What CIBIL score is needed for premium credit cards?

750+ with annual income ₹15-40 lakh for super-premium cards like HDFC Infinia and Amex Platinum. Entry-level cards approve at 650+.

Are credit cards bad for finances?

Only if you carry balance. Used responsibly with full payment, they offer 2-8% rewards, fraud protection, and build credit history.

How many credit cards should I have?

2-3 cards covering different spend categories (online shopping, travel, dining). More than 5 hurts CIBIL via low utilization across cards.

Should I close unused credit cards?

No. Closing reduces total credit limit and lowers age of credit, both hurting CIBIL. Keep them active with one annual transaction.

Best Credit Cards in India 2025: HDFC vs SBI vs Axis vs Amex

From entry-level to super-premium, find the right credit card for travel, shopping, fuel, dining, and lounge access in India 2025.

Best Credit Cards by Category 2025

Card	Annual Fee	Best For	Reward Rate
HDFC Infinia Metal	₹12,500	Premium travel	3.3% on most spends
Axis Magnus Burgundy	₹12,500	Lounges, vouchers	4.8% on milestone
SBI Cashback Card	₹999	Online shopping	5% cashback online
Amex Platinum Travel	₹3,500	Travel vouchers	Up to 8% effective
HDFC Millennia	₹1,000	Online + offline	5% on partner brands
ICICI Amazon Pay	Free	Amazon shopping	5% on Amazon (Prime)
Tata Neu Infinity (HDFC)	₹1,499	Tata ecosystem	5% Neucoins on Tata brands

HDFC Infinia — King of Premium

3.3 reward points per ₹150 spent (worth 1 RP = ₹1 on flights/hotels via SmartBuy). Unlimited Priority Pass, golf access, ITC concierge. Approval needs ₹40L+ income.

SBI Cashback Card — Online Shopping Champion

5% unlimited cashback on online spends (capped ₹5,000/month). 1% on offline. Most card-issuers cap online cashback at ₹500-1,500 — SBI's ₹5K limit is unmatched.

Amex Platinum Travel — Smart Milestones

Spend ₹1.9L in a year, get ₹7,700 in vouchers. Spend ₹4L, get ₹15,400 vouchers. Effective rate hits 7-8% if you optimize milestones. 4 lounge visits per quarter.

ICICI Amazon Pay — Free & Useful

Lifetime free. 5% cashback on Amazon for Prime members, 3% for non-Prime. 2% on Amazon Pay merchant payments. No-brainer for Amazon shoppers.

How to Choose

Match card to spend pattern: Travel-heavy? Infinia or Amex. Online shopper? SBI Cashback or Amazon Pay.
Calculate effective reward rate: Don't get fooled by "5X points" — convert to rupees.
Check fee waiver criteria: Most premium cards waive next year's fee on ₹X lakh spend.
Avoid overdrawing: Credit card interest is 36-46% APR — pay full amount.

Lounge Access Comparison

Best in class: HDFC Infinia (unlimited domestic + international Priority Pass). Mid-range: Axis Magnus (8 international visits). Entry: SBI Elite (6 domestic visits/quarter). Use DreamFolks or Priority Pass app to find Indian lounges.