Lifetime Free Credit Cards (No Annual Fee) in India - 2026

• Integrated Fuel Surcharge Waivers - Reversal of the standard 1% fuel surcharge on eligible petrol transactions, reducing routine refuelling costs.

• Flexible EMI Conversion Facilities - High-value purchases can be converted into manageable monthly instalments through EMI options.

Benefits of Lifetime Free Credit Cards

• Risk-Free Credit Building - Responsible usage and timely repayments help improve the cardholder’s TransUnion CIBIL score without incurring annual costs.
• Initial Welcome Incentives - Bonus reward points, vouchers, or complimentary memberships are often provided upon activation.
• Enhanced Lifestyle Access - Complimentary benefits such as airport lounge visits and dining discounts are offered despite zero annual fees.
• Financial Safety Nets - Features like zero lost card liability and protection against fraudulent transactions enhance financial security.
• Lower Eligibility Barriers - Typically require lower income thresholds compared to premium cards, making them suitable for students and first-time earners.

Top Lifetime Free Credit Cards in India

FinBooster: YES BANK - BankBazaar Co-branded Credit Card

Key Highlights: The FinBooster: YES Bank - BankBazaar Co-branded Credit Card helps you to build a high credit score and good credit behaviour. You get regular credit fitness reports and these give you insights into your financial health.

• Joining Fee: NIL
• Renewal Fee: NIL  

Features and benefits:

• Free Credit Reports:  Offers CreditStrong reports with a real-time dashboard for tracking credit scores.

Reward Points:

• Earn 5X rewards points on online dining transactions (10 points for every Rs.200). 

• 3X reward points offered on apparel or online grocery transactions (6 points for every Rs.200). 

• 2 reward points on other retail spends except fuel (2 points for every Rs.200). 

• Contactless Transactions: This credit card incorporates NFC-enabled technology, which facilitates touch-free payments at retail terminals without the need to swipe the card.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: For fuel transaction of Rs.400 up to Rs.5,000, the card offers 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations in India.

• Easy EMI Conversions: You can transform any purchase of Rs. 2,500 or more into monthly installments, allowing for structured repayment of larger expenses.

• Instant Loan: You can also avail yourself of an instant loan up to the credit limit using this credit card. 

• YES PayNow: The YES PayNow feature integrated into this credit card provides a streamlined mechanism for cardholders to discharge their outstanding balances promptly. 
• Other benefits: Ensures secure online transactions and offers accelerated reward points. 

Note: The existing YES Bank credit card holders are not eligible to apply for this credit card. 

Suitable for: Those who want to build a high credit score and get access to the CreditStrong report.

RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card

The RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card is a lifetime free credit card that provides an array of appealing rewards and cashbacks. It also includes a complimentary monthly credit advisory from BankBazaar, enabling you to track your spending and monitor your credit score. Additionally, the card offers features such as balance transfer, EMI conversion, and a pre-approved loan facility 

• Joining Fee: NIL
• Renewal Fee: NIL

Reward Points:

• Grocery transactions offer 5X reward points but cap the benefit at 1000 points per month.  

• Offers one reward point on spending Rs.100. 

Cashbacks:

• Zomato offers a discount of 10% but limits the total savings to Rs. 100. 

• Cashback of 10% on BookMyShow up to Rs.100 per month. 

Free Credit Report:

• Offers free credit advisory reports every month at BankBazaar.com. 

Suitable for: Those who wish to avail exciting rewards and cashback.

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

The HSBC VISA Platinum credit card is suitable for shopping, dining, and fuel purchases. With this credit card, you earn reward points and get access to a host of other premium services, such as zero lost card liability, emergency card replacement, etc.

• Joining Fee: NIL
• Renewal Fee: NIL

Features and benefits:

Welcome Benefits

• The Amazon e-Gift voucher offers a value of Rs. 250 but requires a successful online application and video verification. The reward becomes accessible after the physical card is received.

• You can get 2000 bonus reward points on downloading and logging into the HSBC India Mobile App and spending at least Rs.5,000 within the first 30 days of card issuance.  

• The Swiggy One membership offers complimentary access for 3 months but requires card activation to be triggered.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

• Fuel purchases offer a cashback of Rs.250 but require a minimum spend of Rs.10,000 within a calendar quarter.

