Best Fees Rating
Cards with the best fees component rating (22.5% of overall score). Ranked by annual fees, interest rates, forex markup, and accessibility.
307 cards ranked | Updated December 2025
Key Ranking Factors
Yearly ownership cost
APR for balances/EMI
International spending cost
Approval requirements
5.0 ★
5.0 ★
OneCard (Plastic)
5.0 ★
Canara Bank Mastercard World Credit Card
5.0 ★
Mastercard Celesta
5.0 ★
Visa Celesta
5.0 ★
Canara Bank Platinum Credit Card
5.0 ★
Mastercard Imperio
5.0 ★
Visa Imperio
5.0 ★
5.0 ★
5.0 ★
5.0 ★
4.9 ★
AU Ixigo Credit Card
4.9 ★
BOBCARD Eterna Credit Card
4.9 ★
BOBCARD Yoddha
4.9 ★
ICICI Parakram
4.9 ★
Standard Chartered DigiSmart
4.9 ★
Signet Credit Card
4.9 ★
4.9 ★
4.8 ★
4.8 ★
BOBCARD Premier Credit Card
4.8 ★
Tiger Credit Card
4.8 ★
4.8 ★
Platinum RuPay
4.8 ★
4.8 ★
4.8 ★
4.7 ★
4.7 ★
4.7 ★
4.7 ★
EazyDiner Platinum Credit Card
4.7 ★
4.7 ★
4.7 ★
4.7 ★
4.6 ★
4.5 ★
4.5 ★
4.5 ★
4.5 ★
4.5 ★
Edge CSB RuPay
4.4 ★
Priority Visa Infinite
4.4 ★
4.3 ★
Federal Bank Scapia
4.0 ★
Understanding Fees Ratings
The fees rating measures the cost of owning and using a credit card. Lower fees mean more of your rewards actually benefit you instead of going back to the bank.
This component contributes 22.5% to our overall rating. We evaluate annual fees, joining fees, interest rates (APR), forex markup, and how accessible the card is to apply for.
How We Calculate Fees Rating
- Annual Fee (50%): Lower is better; lifetime free cards get +0.3 bonus
- Interest Rate (25%): APR for those who carry balances or use EMI
- Forex Markup (15%): Important for international spending
- Accessibility (10%): Income requirements, credit score needs
Cards with fee waiver options score better than cards with fixed fees at the same amount.
Annual Fee
Lower is betterFee Waiver
Waiver options preferredAPR
Lower for balance carriersHidden Costs
Transparent fee structureWhat Makes Low-Cost Cards
- Zero or low annual fee: Lifetime free cards offer maximum value retention
- Fee waiver options: Cards waiving fees on ₹50K-₹1L annual spend are effectively free for many users
- Low APR: Critical if you ever carry balances or use EMI
- Low forex markup: 0-2% markup saves significantly on international spending
Who Should Prioritize Low Fees
- Cost-conscious users who want maximum value retention
- New credit card users not ready to commit to annual fees
- Those who occasionally carry balances and need lower APR
- International spenders who want low forex markup
Minimizing Card Costs
- Hit fee waiver thresholds: Track your spending to meet waiver requirements
- Avoid interest: Pay in full monthly—even 1% rewards is worthless against 40% APR
- Use low-forex cards abroad: 3.5% markup on ₹1L spending = ₹3,500 lost
- Consider total cost: A ₹500 fee card with great rewards may beat a free card with poor rewards
Fees Rating FAQ
Is a lifetime free card always better?
Not always. A ₹500 annual fee card offering 2% cashback delivers more value than a free card with 0.5% cashback if you spend ₹50,000+ annually. However, for low spenders, free cards are usually optimal.
Why does forex markup matter?
International transactions incur markup (typically 1-3.5%) plus currency conversion. On a ₹1 lakh international trip, 3.5% vs 1.5% markup costs you ₹2,000 extra. Cards with 0% markup save significantly.
Bottom Line
Low fees maximize the value you keep from your rewards. Lifetime free cards with decent rewards often outperform premium cards for average spenders. Only pay fees when the card's benefits clearly exceed the cost.