Best Welcome & Milestone Benefits
Highest signup and spending milestone rewards with fee recovery analysis.
197 cards ranked | Updated December 2025
Key Ranking Factors
Total welcome value
Value per spend required
Achievable thresholds
Time to achieve
Fi AmpliFi Credit Card
Score: 1338959
Score: 705849
Score: 481386
Score: 456949
IndusInd Pioneer Heritage
Score: 177649
Score: 121694
BOBCARD Eterna Credit Card
Score: 84960
IDFC FIRST Private
Score: 84651
Axis Bank Reserve
Score: 67686
Score: 60966
Score: 40681
Avios Visa Infinite (British Airways)
Score: 35713
American Express Platinum
Score: 35570
Score: 32371
Premier Mastercard
Score: 31170
Score: 29090
Emirates Skywards ICICI Emeralde
Score: 28750
HDFC Infinia Metal Edition
Score: 25803
Score: 25414
Score: 23694
Score: 21226
Score: 21175
Score: 20544
Score: 19282
FIRST WOW! Black
Score: 18456
Emirates Skywards ICICI Sapphiro
Score: 17537
Times Black ICICI Bank
Score: 17126
RBL Bank LUMIÈRE
Score: 16969
Score: 16706
Score: 14598
Insignia Preferred Banking World Card
Score: 14357
Score: 12859
Score: 12568
Score: 11450
Score: 10971
BOBCARD Premier Credit Card
Score: 10001
Score: 9555
Score: 9261
Yes Bank Marquee
Score: 9261
HDFC Regalia Gold
Score: 8150
Emirates World Credit Card
Score: 8057
Score: 7617
Score: 7588
AU Ixigo Credit Card
Score: 7146
6E Rewards XL IndiGo HDFC Bank
Score: 6927
About Milestone Rankings
Welcome bonuses and milestone rewards can add significant first-year value. Some cards offer ₹5,000-10,000+ in welcome benefits alone, often exceeding their annual fees.
How We Rank Milestones
- Benefit value: Total value of welcome and milestone rewards
- Efficiency: Value relative to spending required
- Type multiplier: Welcome (no spend) valued highest at 3x
- Timeline: More relaxed deadlines score better
- Fee recovery: Benefits that exceed annual fee get bonus
Welcome Value
Higher is betterRequirements
Easier is betterWhat Makes Great Milestones
- Welcome bonus: Value without spending requirement
- Achievable thresholds: Can you actually meet spending requirements?
- Reasonable timeline: 90+ days is comfortable; 30 days is rushed
- Fee recovery: Do benefits exceed the annual fee?
Who Should Chase Milestones
- New cardholders wanting first-year value
- Those with upcoming large purchases
- Strategic card churners (responsibly)
- Anyone looking to maximize sign-up value
Maximizing Milestones
- Time large purchases: Apply before big spending to hit thresholds naturally
- Don't overspend: Never spend more than you would just to hit bonuses
- Track deadlines: Missing bonus deadlines wastes the opportunity
- Consider long-term: A card that's best year-one might not be best ongoing
Milestone FAQ
Should I choose a card based on welcome bonus?
Welcome bonus is valuable but shouldn't be the only factor. A card with a smaller bonus but better ongoing rewards often delivers more total value over time.
Bottom Line
Welcome bonuses add significant first-year value but consider ongoing rewards too. The best strategy is finding cards with good bonuses AND strong long-term value.