• Additionally fuel surcharge of up to Rs.250 on fuel transaction between Rs.400 to Rs.4000. 

Reward Points

• Earn two reward points on every Rs.150 spent using this credit card.   

• Offers 6 times the reward points earned on flights, hotels, and car rentals. 

• Easy and instant conversion of reward points to air miles and hotel loyalty points through HSBC India Mobile Banking app. 

Air Mile Conversions: Reward points earned on this credit card can be converted to air miles with Singapore Airline, British Airways, and Etihad Airways.

Lifestyle and travel perks:

• Offers complimentary 12-month Times Prime subscription (free access to Uber One, JioHotstar, Discovery+, etc.). 

• Complimentary flight seat selection twice per year for domestic flights booked via MakeMyTrip. 

• Hotel bookings via MakeMyTrip offer an additional 15% cashback but require the use of the promo code ‘VISASIGNATURE’ during checkout. The reward accumulates in the ‘My Cash’ section of the wallet.

• Add-on Benefits: Offers other benefits, such as emergency card replacement; exclusive access to discounts on selected partners; balance transfer; and 24x7 online global access to accounts.  

• Lost Card Liability: The card provides insurance coverage up to Rs.3 lakh but applies only to transactions made within 24 hours of reporting the loss. The protection covers unauthorized misuse during the specified window.

• Exclusive Privileges: Gain access to exclusive privileges at Bicester Villages, including eVIP pass discounts. 

Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

Key Highlights: The Amazon Pay ICICI credit card helps you save even when you are availing exclusive benefits.

• Joining Fee: NIL
• Renewal Fee: NIL

Features and benefits:

Reward Points: 

• Amazon Prime members earn 5X reward points for every Rs.100 spent but must maintain an active membership to qualify for the accelerated rate. The benefit provides higher value on Amazon purchases for subscribed users.

• 3X reward points for every Rs.100 spent on Amazon for non-prime members. 

• 2X reward points on purchases made from 100+ merchant partners.

• Earn unlimited rewards of 1% on spends outside Amazon. 

• Earn up to 4% cashback on iShop 

• Do note that the reward points earned with this credit card are unlimited and never expire. 

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Get 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all fuel transactions. 
• Low Forex Mark-up: International transactions incur a low forex markup fee of 1.99% but require spending in foreign currency to trigger the charge. The fee provides a cost-effective way to handle global payments. 

Note: No reward points will be offered on EMI, gold, silver, precious metal, tax-related payments, rent transactions, purchases on Amazon, and fuel purchase.

Suitable for: Those who shop frequently on Amazon.

ICICI Bank Platinum Chip Credit Card

Key Highlights: The ICICI Bank Platinum Chip credit card is lifetime-free and easy to manage.

• Joining Fee: NIL
• Renewal Fee: NIL

Features and Benefits:

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Get a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% for transactions ranging between Rs.400 to Rs.4000 at all HPCL petrol pumps.  

• Easy EMI Conversions: Offers easy EMI conversion of large purchases.  

• Reward Points: iShop purchases offer 6x to 12x reward points but require transactions to be made through the specific portal. The system enables point redemption across multiple categories but maintains different earning rates for specific spending types. Retail store transactions generate 2 reward points for every Rs.100 spent but exclude fuel from the calculation. Insurance and utility payments provide 1 reward point for every Rs.100 spent. 

Do note that reward points can be redeemed for health, beauty, travel, luggage, home appliances, electronics, fashion, lifestyle, and shopping vouchers. 

• Security: Ensures quick and secure payment through its built-in technology. Ensures added security through this chip card. 

Suitable for: Those who want to earn exciting reward points on online shopping.

IDFC First Select Credit Card

Key Highlights: The IDFC First Select Credit Card offers high rewards with zero annual fee along with multiple offers and discounts, such as travel benefits, lifestyle benefits, comprehensive insurance and many more.

• Joining Fee: Nil
• Renewal Fee: Nil

Features and benefits:

• Welcome Benefit: A gift voucher worth Rs.500 offers a high initial return but requires a minimum spend of Rs.5000 within the first 30 days. The incentive applies to transactions at select merchants like Amazon and Uber.
• Cashback: Get a 5% cashback of up to Rs.1,000 on your first EMI transactions within 30 days of card issuance. 

