on top of the currency conversion. On a ₹5 lakh international trip, 3.5% markup costs ₹17,500 extra.

Zero or low forex cards can save thousands on international spending, making them essential for frequent travelers.

How We Rank Forex Cards

  • Forex markup (60%): Lower percentage is better; 0% is ideal
  • International usage (15%): Must be enabled for foreign transactions
  • International lounges (15%): Priority Pass and global lounge networks
  • Value adjustment (10%): Low forex on cheaper card ranks higher

Forex Markup

0% ideal

Network

Global acceptance

Finding Low Forex Cards

  • 0% markup: Some premium cards offer true zero forex
  • Under 2%: Anything below 2% is competitive
  • No dynamic conversion: Always pay in local currency, not INR

Who Needs Low Forex

  • Frequent international travelers
  • Online shoppers from international sites
  • Business travelers with foreign expenses
  • Anyone spending ₹1L+ internationally annually

Saving on International Spending

  • Always pay in local currency: Decline dynamic currency conversion at payment
  • Combine with travel rewards: Best forex cards often have travel bonuses too
  • Check network acceptance: Visa/Mastercard accepted wider than Amex/Diners

Forex Card FAQ

What's the difference between forex markup and conversion rate?

Conversion rate is set by card networks (Visa/Mastercard) and is usually competitive. Forex markup is an additional percentage your bank charges on top. Zero markup means you only pay the network conversion rate.

Bottom Line

If you spend internationally, forex markup is a hidden cost that adds up quickly. Zero or low markup cards pay for themselves through savings on foreign transactions.

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