Top Seven Credit Cards For Beginners In India; Check Yearly Fees, Key Features & Details

Entry-level credit cards are perfect for those just starting out who want to establish credit and save money on particular categories of expenditure because they have low fees and targeted advantages. Here are a few of the top value-back entry-level credit cards available for each category of expenditure.

As you venture on your credit card journey, it's essential to consider entry-level options that cater to your specific financial needs. These types of credit cards often come with minimal or no annual fees, making them a cost-effective choice for those looking to establish or improve their credit scores.

Additionally, they offer tailored benefits in key spending categories such as online shopping, cashback, or rewards. This allows beginners to make the most out of their preferred spending habits while simultaneously building a positive credit history. Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of some of the top entry-level credit cards, each offering substantial value in their respective spending areas.

Top Entry Level Credit Cards

1. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

The Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card stands out for its great cashback offers and bonuses. Prime members will receive 5% cashback on Amazon purchases, while non-Prime members can earn 3% cashback.

Cardholders additionally receive 2% cashback on Amazon Pay payments made at partner merchants and 1% on all other purchases. Cashback is credited as Amazon Pay balance, and the card waives a 1% fuel surcharge at all petrol stations in India.

2. IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card

The IDFC FIRST Millennium Credit Card is another fantastic option. It provides a ₹500 welcome voucher on the spend of Rupees 5,000 in the first 30 days. The card offers 5% cashback reward on the first EMI purchase within 30 days. But for this, transaction should be made up to Rupees 1,000.

Cardholders can earn 3X and 6X reward points for online as well as offline purchases by spending up to Rupees 20,000 per month, and 10X points for additional purchases over this level. Discounts on movies, food, health, and wellbeing are among the other benefits, as is free access to train lounges and roadside assistance.

3. Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

For frequent travelers, the Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card is a great option and it is a traveler's best friend. Through EaseMyTrip, it provides 20% off hotel reservations made both domestically and abroad, with savings of up to Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively.

On top of that, cardholders save ₹125 on bus tickets and 10% off on EaseMyTrip flights. The card also offers up to 4 domestic and 2 international airport lounge access annually, and 10 reward points for every ₹100 spent at independent hotels and airlines. When you spend ₹50,000 or more, the annual fee is waived.

4. American Express SmartEarn Credit Card

For customers who frequently utilize digital platforms, the American Express SmartEarn^TM Credit Card offers significant rewards. It offers ₹500 payback for spending Rs 10,000 in the first 90 days.

Cardholders get 10X Membership Rewards® Points on purchases from partners such as Flipkart, Zomato, and Uber, and 5X points on Paytm Wallet and Amazon.

Moreover, this credit card offers ₹500 vouchers for annual spends of Rs 1.20 lakh, Rs 1.80 lakh, and Rs 2.40 lakh. If you spent ₹40,000 or more in the preceding year, you can avoid paying the annual charge by waived charges.

5. Axis ACE Credit Card

The Axis ACE Credit Card offers excellent cashback, with 5% on utility DTH, bills, mobile recharges using Google Pay and 4% on Zomato, Swiggy, and Ola. It also offers unlimited cashback of 2% on all other purchases, excluding fuel.

Additional advantages include 4 complimentary trips to domestic airport lounges each year, up to 20% savings at partner restaurants, and a 1% fuel surcharge waiver. The yearly cost is waived for spending ₹2 lakh or more.

6. SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card

The SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card is designed for online shopping, delivering 10X reward points on purchases made through partners such as Myntra, BookMyShow, and Yatra. Cardholders receive 5X reward points for buying things online and 1 point for every ₹100 spent on other kinds of purchases.

The card offers ₹2,000 vouchers for attaining annual spending milestones and waives the annual cost for spending of ₹1 lakh or more.

7. IndianOil Axis Bank Credit Card

Lastly, the IndianOil Axis Bank Credit Card is specifically designed for fuel bills. The offer includes 100% payback up to ₹250 for the first fuel spend within the first thirty days and 4% value-back at IOCL outlets.

The card offers a 15% discount at partner restaurants and waives a 1% fuel surcharge. The yearly fee is waived after spending ₹50,000.