• Zero Interest Cash Withdrawal: ATM cash withdrawals allow for a 45-day interest-free period but incur a one-time fee of Rs.199 plus taxes per transaction. The facility provides temporary liquidity during the specified window.

• Lounge Access: Get up to two complimentary airport lounge access every quarter. You also get up to four complimentary railway lounge access every quarter.  

• Low Forex Markup Fee: This credit card offers a low forex mark-up fee of 1.99%  

• Free Trip Cancellation Cover: You get a free trip cancellation cover of up to Rs.10,000 on non-refundable flight and hotel cancellations. Do note that the maximum cover of Rs.10,000 can be used for up to two claims during the policy period and is shareable between Primary and Add-On cardholders.
• Accelerated Travel Rewards: The IDFC mobile application provides up to 33% bonus reward points on hotel bookings and 13% on flight reservations. 

Rewards Points: 

• Earn 10X reward points on incremental spends above Rs.20,000 in a statement cycle and transactions done on your birthday.  

• Earn 3X reward points on spends up to Rs.20,000 in a billing cycle. 

• Get 1X reward points on paying insurance premiums and utility bills.  

• Do note that reward points earned using this credit card never expire.

• Cashback up to Rs.200 (Rs.50 each on the first four UPI Transaction). 

• Offers 3X reward points on UPI spends. 

Bonus Reward Points: Hotel bookings offer 50X bonus reward points but require specific reservation channels to trigger the multiplier. Flight bookings generate 20X bonus reward points but do not reach the same acceleration level as accommodation spends. The system provides high value for frequent shoppers and travelers.

IDFC First Millennia Credit Card

Key Highlights: The IDFC First Millennia Credit Card offers high rewards at zero annual fee and comes with other benefits, such as low interest rates, interest free cash withdrawal for up to 45 days, and many more.

• Joining Fee: NIL
• Renewal Fee: NIL

Features and benefits:

Welcome Benefits: A gift voucher worth Rs.500 offers a high initial return but requires a minimum spend of Rs.5000 within the first 30 days of card issuance. The benefit applies to transactions across multiple brands like Amazon and BigBasket. 

Cashbacks: On making first EMI payment within 30 days of card generation, the cardholders will earn 5.00% cashback up to Rs.1000. 

Lifestyle Benefits:  

• Movie tickets offer a 25% discount but limit the total savings to Rs.100 per transaction. The benefit applies to bookings made via the District by Zomato app.

• 1% fuel surcharge waiver up to Rs.200 in a month on transactions ranging between Rs.200 to Rs.5,000. 

• Offers on more than 300 merchants round the year. 

• 20% off at more than 1500 restaurants. 

• Up to 15% off at more than 3000 Health and Wellness outlets. 

Reward Programs:  

• On spending more than Rs.20,000 on cardholders' birthday, the card offers 10X reward points.  

• Online and offline purchases offer 3X reward points but limit the accelerated rate to the first Rs.20,000 of spending. The benefit provides consistent value across both digital and physical transactions.

• On Insurance premium payments and Utility bill payments, the card offers 1X reward points.  

• Do note that this card offers lifetime valid unlimited reward points and are applicable for online and in-store purchases. 

Easy EMI Conversions: Transactions offer an easy EMI conversion but require a minimum value of more than Rs.2,500 to trigger the option. The facility provides flexibility for larger purchases. 

UPI Spend Rewards:  

• Offers 100% cashback up to Rs.200 that is Rs.50 on first four transactions each. 

• Offers 3X rewards on spendings via UPI.

Complimentary Lounge Access: Railway lounge access offers four complimentary visits per quarter but requires a minimum spend of Rs.20,000 in the current calendar month. The benefit provides travel comfort across the country 

Add-on Benefits:

• Offers personal accident cover and lost card liability cover of Rs.2 lakh and Rs.25,000, respectively.  

• Offers complimentary road-side assistance worth Rs.1,399 which is valid for up to four times a year. 

Accelerated Rewards:  

• Earn 50 reward points for every Rs.150 spent on hotel bookings. 

• Earn 20 reward points for every Rs.150 spent on flight bookings. 

Suitable for: Frequent shoppers and travellers. 

Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card

Key Highlights:

The Kotak 811 #dreamDifferent Credit Card is a fixed-deposit backed credit card. The secured credit card includes fuel surcharge waiver, railway surcharge waiver, and exclusive offers on achievement of milestones. The cardholder can avail the milestone program on spending of Rs 75,000+ and can get bonus offers on either cashback or PVR tickets.

• Joining Fee: NIL
• Renewal Fee: NIL

Features and benefits:

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Fuel surcharge waivers offer a 1% discount but require transactions to fall between the range of Rs.500 and Rs.4,000. The benefit provides savings across all petrol pumps.   

• Railway Surcharge Waiver: Get 1.8% railway surcharge waiver up to Rs.500 on booking on IRCTC website and 2.5% on booking at railway counter  

• Reward Points: Earn 4 Reward Points on transactions of Rs.100 on online spends made using the 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card Rupay variant. Get 1 Reward Points on offline spending for every Rs.100 with the existing 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card.  

• Cash Withdrawal Facility: Up to 90% of the total credit limit can be withdrawal in cash. For ATM withdrawal and Funds Transfer, charges processing fee of Rs.100. No interest rate will be charged on cash advance for up to 48 days from withdrawal.  

• Balance Transfer Facility: The balance transfer facility offers a way to move existing debt but incurs a processing fee of Rs.349 for every Rs.10,000 transferred. The system provides temporary financial relief during the repayment period.  

• On fresh retail purchases, the interest-free period continues.  

• Add-on Card Benefits: With this credit card, the add-on card gets benefits same as the primary credit card. You can also set the spending limit for your add-on credit card and track your spendings separately. 

• Milestone Benefits: Amazon vouchers offer milestone benefits of Rs.1000 and Rs.250 but require an anniversary year spend of Rs.72,000 and Rs.36,000, respectively. A separate cashback of Rs.750 provides additional value for reaching a Rs.75,000 annual spending target but remains inactive if the threshold is not met. The system rewards high annual consumption through tiered incentives.

Note: Milestone benefits are not applicable on spendings on cash withdrawals, fuel spends and EMI conversion.

Suitable for: Frequent shoppers and travellers.

IndusInd Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card

Key Highlights: IndusInd platinum visa credit card is a reward-oriented credit card that gives you value back on all your transactions. You can redeem your points against a variety of options, such as Air miles, cash credit, or products / vouchers from your rewards catalogue.

• Joining Fee: NIL
• Renewal Fee: NIL

Features and benefits:

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Get up 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India.  

• Insurance Coverage: The credit card offers air accident insurance up to Rs.25 lakh but requires the incident to occur during scheduled flight travel. Lost baggage insurance provides coverage up to Rs.1 lakh but remains limited to the documented value of the items. Passport loss during travel offers a recovery benefit of up to Rs.50,000.  

• Compensation: This credit card also offers compensation of up to Rs.25,000 for a lost ticket and claims up to Rs.25,000 for expenses due to a missed connection and delayed baggage. 

• Under Platinum Welcome offer customers can avail gift vouchers on purchases at Montbalnc, Postcard hotel, discounts under Vouchagram, and Vouchagram premium.   

• Discount vouchers offer a reduction in cost across various brands but require specific merchant selections to be valid. The benefit applies to popular platforms like Flipkart and Amazon.

• Reward Points: Get 1.5 reward point for every Rs.150 spent 

• Redemption options: Cash credit offers a redemption value of Rs. 0.40 per point but provides a lower return compared to other options. Gift cards and vouchers increase the value to Rs. 0.60 per point but restrict the flexibility of how the rewards are spent. The system allows point conversion to airline miles or direct payment for purchases.
• Offers total protection against the risk of fraudulent usage of the card in case it is lost. 

Suitable for: Frequent shoppers and travellers.

How to Apply for a No Annual Fee Credit Card Online?

To apply for no annual fee credit cards online, you can visit the respective bank website, or you can apply through BankBazaar, which is an authorised partner of top banks in India.

Steps to apply through BankBazaar website

• Visit www.bankbazaar.com/credit-card.html and select the card that you want.
• Click the 'Eligibility' button to check your eligibility for the card.
• If you are eligible, you will find an option to Apply, click on the same, enter the required details and submit.
• You will be asked to upload the required documents.
• Once they are uploaded, click 'Submit'.

On successfully submitting the application and the necessary documents, you will receive an 'Application ID'. Use this ID to track your application status by clicking' Track Application'.

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